Appreciate Your Life : Zen Teachings of Taizan Maezumi Roshi

Rating:
Summary: excellent
Review: A refreshing, personal approach to zen buddhism, after the (on purpose) mind numbing of the Blue Cliff Record or the Gateless Gate. Often very inspiring. Right up there with Shunryu Suzuki and all the other more colorful modern Japanese lineage. We who think we are lost, feel more found, after this finger.

Rating:
Summary: A Great Teacher
Review: In the book "Appreciate Your Life", we come in contact with a compilation of teachings once given by one of the West's greatest Dharma propogators. One would not be making an understatement in saying that Taizan Maezumi was quite possibly one of the most influential Zen masters of modern times. Three of his Dharma heirs include Bernie Glassman Roshi, Dennis Genpo Merzel Roshi, and Charlotte Joko Beck. If you know anything about just one of those 3 individuals, you understand Taizan Maezumi's wonderful teachings.

This book shows Maezumi's unique teaching style throughout, providing us with insight after insight unto both the philosophy, and more importantly, the practice of Zen Buddhism. He covers zazen, koan work-and in a nutshell, how to simply appreciate this life we all have. After all, having life is truly awesome! This being so, we go through some rough periods, as well. That's why we practice and sit zazen, why we hold a koan. And yet not only for ourselves, but for everyone we encounter. We literally practice for everyone. I also recommend Tuttle Library's "Teaching of the Great Mountain: Zen Talks by Taizan Maezumi" for those interested in further reading on him. Sincerely, buy this book. It's not "just another book on Zen"; no this book is about life. Guaranteed to not simply collect dust!

Enjoy:)

Rating:
Summary: The other Soto master
Review: This is a great book! When most people think of Japanese masters who brought Soto Zen to the US they think of S. Suzuki, but I feel this book is way better than Maezumi's San Francisco counterpart's Zen Mind Beginer's Mind. Appreciate Your Life is far better at getting to the heart of Zen.