The Art of Just Sitting: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza

For those who fear being crushed under the weight of John Daido Loori's arrogance - fear not. This book is a fasinating display of writings from various masters. While the theme of each essay is the practice of Shikataza we are also offered a smorgasbord of other insights. The excellent editing of this book provides the reader with an assembly of some of the best Zen writings to be found under one roof.

This is certainly not a book for somebody looking for a general introduction into zen budhism. But for those more accustomed with zen writings there is really much to find in this book. Everybody will enjoy to find new aspects of "shikantaza". The classical writings are welcomed, too, although not all are about the art of just sitting. So the book looks just compleat. Or is it? One point left me slightly annoyed: not one of the numerous modern authors comes from Europe. Seems like the Bush administration, J. Daido Loori is fine with the US and the old Europeans do not count. But there is a large and active school of Soto Zen in the tradition of Dogen in Europe, thanks to many years of teaching of T. Deshimaru Roshi, a disciple of Kodo Sawaki. A pity that none of his successors from Spain, Italy, France or Germany was invited to participate. Future editors of such books should do better.

Roshi John Daido Loori has assembled the single most comprehensive treasury of writings on the subject. Often misunderstood, the practice of shikantaza is authoritatively presented and carefully examined in two dozen essays by Chinese, Japanese, and American masters, along with an appendix of six seminal classic texts.This volume, spanning the centuries since Shakymuni Buddha to the present day, will prove indispensable to meditators and scholars alike. John Daido Loori has given us a rare treasure.