Reddit Reddit reviews The Way of Zen

We found 32 Reddit comments about The Way of Zen. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.

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32 Reddit comments about The Way of Zen:

u/atheistcoffee · 14 pointsr/AskMen

I don't talk about it much, but in the end of 2008 we lost our daughter at full term; then in 2009 I became physically disabled - went from a skier, biker, bodybuilder, super active person to being permanently bed/chair bound; had to leave my job; had to move out of our house and in with family; live in never ending, chronic, mind-crushing pain that will most likely be my constant companion for the rest of my life; am on heavy painkillers/narcotics; had heart trouble because of the seriousness of the pain; diagnosed as clinically depressed; had been a Christian for 20 years, was a minister with a Christian wife and 2 kids, had gone to bible school after high school and had only ever wanted to be a preacher - lost my faith after examining it and finding that it didn't hold up to reality.

Mind and body completely crushed. Emotionally destroyed. No hope of improvement. Only feel disappointment when I open my eyes in the morning because I have to face a day exactly like yesterday, and exactly like tomorrow. Just wanted to never wake up again.

Read The Way Of Zen just in time. Learned that most of my mental anguish was due to mental images of all I had perceived to have lost and all I would perhaps never have... and that I was not living in the only reality I have - right now. Have been studying Zen for a while now. It's simply direct pointing... that is, simply living now and not being overwhelmed with grasping at images.

Now I'm going to have breakfast.

u/porscheguy19 · 4 pointsr/atheism

On science and evolution:

Genetics is where it's at. There is a ton of good fossil evidence, but genetics actually proves it on paper. Most books you can get through your local library (even by interlibrary loan) so you don't have to shell out for them just to read them.

Books:

The Making of the Fittest outlines many new forensic proofs of evolution. Fossil genes are an important aspect... they prove common ancestry. Did you know that humans have the gene for Vitamin C synthesis? (which would allow us to synthesize Vitamin C from our food instead of having to ingest it directly from fruit?) Many mammals have the same gene, but through a mutation, we lost the functionality, but it still hangs around.

Deep Ancestry proves the "out of Africa" hypothesis of human origins. It's no longer even a debate. MtDNA and Y-Chromosome DNA can be traced back directly to where our species began.

To give more rounded arguments, Hitchens can't be beat: God Is Not Great and The Portable Atheist (which is an overview of the best atheist writings in history, and one which I cannot recommend highly enough). Also, Dawkin's book The Greatest Show on Earth is a good overview of evolution.

General science: Stephen Hawking's books The Grand Design and A Briefer History of Time are excellent for laying the groundwork from Newtonian physics to Einstein's relativity through to the modern discovery of Quantum Mechanics.

Bertrand Russell and Thomas Paine are also excellent sources for philosophical, humanist, atheist thought; but they are included in the aforementioned Portable Atheist... but I have read much of their writings otherwise, and they are very good.

Also a subscription to a good peer-reviewed journal such as Nature is awesome, but can be expensive and very in depth.

Steven Pinker's The Blank Slate is also an excellent look at the human mind and genetics. To understand how the mind works, is almost your most important tool. If you know why people say the horrible things they do, you can see their words for what they are... you can see past what they say and see the mechanisms behind the words.

I've also been studying Zen for about a year. It's non-theistic and classed as "eastern philosophy". The Way of Zen kept me from losing my mind after deconverting and then struggling with the thought of a purposeless life and no future. I found it absolutely necessary to root out the remainder of the harmful indoctrination that still existed in my mind; and finally allowed me to see reality as it is instead of overlaying an ideology or worldview on everything.

Also, learn about the universe. Astronomy has been a useful tool for me. I can point my telescope at a galaxy that is more than 20 million light years away and say to someone, "See that galaxy? It took over 20 million years for the light from that galaxy to reach your eye." Creationists scoff at millions of years and say that it's a fantasy; but the universe provides real proof of "deep time" you can see with your own eyes.

Videos:

I recommend books first, because they are the best way to learn, but there are also very good video series out there.

BestofScience has an amazing series on evolution.

AronRa's Foundational Falsehoods of Creationism is awesome.

Thunderfoot's Why do people laugh at creationists is good.

Atheistcoffee's Why I am no longer a creationist is also good.

Also check out TheraminTrees for more on the psychology of religion; Potholer54 on The Big Bang to Us Made Easy; and Evid3nc3's series on deconversion.

Also check out the Evolution Documentary Youtube Channel for some of the world's best documentary series on evolution and science.

I'm sure I've overlooked something here... but that's some stuff off the top of my head. If you have any questions about anything, or just need to talk, send me a message!

u/mishykahn · 4 pointsr/Random_Acts_Of_Amazon

I'm pretty happy with life, but honestly, there are times where I feel I just need a break. A release, a pause, something.

My friend highly recommended this book for me because he knows how stressed I can get. He read it in about a day, and he said he couldn't recommend it enough.

u/marshall_banana_ · 3 pointsr/movies

This is basically Zen Buddhism.

2016 has been a stark reminder that death is the only guarantee in life. For those struggling to cope with this fact, I highly recommend looking into Zen practices. It is very helpful. Here is a good place to start:

https://www.amazon.com/Way-Zen-Alan-W-Watts/dp/0375705104

u/SeriouslyStoptheDerp · 3 pointsr/DebateReligion

The way of Zen by Alan Watts. It will change you life I promise :).

u/reddengist · 3 pointsr/books

The Way of Zen, by Alan Watts.

u/bariddles · 3 pointsr/Meditation

Couldn't agree more, BudTrip. Reading The Way of Zen stands as a significant transition point in my life development.

“For there is never anything but the present, and if one cannot live there, one cannot live anywhere.”

u/abu_el_banat · 3 pointsr/TrueReddit

I second the suggestion to read Alan Watt's. The Way of Zen is a great introduction to the background, if not practice.

u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

The problem is duality. The conceptual human mind functions in a way that allows it to comprehend "things". Even when we try to think of "nothing" or empty space, it's still a "thing" in our head.

"Existence" comes from the latin ex-iste (sp?) but the root of it means, "to stand outside of".

The human brain can only think of something "existing" in relation to something else. That is, we can only think of something existing if it is differentiated from something else (even if it is only our own mind, or perception, seeing or thinking or perceiving of this "thing").

This is where duality comes in. The problem is that the universe is observably non-dualistic. All dualism that is "observable" in the universe (and yes I'm using lots of quotes, because language is also inherently dualistic) is actually formed within the human mind.

We can see some of these principles of non-dualism in some of our most basic laws of physics: that nothing can be created or destroyed. Matter is actually energy, and energy has no beginning or end, it simply changes from one manifestation to another.

The real trouble we have is, "well, then when did all of this 'energy' appear. How was it all made? When did it begin?"

This brings us right back to the fundamental problem: there was no beginning because "beginning" is a dualistic concept we are trying to paint onto a non-dualistic universe. When we really try to use our helpless little monkey brains to wind back the clock to before the big bang, for example, everything simply breaks down because it is not equipped to deal with things (ack!) like non-dualism.

That is the short version. I probably haven't explained it well but if you want to dive into this more deeply I would recommend a book called "The Way of Zen" by Alan Watts. Yes, on the surface it's about Buddhism, but really it covers much deeper fundamental issues just like this.

edit: typos

u/selfprojectionasgod · 2 pointsr/atheism

You've been lied to your whole life and told that life has no meaning if it doesn't last forever. The opposite is true. This life would have no meaning if you had another one after it that would last forever. The reality is - everything you do is full of meaning... relationships, hobbies, shows, friends, books, laughing, family... Your focus needs to shift from an imaginary heaven to the reality of now.

After deconverting from fundamental Christianity, I sunk into a deep depression. I had given my life for God and the ministry and now it was all gone. Not only that, but I became physically disabled so that I couldn't even choose another path for my life. I wasted decades studying for the ministry and being in the ministry. So, needless to say, I was as depressed as it gets.

At the end of my rope, I was watching the TV show Life, and the main character was able to get through being in prison by studying Zen. Now, you have to realize, I am an anti-theist for the most part and do not want any religious practices in my life, thank you very much. But some of the quotes made me think... so I picked up the book The Way of Zen and gave it a shot. Almost threw it away half way through because it sounded like hocus pocus to me; but the second half blew me away... talking about the images we make in our mind... and the constant grasping for happiness and a better future... and the trap of the vicious circle of always trying to make things better... and being unhappy because we are grasping for a promising future instead of living right now in the moment.

Well, I've been studying it for quite a while now, and it's made all the difference in the world to me. So I would encourage you to concentrate on reality - what is right now. It takes time to detox the mind from all that religious clap-trap, but once you do, the constant torments that were caused by religion are gone. You don't need the false promise of a blissful future to be happy now. Don't let religion torment you so that you waste what time you have to enjoy the privilege of being alive.

u/Rayne58 · 2 pointsr/ifyoulikeblank

Ohh I got some goodies for ya, Hermann Hesse is amazing and opened me up to many books.

  1. Just buy it right now..seriously. The Book of Mirdad by Mikhail Naimy

  2. Another Classic by Herman Hesse Demian

    3)Another with a similar feel as Siddhartha The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

    So these top 3 are the "closest" to Siddartha that I've read. You will defintely like the top 3, they are amazing books with such fundamental truths told through a story. All easy to read and similiar in length.

    These next 4 are just suggested for anyone that is into these types of books, I would almost guarantee that you will love them! They are just less "story" like. The Autobiography is an amazing read, and is indeed a story but it's non-fiction. The Way of Zen is just a beautiful book, but is not a fiction along with the Bhagavad and The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (The author actually suggests Siddhartha in it!)

  3. If you liked Siddhartha heavily for it's spiritual aspects and the effect it left on you, this book has changed me deeply (they all have but this book is a little different) The Autobiography of a Yogi by
    Paramahansa Yogananda


    5)And his translation of The Bhagavad Gita

    6)Good ol' Allan Watts The Way of Zen

  4. Another highly suggested book The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari by Robin Sharma

    Enjoy my friend!
u/Chroko · 2 pointsr/SuicideWatch

Your problems stem from nothing besides being extremely intelligent. You have been underusing your mental ability and walked down a dark back-alley of the mind, thinking far too deeply about problems in the world that we have no control over and have unsettled yourself. I've been there myself.

Interestingly enough, the other people I've met who have done this tend to be philosophy students. They've been to the metaphorical edge of existence - and they came back changed. Sometimes depressed (such as yourself and perhaps me), sometimes with a wild abandon to do and experience everything with no regard to risk (such as one girl I met recently and am completely failing to get to know because she's disappeared off around the world backpacking and has no idea when she's returning.)

Solution #1: Read "The Way Of Zen" (iTunes audiobook). I am completely serious. At worst, you'll find some of the anecdotes funny. At best, it'll show you a school of thought that the Chinese developed over thousands of years to cope with the weight of existence.

Solution #2: Do more sports. Decide to become a champion at _____, with the goal of competing in the nationals / olympic games. By the time you get there (or fail), you'll sit back and realize that you're in the best shape of your life, have had some wonderful adventures - and are looking forward to what's next.

u/rockytimber · 2 pointsr/zen

I like the zen cases, and the "sayings of literature" for the zen characters where its available. There are the Sayings of Joshu, Sayings of Layman Pang, and Sayings of Dongshan.

Some translations are so horrible, and the preface/introduction parts so slanted it is hard to take, but if you have any immunity at all to religious rhetoric, you should be able to cope with texts like

https://www.amazon.com/Sayings-Layman-Pang-Classic-China/dp/1590306309

and

https://www.amazon.com/Recorded-Sayings-Zen-Master-Joshu/dp/157062870X/ref=pd_sim_14_1?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=157062870X&pd_rd_r=ZD18X8D9RYN83KG1972P&pd_rd_w=xOAri&pd_rd_wg=U5T69&psc=1&refRID=ZD18X8D9RYN83KG1972P

and

https://www.amazon.com/Just-This-Dongshan-Practice-Suchness/dp/1611802288/ref=sr_1_fkmr0_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519943814&sr=1-1-fkmr0&keywords=Sayings+of++Dongshan

People get very particular, find their favorite editions and translations, go very deep into it, but for me, years ago, starting out, even this simple little book

https://www.amazon.com/Zen-Flesh-Bones-Collection-Writings/dp/B001Q745TS/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519943904&sr=1-2&keywords=Paul+Reps+flesh+bones

or

https://www.amazon.com/Way-Zen-Alan-W-Watts/dp/0375705104/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1519943976&sr=1-1&keywords=alan+watts+the+way+of+zen

were real gifts that I could and did read over and over. The main thing is to pick up the scent and be able to avoid frauds that take you down a dead end or a different path than what the zen stories were pointing to.

If you don't mind u/ewk, just look at the texts he quotes in his posts: https://np.reddit.com/user/ewk/submitted/

there is a treasure right there, for free.

u/daybreak214 · 2 pointsr/suggestmeabook

I've read about twenty books dealing with the topic of Buddhism. The best general introduction I can suggest is The Noble Eightfold Path: Way to the End of Suffering by Bhikkhu Bodhi.

If you are interested in Zen, I would suggest The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. Best wishes.

u/haCkFaSe · 2 pointsr/books

I'd recommend Alan Watts. Here are two of my favorite:

The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are
or maybe
The Way of Zen

u/MrRexaw · 2 pointsr/Buddhism

The Life Of Milarepa

An Introduction To Zen Buddhism by D.T. Suzuki

The Way Of Zen by Alan Watts

Be Here Now by Ram Dass

These are just some of the better ones ive read so far, all really great starting off points into Buddhism. Zen in particular. Good luck!

u/iamacowmoo · 2 pointsr/Buddhism

I think those moments you feel in yoga and biking are exactly what you need more of. A meditator is called a yogi. It is about focusing the mind. Yoga is focusing the mind while in many asanas (postures) and meditation is focusing the mind in one asana (usually sitting, though it could be walking or whatever you pick). You can just as easily practice Biking Meditation as well (I like running meditation).

Those brief moments are touching your experience in the present moment. Keeping in touch with the present is what you are practicing with meditation. This is what is extraordinarily simple and natural. Keep reading these difficult ideas, find some more accessible books, and start regularly practicing/sitting and you should be good to go. Happy learning!

Edit: For an accessible book check out The Way of Zen by Alan Watts. Or Steve Hagen's Buddhism Plain and Simple.

u/aniafaery · 2 pointsr/stopsmoking

So I picked up and started reading The Way Of Zen by Alan Watts somewhere around day 3. It seriously helped with my anger issues (on one previous attempt to quit I ran someone off the road onto the shoulder because she cut me off in traffic) and in general has made me a calmer person than the smoking ever managed to trick me into thinking I was. I completely think that mindfulness meditation is what made this attempt to quit actually work (or seem to be working).

Or you could just be an angry person and as long as you don't hurt anyone, rage on sister. :)

u/epi_420 · 1 pointr/AlanWatts

"The Joyous Cosmology" is a wonderful exposé of Alan's experience using psychedelic drugs.

I also found "The Way of Zen" to be a really great explanation of the history of Zen as well as many Zen principles and ideas (through the lens of Alan's own philosophy, of course).

u/GaboBR · 1 pointr/Buddhism

The Way of Zen, by Alan Watts

The Three Pilars of Zen, by Philip Kapleau Roshi

Confession of a Buddhist Atheist, by Stephen Batchelor.

Outside of that, most of the stuff that I read comes from brazilian monks, like Monja Coen or Monje Gensho

u/aricbcool · 1 pointr/taoism

Rather than refrain from talking about zen, perhaps endeavor to further understand it.

Besides, you might find out that you understand it after all. :)

May I recommend a book?

u/Locke005 · 1 pointr/reddit.com

If you want to get interested in Zen, I suggest reading a couple books. Books will give you a good idea of what to expect and probably give you some positive motivation to get going.

I recommend books by Alan Watts and Thich Nhat Hahn. They have been very influencial for me.

Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hahn

The Way of Zen by Alan Watts

The most important thing is practicing. It is easy to see the path but it is an entirely different thing to actually walk the path. Try sitting down on your couch and meditating for five minutes. If you need instructions you can find talks given by Gil Fronsdal that will guide you at Audio Dharma

u/Realistik84 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

The Way of Zen by Alan Watts.
http://www.amazon.com/Way-Zen-Alan-W-Watts/dp/0375705104/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1299081363&sr=8-1

Zen is a way of life, not a religion, not a belief, but a way of living that will aid in understanding the world around you. However, it is a rooted ancient system, and therefore difficult for westerners to understand. A different way of thinking altogether. Alan Watts breaks it down better than anyone else in terms of allowing a westerner to understand an eastern belief.

u/kaaist · 1 pointr/productivity
u/JLMA · 1 pointr/Mindfulness

thank you again for your replies; very well articulated, very helpful to me

I would like to ask you for your favorite resources on how to enhance mindfulness/awareness.

Mine are E Tolle's The Power Of Now and Stillness Speaks.

I listened to Alan Watts Out Of Your Mind and Do You Do It or Does It Do You?: How to Let the Universe Meditate You, and read his The Way Of Zen. I liked the book very much, did not enjoy much the audios. I went right back to listening to E Tolle audiobooks, mainly his TPON.

Also, I am reading the The Zen Teaching of Huang Po

What about you? What do you definitely think I should listen to or read?

u/undercovercovers · 1 pointr/Buddhism

READ ALAN WATTS. The Way of Zen is amazing. Zen is probably the most natural for an atheist- speaking as an agnostic zen minded kinda guy.

u/callousedfingers · 1 pointr/INTP

If I might recommend a couple, there are two books I read fairly frequently to help me keep my mind focused.

Buddhism Plain and Simple

The Way of Zen

I'd recommend them to anybody, but perhaps especially INTPs

u/qq2345 · 1 pointr/askgaybros

So I used several items when I first started:


https://grokker.com/mind/expert/alister-gray/57fcc1dcc179d39938867c73


I really liked this coach (and remember, the coach is everything when first starting out). I used this as a beginner step and then took some more full courses with him. There are also several apps I recommend as well to get started:


https://apps.apple.com/us/app/stop-breathe-think/id778848692

​

https://www.headspace.com/headspace-meditation-app


Here are some books I also recommend:


https://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-Thinking-Norman-Vincent/dp/0743234804


https://www.amazon.com/Way-Zen-Alan-W-Watts/dp/0375705104/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=the+way+of+zen&qid=1563019780&s=books&sr=1-2


This one is for once you clear your conscious and start to interact with others:


https://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034/ref=sr_1_3?crid=22WVROTLAUEQU&keywords=how+to+win+friends+and+influence+people+by+dale+carnegie&qid=1563019812&s=books&sprefix=how+to+win%2Cstripbooks%2C189&sr=1-3



Hope it helps. It really depends on who you vibe with as a coach.

u/teddyrux · -2 pointsr/atheism
  • Yes, outside the universe. Then do some real science within the system known as the universe.
  • I'm sorry I cannot explain to you what I have learned in 400 pages in 30 seconds of your time. He is a Pulitzer Prize winning author with a Ph.d in physics.
  • You're looking to a scientific language to answer questions that cannot be expressed in scientific language. Read some Alan Watts too. The Way of Zen makes mention how English and Japanese have differing ways of expression and because of that, formulate how our minds come to think.

    In the end, do you really need a yes/no checkmark for the belief in something greater than yourself as an individual?