The story of the 80-year-old Catholic priest who sheds tears his first time meditating; the parable of potatoes that are best cleaned by being rubbed against each other; the koan about the sound of one hand--in 365 Zen, Jean Smith mines the now vast body of English language Zen literature, plucking out gems for appreciative handling. Laid out for daily contemplation, each passage is less than a page in length, and although short enough to be read in just a few moments, they have enough gleaming facets to keep you turning them over all day. Seasoned students and avid readers of Zen will find much of the material familiar--Thich Nhat Hanh, Shunryu Suzuki, Charlotte Joko Beck--but having it sorted and refined into daily doses makes for convenient practice. And whether you are a novice or an expert, you will be sure to find enough treasures to keep your mind unbusy every day of the year. --Brian Bruya

Book Description
In this book of daily meditations, veteran Buddhist writer and editor Jean Smith gives us Zen’s most memorable teachings in a uniquely accessible format. Drawn from all of Zen’s major schools and teachers, the 365 inspiring selections illuminate Zen’s major themes, including zazen, koans, detachment, karma, emptiness and enlightenment. Complete with a directory of Zen centres, a glossary of Buddhist terms, and an index of topics and authors, 365 Zen is an essential daily companion for anyone interested in Zen.

About the Author
Jean Smith is the editor of Everyday Mind, Breath Sweeps Mind, and Radiant Mind, all of which were created under the auspices of Tricycle, North America's premier Buddhist magazine.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

"Watermelons and Zen students grow pretty much the same way. Long periods of sitting till they ripen and grow all juicy inside, but when you knock them on the head to see if they're ready-sounds like nothing's going on."— Peter Levitt, One Hundred Butterflies

Welcome the wisdom, inspiration, and humor of Zen into every day of the year with this handy collection of daily readings. The memorable sayings, teaching stories, poems, and koans in 365 Zen offer an aid to meditation for Zen enthusiasts-and moments of reflection for the curious newcomer. Drawing from every Zen tradition, including those of China, Japan, Korea, Vietnam, and America, these concise yet profound writings-from modern Zen teachers such as Thich Nhat Hanh, Charlotte Joko Beck, Bernard Glassman, Philip Kapleau, Robert Aitken, Dainin Katagiri,Shunryu Suzuki, Seung Sahn, and D. T. Suzuki, and ancient Zen masters such as Dogen and Joshu-illuminate such themes as zazen, nonattachment, karma, emptiness, and enlightenment. A glossary of Buddhist terms, a directory of Zen centers, and an index of topics and authors make 365 Zen the perfect companion for all who seek to see the world through the eyes of Zen.