Zen Miracles: Finding Peace in an Insane World.

Publisher: Wily
Publication date: April 2002

Avg. Customer Review: 
 

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Excerpt 1:The Miracles of Love
Excerpt 2:The Whole World is Medicine

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About Zen Miracles

This wonderful book brings east and west and ancient and modern worlds together, and provides profound wisdom and guidance for anyone struggling with stress, anxiety or loneliness.

- Publishers Weekly Review: 
March 2002
"It's virtually axiomatic now that America has its own brand of Zen Buddhism, and the author of this skilled volume proves the point. Shoshanna was raised as a Hasidic Jew who has been both practicing zazen and maintaining a psychotherapy practice for more than 25 years. Here she weaves a fine tapestry out of these splendid, assorted threads. Five sections ("Getting Started," "Cravings and Compulsions," "Letting Go," Dissolving the False Self" and "Zen, God and Enlightenment”) use traditional Buddhist and contemporary American stories and quotes and lucid prose to invite anyone and everyone down Zen's calming, clarifying garden path. These forms are supplemented by both provocative koans and "Zen in Action" exercises at the conclusion of each of the 18 short chapters. The last chapter, "Zen and God," might well have been placed first, since it elucidates the neutrality of Zen that can make it completely compatible with other institutionalized or personalized beliefs. This book has less to do with the mechanics of sitting and more to do with the realities of integrating Zen practice into real life. Shoshanna extends an empty and richly filled hand, offering both the sublime and the practical, which are one and the same in the Zen world. This is a highly recommended volume for beginners and new practitioners who are coming to the truth that "to find the answers to your life questions, you must look within. Nothing less will do. Nothing more is needed."'(Apr.) Forecast: Shoshanna is the "relationships expert" on ivillage.com, which should help with the strategic marketing of this title."

Endorsements

“If you are looking for a way to have happiness and still live in this world, you have come to the right book. Rarely do eloquent prose, gems of quotes, simple wisdom, and practical exercises come in one book: Zen Miracles offers all of these and more. Whatever your spiritual orientation, this is a book you will refer to for years to come.”

--Lee Jampolsky, Ph.D., author of Healing Together, Healing the Addictive Mind, and The Art of Trust

Press Release

Good news for everyone! There is a simple way to find peace of mind in the midst of an upside-down world. ZEN MIRACLES (FINDING PEACE IN AN INSANE WORLD), (Wiley, April 2002), turns the world right side up, brings together East and West, Zen and psychology, and ancient and modern worlds to help us find balance and sanity when we feel they’ve disappeared.

This lively and easy to read book provides profound wisdom and guidance for all who wish to live full, useful and satisfying lives, no matter what’s going on. The author, Brenda Shoshanna, Ph.D., psychologist and long term Zen practitioner has been in practice for over 25 years. She is uniquely qualified to share and compare the intimate experiences of both therapy patients and Zen students as they grapple with life’s challenges. ZEN MIRACLES is filled with personal stories of people whose lives were changed through Zen practice.

ZEN MIRACLES contrasts psychological advice for hard times with the wisdom of the great Zen Masters. It includes instruction in Zen practice and many enjoyable exercises, which help the reader integrate Zen practice into his or her everyday life. Some topics covered include.

1. Getting Started: What Is Zen Practice?

2. Becoming Balanced and Centered

3. Undoing Cravings and Compulsions

4. The Three Poisons and How They Rob You

5. Quieting the Monkey Mind

6. Feeding The Hungry Heart

7. Letting Go: Empty Hands

8. The True Man of No Rank: The Zen Fisherman

“Shoshanna extends an empty and richly filled hand, offering both the sublime and the practical, which are one and the same in the Zen world. This is a highly recommended volume for beginners and new practitioners who are coming to the truth that “to find the answers to your life questions, you must look within. Nothing less will do. Nothing more is needed.” Publisher’s Weekly.

Available in Barnes and Noble, Borders and online at Amazon.com 

What is Zen Miracles?

Zen Miracles is a warm, personal introduction to Zen meditation and its numerous spiritual and psychological benefits. 

Written by a psychologist and long term Zen practitioner and teacher, it is filled with personal stories of both patients and Zen students as they grapple with life’s challenges. Instruction in Zen meditation is offered as well as fascinating koans and sayings from the great Zen Masters. 

This book makes the miracles and mysteries of Zen accessible to everyone, regardless of spiritual orientation.

Dr. Shoshanna shows you how to experience the miracle and delight of daily life by simplifying, taking charge of your focus and renewing your original courage and strength. Contrary to popular conception, outside circumstances do not have the power to control us

1. Dispel common myths about happiness

2. Show how to stay balanced and positive during difficult times.

3. Teach how to control focus

4. Show how to feed the hungry heart

5. Describe the three poisons and how they rob us.

6. Help undo cravings and compulsions

7. Teach how to quiet the Monkey Mind

8. Explain what Empty Hands are, and why we need them so badly.

9. Introduce the Zen Fisherman - The True Man Of No Rank.

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