You will find as this blog progresses that I am a voracious reader. If the book engages my interest, I am unable to put it down until it's either finished or I succumb to exhaustion. With that said, here's the first of many book reviews I'm sure to write for probably years to come.
The book I am reading now, for the second time I must add, is The Complete Idiot's Guide to Zen Living by Gary R. McClain, Ph.D., and Eve Adamson. I picked it up about a year and a half ago, while I was going through a personal crisis; I suppose one of many. The title may sound hokey, but this book has really inspired me to make positive changes in my life.
The first thing to note is that it does not preach or espouse Buddhism in any way. The first couple chapters do explain the history, basic beliefs and philosophies of Buddhism, and in particular Zen Buddhism. However, after that, the remaining chapters apply what you've learned with the fundamentals and apply them to daily living. Of particular interest is the use of mediation for effective stress management. Believe me, I've read that chapter over and over again!
As the book progresses, it discusses the application of Zen philosophy to yourself, your family, your home, and even school or work. One theme that is stressed repeatedly is to have the ability to detach emotion from physical objects; that wanting money or other items only create suffering. When I read that part, my first reaction was "Whoa!"
So, if you're looking for some ways to be able to manage day-to-day stresses of the world, give The Complete Idiot's Guide to Zen Living a read.
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