An exceptionally clear and comprehensive manual on spiritual practice.
I have read Ezra's other 2 books "Being Zen" and "At home in the Muddy Waters" and had found the techniques learned from them helpful in extending my spiritual practice beyond the meditation cushion into everyday living.
I have read Ezra's other 2 books "Being Zen" and "At home in the Muddy Waters" and had found the techniques learned from them helpful in extending my spiritual practice beyond the meditation cushion into everyday living.
"Zen Heart" is in the same spirit and i would say even better! In "Zen Heart", besides offering a wealth of practical advice for extending practice beyond our meditation cushion, Ezra also provides a roadmap by breaking down practice into 3 overlapping phases - the me phase, being awareness and being kindness phases. The Me Phase, in which we uncover deeply held beliefs about ourselves, observe our emotions and fears. Being Awareness, in which we cultivate a sense of life-as-it-is, waking up from the "story-line of me" into a more spacious sense of being. Being Kindness, in which we connect with the love that is our true nature, and learning to live from that place of natural loving kindness and compassion.
I think that this roadmap is a very useful guide that help to clarify and de-mystify the whole process and dynamics of spiritual practice. Each of these phases describes a particular inner process that each of us must go through on our spiritual journey and all 3 are essential components that makes up a complete practice.
I regard Ezra as my teacher, through his books, writings and am in deep gratitude to what i have learnt from him over the past couple years from his earliest publication "Being Zen" to this latest one "Zen Heart". This is a book, that I would recommend to everyone keen on deepening his/her own spirituality.
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