Buddhism
Buddhism is the fourth-largest religion in the world going by number of adherents. It is based on the teachings of Siddhartha Gautama, a man mostly likely from the the current border between Nepal and India and most likely in the 5th Century BCE. The provisional nature of exact details is not surprising, considering the passage of time and the quick attraction of legend-making to the growth of the religion. Indeed, even the concept of “religion” is not to be attached too firmly to a philosophy that is decidedly pragmatic and unpretentious. Elaboration in literature and visual art and just about everything that Buddhists have turned their attention to is inevitable, but the core is clear. “Suffering exists; it has a cause; it has an end; and it has a cause to bring about its end. The notion of suffering is not intended to convey a negative world view, but rather, a pragmatic perspective that deals with the world as it is, and attempts to rectify it.”
The literature of Buddhism is vast, historic, diverse, and ranges from poetically direct to intricately arcane. Whistlestop Bookshop’s holdings are relatively few but have proven durably popular and useful over the years. Basic texts are important, of course. The current Dalai Lama is prolific and eloquent, as is the recently-deceased Thich Nhat Hanh. Zen Buddhism is a fascinating manifestation — I will be adding more of the titles I have as I have time. There is Buddhist poetry and Buddhist fiction, and I will be adding that as I glean it from the shelves. A good Buddhist principle is not to wait until everything is ready but to go ahead with what is at hand.
Zen Wisdom for the Anxious: Simple Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk
Zen Wisdom for the Anxious: Simple Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk
By dipping into this little book of simple Zen Buddhist sayings, you can calm your anxiety and return serenity to your soul.
Are you feeling stress and anxiety from the demands of daily life? Do you feel overwhelmed by your to-do list and the constant deluge of information from all quarters? Are you unhappy with your life and envious of those around you? At times like these it's important to step back and take a breath.
Zen meditation may conjure up images of sitting in silence for long hours, but according to Buddhist monk and author Shinsuke Hosokawa, Zen can be summed up as "the knowledge needed for a person to live life with a positive outlook." With this in mind, he has produced this charmingly illustrated collection of thoughts and sayings to help you live life with less stress and anxiety.
The sayings include:
Pay attention to what is right in front of your eyes
Nothing happens by chance. Every encounter has its meaning
Be careful not to confuse the means and the purpose
Keep flowing just like water
Nothing will control you
Even a bad day is a good day
Check the ground beneath your feet when you're in trouble
You'll never walk alone
These 52 mindful sayings mirror the 52 steps traditionally taken to achieve Buddhist enlightenment, and they also coincide with the 52 weeks of the year—passing through the seasons, both in the natural world and our lives. Each page has an illustration and a simple, meditative reflection to help you see into your own heart, accept your current state of being, reduce anxiety and find peace.
Whatever the time of year, whatever your time of life, by browsing the pages of this book you are sure to quickly find a piece of universal wisdom that will resonate with your soul.
About the Author:
Shinsuke Hosokawa, born in 1979, is the chief priest of Ryuun-ji, a Zen Buddhist temple in Tokyo. After graduating from Bukkyo University in Kyoto, a school for nurturing the Buddhist spirit, he embarked on a nine-year period of ascetic training with the Rinzai School Myoshinji Temple in Kyoto. He has been in his current position as the chief priest of Ryu-un-ji since 2013. His late grandfather was the renowned Zen Buddhist priest Taido Matsubara. His activities range from publishing Zen-related books to coaching actors who appear as Zen monks in TV dramas.