The Essence of ZEN: The Teachings of Sekkei Harada - Tapa blanda

"In this gem of a book, Zen Master Harada Sekkei wields the life-affirming sword of Zen practice. Readers will experience his keen Dharma eye that cuts through even the slightest movement towards self-centeredness and that illuminates the universal law of cause and effect. Harada Roshi's insistence of mutual support among all people serves to inspire readers to affirm a world in which we all awaken together."--Roshi Wendy Egyoku Nakao, Abbot & Head Teacher, Zen Center of Los Angeles

"Sekkei Harada, one of the most important Japanese Soto Zen masters of this age, goes straightforwardly into the heart of Zen practice."--Shohaku Okumura, co-translator of Opening the Hand of Thought and Dogen's Extensive Record

"In this book we meet the big heart of Harada Sekkei Roshi, tireless teacher of the Dharma to many students in America and Europe. He is here, encouraging us with kindness, patience, and clarity. I highly recommend this book."--Zenkei Blanche Hartman, Senior Dharma Teacher and Former Abbess of San Francisco Zen Center

"The Essence of Zen offers encouragement to the beginner and reminders to the more experienced Zen student. Sekkei Harada reminds us that Zen practice knows no cultural limitations, exhorting us to take practice as expedient means for awakening. He then warns us of the dangers of any goal directed spiritual practice and encourages us to come to realization in our bones, not in our thinking minds. This is a compassionate book from a realized master, a book that deserves to be read and reread."--Zen Master Dae Gak

Sekkei Harada is of automatic interest to anyone with an interest in modern Zen history. Like such big Zen names as Seung Sahn and Taizan Maezumi, he’s very no-nonsense and gets right to the matter. Harada’s specialization, captured here, is in treating our "Zen sickness," pushing us to drop those parts of ourselves that grasp and make demands regarding our understanding or progress in Zen practice. He also explains the differences between Zen’s primary schools, helping newer practitioners find their way.