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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 294
EAN num: 9780062511171
ISBN number: 0062511173
Label: HarperOne
Manufacturer: HarperOne
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 177
Printing Date: September 03, 1993
Publishing house: HarperOne
Release Date: September 03, 1994
Sale Popularity Level: 90509
Studio: HarperOne
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Chapter OneStruggle Whirlpools and Stagnant Waters We are rather like whirlpools in the river of life. In flowing forward, a river or stream may hit rocks, branches, or irregularities in the ground, causing whirlpools to spring up spontaneously here and there. Water entering one whirlpool quickly passes through and rejoins the river, eventually joining another whirlpool and moving on. Though for short periods it seems to be distinguishable as a separate event, the water in the whirlpools is just the river itself. The stability of a whirlpool is only temporary. The energy of the river of life forms living things -- a human being, a cat or dog, trees and plants -- then what held the whirlpool in place is itself altered, and the whirlpool is swept away, reentering the larger flow. The energy that was a particular whirlpool fades out and the water passes on, perhaps to be caught again and turned for a moment into another whirlpool. We'd rather not think of our lives in this way, however. We don't want to see ourselves as simply a temporary formation, a whirlpool in the river of life. The fact is, we take form for a while; then when conditions are appropriate, we fade out. There's nothing wrong with fading out; it's a natural part of the process. However, we want to think that this little whirlpool that we are isn't part of the stream. We want to see ourselves as permanent and stable. Our whole energy goes into trying to protect our supposed separateness. To protect the separateness, we set up artificial, fixed boundaries; as a consequence, we accumulate excess baggage, stuff that slips into our whirlpool and can't flow out again. So things clog up our whirlpool and the process getsmessy. The stream needs to flow naturally and freely. If our particular whirlpool is all bogged down, we also impair the energy of the stream itself. It can't go anywhere. Neighboring whirlpools may get less water because of our frantic holding on. What we can best do for ourselves and for life is to keep the water in our whirlpool rushing and clear so that it is just flowing in and flowing out. When it gets all clogged up, we create troubles -- mental, physical, spiritual. We serve other whirlpools best if the water that enters ours is free to rush through and move on easily and quickly to whatever else needs to be stirred. The energy of life seeks rapid transformation. If we can see life this way and not cling to anything, life simply comes and goes. When debris flows into our little whirlpool, if the flow is even and strong, the debris rushes around for a while and then goes on its way. Yet that's not how we live our lives. Not seeing that we are simply a whirlpool in the river of the universe, we view ourselves as separate entities, needing to protect our boundaries. The very judgment 'I feel hurt' establishes a boundary, by naming an 'I' that demands to be protected. Whenever trash floats into our whirlpool, we make great efforts to avoid it, to expel it, or to somehow control it. Ninety percent of a typical human life is spent trying to put boundaries around the whirlpool. We're constantly on guard: 'He might hurt me.' 'This might go wrong.' 'I don't like him anyway.' This is a complete misuse of our life function; yet we all do it to some degree. Financial worries reflect our struggle to maintain fixed boundaries. 'What if my investment doesn't work out? I might lose all ofmy money.' We don't want anything to threaten our money supply. We all think that would be a terrible thing. By being protective and anxious, clinging to our assets, we clog up our lives. Water that should be rushing in and out, so it can serve, becomes stagnant. A whirlpool that puts up a dam around itself and shuts itself off from the river becomes stagnant and loses its vitality. Practice is about no longer being caught in the particular, and instead seeing it for what it is -- a part of the whole. Yet we spend most of our energies creating stagnant water. That's what living in fear will do. The fear exists because the whirlpool doesn't understand what it is-none other than the stream itself. Until we get an inkling of that truth, all of our energies go in the wrong direction. We create many stagnant pools, which breed contamination and disease. Pools seeking to dam themselves for protection begin to contend with one another. 'You're smelly. I don't like you.' Stagnant pools cause a lot of trouble. The freshness of life is gone. Zen practice helps us to see how we have created stagnation in our lives. 'Have I always been so angry, and just never noticed it?' So our very first discovery in practice is to recognize our own stagnation, created by our self-centered thoughts. The biggest problems are created by attitudes we cannot see in ourselves. Unacknowledged depression, fear, and anger create rigidity. When we recognize the rigidity and stagnation, the water begins to flow again, bit by bit. So the most vital part of practice is to be willing to be life itself -- which is simply the incoming sensations -- that which creates our whirlpool. Over the years, we have trained ourselves todo the opposite: to create stagnant pools. This is our false accomplishment. Out of this ongoing effort come all of our troubles and our separation from life. We don't know how to be intimate, to be the stream of life. A stagnant whirlpool with defended boundaries isn't close to anything. Caught in a self-centered dream, we suffer, as one of our daily Zen Center vows states. Practice is the slow reversal of that. With most students, this reversal is the work of a lifetime. The change is often painful, especially at first. When we are used to the rigidity and controlled stiffness of a defended life, we don't want to allow fresh currents into awareness, however refreshing they may truly be.
User popularity level:
Rated by buyers 
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I read this book more than a couple of years ago, but I still feel that I benefit from what I learned from it. It really increased my mindfulness and awareness of my own thoughts and behavior. I think that the benefits I got from the book have led me to a better place. I highly recommend it both for disciplined meditators and those who currently are neither disciplined nor meditators :)
Rated by buyers -
When I purchased this book online about a year ago, I had no idea what a gift it would be. I was curious about Zen, but hadn't incorporated it into my life quite yet. I read pieces of the book here and there, and I soon realized there was something really incredible about it. It seemed like no matter what I was going through in life, reading only a few pages would "speak" to me incredibly. It feels like this book was written just for me, and I believe that chances are you will feel the same way when you read it for yourself. The book is so excellent that I decided to purchase it for my friend. Finally yesterday I have finished this book, and I can't wait to read it again.
This book is very down to earth. Compassionate, but brutally honest. If you will open your mind and heart, this book will guide you in transforming your "small mind" into "big mind." I would say this book is equivalent to a Christian devotional. Definitely won't hurt to read one short chapter everyday. This book will continue giving, and perhaps you will too. :)
Rated by buyers 
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An Ok read - nothing special. There are no answers for life in this book, just guidance for sitting.
Rated by buyers -
I purchased this book about 5 years ago and it has certainly changed my life. I keep it on hand daily, and turn to it when I find myself getting carried away with the "pressures" of life in modern America. Joko's words keep me grounded and remind me that none of the problems I experience are real - what is real is the experience of the moment. It's a lot easier to understand this than to do it on a regular basis, but at least there's a guide when the way seems lost.
This was my very first (and favorite) book on Zen Buddhism and I can recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand what is really going on in our heads. It can be hard to accept if you're not ready, but following Joko's teachings has gotten me out of the Rat Race for good.
Lastly, I could not disagree more with the reviewer who gave it one star and only liked the very first story. This book is full of great metaphors for understanding what Living Zen (real life) is all about.
Rated by buyers -
I read "Everyday Zen" several times and loved it. Recently saw this book on the shelf, bought it immediately and was not disappointed.
I am not sure where one of the previous reviewers got the notion that there are no teachings in Zen. The very history of it is based on names of teachers, starting with Buddha. Rinzai, Boddhidharma, Suzuki - these are just a few that come to mind. Well, Beck is another name for that list.
And yes, it requires years of practice to get an undertanding. And even after years and years of sitting, old techers will tell you that they are just beginners in Zen.
Go figure... Or just sit...
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