Book Review - Being Zen by Ezra Bayda

i have read this book three times since 2002. And now i am reading it for the 4th time =)

Overall, what makes this book so valuable in my spiritual practice is the practical advice offered by the author on practicing in the messiness of our everyday living in our modern society. this book offers the nuts and bolts of everyday practice as a layperson (the author is a layperson himself, he received dharma transmission from Joko Beck - a Dharma heir of Taizan Maezumi Roshi)

the book is divided into 3 parts - the basics, practicing with emotional distress and awakening compassion.


part 1 - the basics - offers a close up look at how we are living our life. Are we seeing our difficulties as obstacles on our practice path or can we see them as the path itself? Then he goes into explaining the basics of practice - how to bring awareness into our life, how to shine the light of awareness on our conditioning and all its manisfestations. the technique of labelling and experiencing is especially helpful.


part 2 - seing emotional distress as the stuff of our practice path - this is a real gem, very rare that u will find a spiritual manual that explains with clarity and in detail on how to practice with all the emotional reactions that arises within us. working with our anger, fear, pain, distress are our practice path itself. i have found his advice immensely helpful as over the years, i have slowly but surely brought some light of awareness and understanding into these dark parts of my conditioning...


part 3 - awakening the heart of compassion - the practice of compassion and loving kindness that completes the picture of our practice. sharing his stories from his experience as a hospice volunteer, u will find plenty of heartfelt practical advice to integrate kindness and compassion into our practice...


Finally perhaps its the way Ezra Bayda writes, with clear language and simplicity, sometimes using his own stories to illustrate, that makes his teachings so accessible and helpful in my practice. This book is very much one of my "core textbook" in spiritual practice. Highly recommended reading to integrate practice into the messiness of our everyday life.