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by xavoy 5320 days ago
Western Zen is very western/scientific/rational. Most of the teachers in the lineage I belong to are also psychologists, psychotherapists or counselors (but your teacher is NOT your therapist). Stephen Bachelor has been a Tibetan AND a Zen monk, but is now neither. He wrote a book called "Buddhism Without Beliefs" which might suit you.

Note though that it is almost impossible to separate meditation as it relates to your mind, and meditation as it relates to your bodily actions. When you start to understand the way your mind works, and how everything fits together, you would have to be pretty ignorant to not alter your actions accordingly. Indeed, using your brain 'more effectively' can only happen by applying what you learn.

(IE, there is no state that you 'attain' and from then on you are 'more effective'. Meditation is a 'practice' and so you must practice it, you don't attain anything at all)

edit: correcting misspelled book title. Should be "Buddhism Without Beliefs" not "Buddhist Without Beliefs".
2 comments
cmer 5320 days ago
I was also about to purchase the book as well only to find out it is not available on the Kindle. I realized that I never actually read the paperbooks I buy so I figured I'd stop buying them altogether.

Are you aware of great alternative book that might be available in digital format?

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xavoy 5320 days ago
Unfortunately (I'm a kindle lover too!) the best books on Zen are either out of print completely or not available digitally :( Here's a couple of good lists thought:

http://www.sfzc.org/zc/display.asp?catid=1,5,168&pageid=... http://szc.org.au/reading.html

Given the context of this discussion, I would recommend reading Charlotte Joko Beck's books. Specifically Nothing Special, which is available digitally on Amazon :)

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cmer 5320 days ago
I caved and ended up buying BOTH Buddhism Without Beliefs and Nothing Special. I got Nothing Special for $4 (used/paperback) so I figured I'll just throw it in.

Looking forward to some reading!

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jessriedel 5320 days ago
Thanks very much. "Buddhist Without Beliefs" is going in the Amazon basket.
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