Discover Zen: A Practical Guide to Personal Serenity

So simple and so complex. This book is amazing. It will change you life when you read it.

I highly recommend David Fontana's book to the "just starting out" or "seasoned" Zen practitioner. It's possible the first few times you pick this book up you will not think too much of it. I am a big fan of writings by some mdern Zen Masters like Seung Sahn-or Zen Master Dae Gak- both Kwan Um Zen. I love my school of Zen an awful lot, and these teachers point in some very, very clear ways for anyone up for listening. But I suppose I too was looking for a more simplified version of it all, not that understanding is a huge issue. The sun rises, not too much to understand in that. David Fontana was able in this book to simplify my practice of Zen once I really gave it a shot. And to be perfectly honest I was very surprised in that. I am used to sometimes making practice a bit complicated. And though I am mindful there is no simple or hard---see, COMPLICATED! But seriously, as some of the other reviewers have pointed out-there is a lot of great artwork in here. And basically 29, hands on, very "walk you through the steps" approaches towards meditation / or contemplation. That paired with some decent kong an examples, some brief histories of some of Zen's most famous teachers-Bankei, Dogen, Joshu- Hui Neng- we have ourselves a pretty darned good package I must say. So to a beginner, these exercises for meditation should be "just what the doctor ordered." And for those who have practiced a bit longer, these exercises for meditation should be "just what the doctor ordered." Ha Ha Ha! It's a win all situation! Hapchang to my friends in the Dharma!

Trying to learn Zen from books can be ABSOLUTELY maddening. Some are clearly for people who already know something or know a lot and, to the beginner, these books often don't make sense. Then there are the "cutesy" books that talk down to the readers as if they have been lobotomized. I have to admit that I have been absolutely confused (or frustrated) about most of the many I have read....until now: David Fontana has written a book that is not only a JOY to read and think about -- but a sublime pleasure to look at. The only way to explain this book to you is this way: it is not a long, pondereous book. Yet, it is crammed with info, inspiration and wonderful art. Chapters are generally short (a few pages). At the end of each highly readable and enjoyable chapter there is an exercise which (if you try it) is not only fun but greatly increases your understanding of what Zen is all about. And there's more: I have SELDOM had a book that is so tastefully and beautifully illustrated. It's like holding a little treasure -- a tiny art gallery in your hand. The illustrations are so simple, yet so inspiring (one exercise even has you interpret one). How much do I love this book? I am going to re-read it. I may eventually gift this to someone who is interested in Zen. And I am going to hunt for Fontana's other books. This is a book I want to re-read, carry with me on trips and take off the book shelf often -- to gaze on the little art gallery within its covers. GREAT TO OWN OR GIFT!!!!!

The illustrations in this volume add a significant amount of content to the message that Fontana is making. I really enjoyed his exercise-based approach to Zen. He holds your hand for the first couple of steps and then really lets the reader understand and explore various zen koan throughout the book. This was only my second book on Zen Buddhism that I have read (the first being Suzuki's Introduction to Zen Buddhism), but I find myself with a much better understanding than when I started.

I loved this book! As a serious practitioner of Zen for several years, it's a joy to find such a novel and succinct book on Buddhism. The exercises alone are well worth the read.There are two points that I would like to make: 1) The author seems to believe that the Boddidharma *literally* stared at a wall for nine years (in fact this is generally agreed upon by academics as a syllogistic story). This is an unfortunate and sure sign that the author has read only the immediate surface background of Zen....2) The author speaks of "making progress" in their practice of Zen and of benchmarking themselves against the Ox-herding pictures as a gauge of satisfactory in Buddhism. Zen has nothing to do with progress or "getting somewhere."...These are fairly minor points in juxtaposition to the readability of this book. This is truly a don't-miss read!