{"product_id":"mind-sky-zen-teaching-on-living-and-dying-9781614297598","title":"Mind Sky: Zen Teaching on Living and Dying","description":"\u003cb\u003eA collection of talks, photos, and calligraphy by Jakusho Kwong-roshi, exploring the profound beauty of Zen history and practice, nature, and the philosophy of the ancient Zen master Eihei Dogen.\u003c\/b\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"In Zen meditation, anything that comes in your mind will eventually leave, because nothing is permanent. A thought is like a cloud moving across the blue sky. Nothing can disturb that all-encompassing vastness. This is the Dharma\". \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In a collection of talks and anecdotes, Jakusho Kwong-roshi, a Dharma successor of Shunryu Suzuki-roshi, presents his approach to Buddhist teaching. Containing photos of Kwong-roshi with his teachers, as well as a selection of his vibrant calligraphy, \u003ci\u003eMind Sky\u003c\/i\u003e explores the profound beauty of Zen history and practice, nature, and the philosophy of the ancient Zen master Eihei Dogen. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e With an elegant simplicity, Jakusho Kwong-roshi shows how Zen is experiential rather than intellectual. And with persistent practice, realization is already yours. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAbout the Author\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJakusho Kwong\u003c\/b\u003e was born in Santa Rosa, California, in 1935, and grew up in Palo Alto. As a boy he worked all summers with his mother in commercial flower growers' fields nearby. During and after his education he was employed in commercial art as a sign painter, and was drawn to calligraphy, particularly zenga, the art of Zen calligraphy. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 1960 he began to study Zen with Shunryu Suzuki-roshi in San Francisco. He was ordained in 1970 by Suzuki-roshi, who was a direct spiritual descendant of Eihei Dogen. In 1973, two years after Suzuki-roshi died, he founded Sonoma Mountain Zen Center in the mountains near Santa Rosa, California, as an expression of gratitude to his teacher and his commitment to continue the unbroken lineage of Soto Zen. Since his study of the transmission ceremony could not be completed before Suzuki-roshi's death, he continued for five more years with Kobun Chino Otogawa-roshi. In 1978 he completed Dharma transmission through Hoitsu Suzuki-roshi under the supervision of Hakusan Noiri-roshi, at Rinso-in Temple in Japan, authorizing him as successor in Suzuki-roshi's lineage. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e In 2009, he was appointed Kokusaifukyoshi (International Zen Teacher) of North America by the Soto School of Japan, which recognizes Sonoma Mountain Zen Center as an authentic Soto Zen temple. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e Jakusho Kwong has taught Zen for nearly fifty years, and founded Zen centers in Poland and Iceland. His first book, No Beginning, No End, was published in 2003. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e He is abbot of Sonoma Mountain Zen Center, where he lives with his wife, Shinko. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cb\u003eShohaku Okumura\u003c\/b\u003e is a Soto Zen priest and Dharma successor of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. He is a graduate of Komazawa University and has practiced in Japan at Antaiji, Zuioji, and the Kyoto Soto Zen Center, and in Massachusetts at the Pioneer Valley Zendo. He is the former director of the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center in San Francisco. His previously published books of translation include \u003ci\u003eShobogenzo Zuimonki\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eDogen Zen\u003c\/i\u003e, \u003ci\u003eZen Teachings of Homeless Kodo\u003c\/i\u003e, and \u003ci\u003eOpening the Hand of Thought\u003c\/i\u003e. Okumura is also editor of \u003ci\u003eDogen Zen and Its Relevance for Our Time\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eSotoZen\u003c\/i\u003e. He is the founding teacher of the Sanshin Zen Community, based in Bloomington, Indiana, where he lives with his family.\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Wisdom Publications","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":50483658883346,"sku":"9781614297598","price":13.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0831\/4771\/8930\/files\/img_d329b8ea-0a07-4a76-b141-d9c287c79e5d.jpg?v=1730365389","url":"https:\/\/surprise-castle.myshopify.com\/products\/mind-sky-zen-teaching-on-living-and-dying-9781614297598","provider":"Surprise Castle","version":"1.0","type":"link"}