Enlightenment or your money back!

How can we see the world in each moment, rather than merely as what we think, hope, or fear it is?
How can we base our actions on reality, rather than on the longing and loathing of our hearts and minds?
How can we live lives that are wise, compassionate, and in tune with reality?
And how can we separate the wisdom of Buddhism from the cultural trappings and misconceptions that have come to be associated with it?

Steve Hagen's Buddhism is Not What You Think is pretty straight forward. He sets out to answer the above four questions whilst addressing the title of the book. And he does this in the introduction. The rest of the book is pretty much just examples to drive the main point home.

There aren't too many books that wrap their entire argument/premise up quite this quickly. But that probably comes back to the message Hagen is trying to get across about Buddhism and truth. Essentially, we already know truth, but we are too caught up in everything else in life to see it. Thus, Zen practice and Buddhism are about helping get past the distractions.

This was a fairly solid book for advice around Zen practice. But the philosophy aspects I was after were a bit light on.

"We often think we know things when in fact it's only our imagination taking us further and further away from what is actually happening. What we imagine then seems very real to us. Soon we're caught up in our imaginary longings and loathings. But if you're here - truly present - you realize there's nothing to run from or to go after. You can stay calm...Just be with this moment and see what's going on."

Never finished it, but it's one of those books that I'm glad to have as a reference on my bookshelf in case I need a quick dose or a life lesson.

There are some fine insights, interesting lore and personal stories, and candid explications here. Unfortunately there is also a lot of tiresome repetition that is doggedly on the nose, and somewhat homely prose that frequently seems to lose track of itself. The really good bits, and there are many, throw the breezy bromides into starker relief, and make me wish the author had taken more care to emulate some of the laconism so reverently featured in so many tales about zen monks. I would still recommend this book as a competent introduction to the fundamental purposes of zen, its unique strength being its frank repudiation of a lot of popular (and arcane) misconceptions (both saccharine and dour), while managing to retain a friendly popular style without veering too far into triteness.

it is a good, yet slow read - only because there is a lot to reflect upon.

i tink batter for it

Buddhism is Not What You Think-Finding Freedom Beyond Beliefs by Steve Hagen
In his clear and conversational style, much as he did in Buddhism Plain and Simple, Steven Hagen tackles what is a thorny issue for most people coming to Zen practice hoping to "get enlightened" "feel blissed out by Nirvana" or those who come to Zen practice hoping to "get" anything at all. As he so simply states through 43 chapters, there is no getting what all beings innately possess (Buddha nature) and no becoming what all beings already are (enlightened). Of course, the idea that all beings are by nature Buddha, is deceptively simple, and enlightenment is so bandied about that few people understand at all what the Buddha meant when he said he was "awake." Hence the problems most people have when coming to Zen practice from the mindset of attaining, achieving, or even letting go of their constructs of reality and self. He delves deeply into the practice of 'just seeing' what is literally one's face--namely, every day Reality, with patience and loving kindness of one who recognizes the possibilities of misunderstanding the difference between seeing and perceiving. He also encourages practitioners and those who would consider zen practice to take the Buddha's instructions to heart and to not accept what he, his teacher, Dainin Katagiri Roshi, or any other spiritual teacher declares as Truth until they have examined it for themselves and found it to be beneficial. There are more seasoned readers whose zen literary forays take them into the deeper waters of the great teachings of the likes of Nagarjuna, and perhaps Hagen's book might be considered redundant. However, for a beginner, or a beginner again, this book presents the fundamentals of zen from as many perspectives as Hagen felt might be useful. Zen literature is replete with anecdotes and stories. Hagen's book does not depart from this tradition. However, he uses the stories and tales of past spiritual masters, so often associated with Zen, like an experienced chef would use delicious seasonings in a plain and nourishing soup. Taste and See!!

amazing book. an eye opener. even if you call yourself a Buddhist I recommend this book. its *not* about religion, just a way of thinking

[http://http://www.dharmafield.org/]

Fijn boek, maar naar mijn idee wel veel herhalingen.

Extremely repetitive. Also bizarrely, tremendously arrogant - the author ironically seems to lack self-awareness. I think the intent has to be to read a chapter at a time, as most of the chapters are just rehashing the same two or three tired points, but frankly even when read in this manner the book has nothing to recommend it.

Enjoyable and introspective. Hagen discusses the spirit of Buddhism from a Zen perspective: the illusion of ego, the breaking of subject-object dualism, the nature of sudden enlightenment, the art of manifesting wisdom in the world, and more. Many of his comments reflected perspectives/attitudes I had already discovered in myself through reading the primary sources (Yuanwu, Huangpo, Huineng, etc.) - but he delivers them in a holistic and polished manner, inspiring the reader to practice Zen more wholeheartedly. By focusing on perception before conception, and on here and now instead of elsewhere and elsewhen, we can liberate ourselves from needless suffering. This book requires some background knowledge of Zen (and Buddhist philosophy), so it is best suited for the intermediate practitioner.

It was okay, a little too abstract for my taste.

more self help than history, but good insights into zen practice and awareness.