Zen Play (Instructions on Becoming Fully Alive)
About this audiobook
"Brenda Eshin Shoshanna's book - Zen Play, is a brilliant gem, the graceand precision of turning problems into koans keeps us spellbound. Koans like,"Find Your Precious Jewel," remind us to stop looking outside for what can onlybe found within. And, "Drink A Cup of Green Tea", restores us to beautifulsimplicity and clarity, which ignites our spirit of aliveness. I've read itfrom the first page to the last, love it and highly recommend it."
--Michio J. Rolek, Author, LifeCoach, Great granddaughter of Sokei-an Shigestsu Sassaki, First Zen Patriarchin the West.
"Brenda Shoshanna is one of the most innovative and provocative Buddhistthinkers in the United States today. In Zen Play, she provides a compelling newapproach to traditional koan study--one that offers the reader the opportunityto turn his or her whole life into a koan. Written in a simple yet evocativestyle and filled with timeless wisdom, Zen Play is a work that will appeal to bothnewcomers to Zen thought as well as those seeking to deepen their understandingof koan practice.
--Michael S. Russo, Ph.D. Professorof Philosophy, Molloy College
"The need to help others transform their suffering doesn't come to everyone.Brenda Shoshanna has proven it time and again, with compassion and clarity, walkingwith so many. Zen Play, Instructions on Becoming Fully Alive, offers the readera way to wake up and to love."
--Danny Eglowitz, CASAC, DynamicYouth Community
“Brenda's Zen work is a good place to begin, to begin again and to never finish. Those searching for the "Way" will find there is no such thing. But much more, Brenda's book is delightful. Those suffering from "frozen attention" will laugh at ourselves."
--Fr. Robert Kennedy, Roshi. Founder, Morningstar Zen.
Life presents inscrutable challenges daily that are impossible to figure out. In the world of Zen, these ancient dilemmas and questions were called koans. They cannot be answered in the usual way. And yet a response must be made! Your very life depends on it.
ZEN PLAY connects these ancient koans with your everyday life. It shows how daily dilemmas are none other than koans that life is presenting to you now. In the book you will discover the Zen way of working with koans, and how to approach your challenges that way as well. As you stop trying to figure things out and jump into Zen Play you will gain access to the enormous riches, wisdom and joy within. Then what you have previously viewed as a problem will become an adventure, bringing aliveness and strength. Along with anecdotes and discussion, there are specific guidelines and enjoyable exercises which allows you to apply the material directly to your everyday life.
Written by a psychologist, and long term Zen practitioner Zen Play presents a new path, offering the power of simple moments.
About the author
A psychologist and therapist for 28 years, Dr. Brenda Shoshanna published work has integrated psychology and spirituality in facing life’s crucial questions. She is the author of numerous books in the spirituality, zen, psychology and relationship genres, including FEARLESS: 7 PRINCIPLES TO PEACE OF MIND, THE ANGER DIET: 30 DAYS TO STRESS FREE LIVING (listed as one of the best books of the year by Spirituality and Health), JEWISH DHARMA, ZEN AND THE ART OF FALLING IN LOVE, ZEN MIRACLES, WHY MEN LEAVE, GETTING HIM TO TALK, SAVE YOUR RELATIONSHIP, LIVING BY ZEN, EVERYDAY GRATITUDE and THE HAPPY MARRIAGE MANUAL.
Her books all offer psychological, practical and spiritual guidance, combining spiritual wisdom with psychological insight and practical advice. She has received wide critical-acclaim for all of her books, with excellent reviews from publications such as Tricycle, Publishers Weekly, Body & Soul and others, and she has won the NABE Award for the Best Book of the Year in the Category of Health. Her books have been translated into 18 languages, and she appears frequently on national television, in national print, and in major venues online (she is the Relationship Expert on iVillage.com). She has spoken and taught at many universities and has offered over 500 talks and workshops nationally on all aspects of psychology, spirituality and fulfilling one’s potential. She also hosted her own radio show on the Gary Null network, which offered her a weekly platform to address a wide range of issues dealing with spirituality and self-help.
Please visit her website at www.drshoshanna.com, to learn more, and to watch video.
