Book Summary: Mind Full to Mindful Zen Wisdom From a Monk’s Bowl by Om Swami

Mind Full to Mindful Zen Wisdom From a Monk’s Bowl by Om Swami Details & Statistics

Statistics of Mind Full to Mindful Zen Wisdom From a Monk’s Bowl 

• Best Sellers Rank:
  • #120,386 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #875 in Meditation (Books)
  • #954 in Spiritual Self-Help (Books)
• Customer Reviews:
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (1,523 ratings)
  • 4.4 on Goodreads (1,097 ratings)
• Genres:
  • Self Help
  • Philosophy
  • Spirituality
  • Nonfiction
  • Personal Development
  • Psychology
• Editions Available: 3 editions

Mind Full to Mindful Zen Wisdom From a Monk’s Bowl by Om Swami Quotes

1. Therefore, Zen says, let me simply focus on my mind. Because if I keep my mind in a state of bloom, the world is automatically beautiful.

2. Those who love you never need an explanation and those who don’t are not going to believe one, anyway

3. My life is like a flower. I was sowed at some point in time; I became a bud, was born, and bloomed like a flower. It doesn’t matter how much I protect myself, how fragrant I am, how alive I may be – one day, I am going to wither away.

4. if I’m doing anything in my life out of choice, there’s no reason to complain and if I don’t have a choice then there’s no sense in complaining.

5. For if I’m doing anything in my life out of choice, there’s no reason to complain and if I don’t have a choice then there’s no sense in complaining.

6. This constant play of nature – one season comes, then goes, another one comes, then goes – is what life is all about. It’s not about some grand goal. Zen does not believe in that. Zen says, nirvana or moksha is simply a matter of perspective. If you can eat when you are eating, if you can sleep when you are sleeping, you are jivan-mukta, a liberated soul. You are enlightened.

Mind Full to Mindful Zen Wisdom From a Monk’s Bowl by Om Swami Table Of Contents

• The Zen Menu
  • Awakening
  • Enlightened Living
• The First Zen Transmission
  • The Legend of Bodhidharma
• Life Is a Flower
• Four Forms of Zen Meditation
  • Your First Step in Zen (Zazen)
  • Wall Gazing
  • The Zen Tea Ritual (Chado)
  • Kinhin and Sleep Meditation
• Four Teachings of Zen Sutra
• The Nature of All Things
  • The Raging Storm
  • The Illusion of Suffering
  • The Perfection of Wisdom
• Four Aspects of Zen
• The Temple of Life
• Emotional Hygiene and Cleansing (Osoji)
  • Zen Speech
• A Philosophy of Life
  • Four Virtues of a Zen Practitioner:
    • Compassion
    • Humility
    • Discipline
    • Forgiveness
• Four Principles of Zen
  • The Zen Way
  • Sit Quietly
  • Care for Your Body
  • Learn to Handle Pain
  • Practice Non-Violence

List of Illustrations

Notes

About the Book

About the Author

Also by Om Swami

Copyright

Mind Full to Mindful Zen Wisdom From a Monk’s Bowl by Om Swami Book Summary

Four Forms of Zen Meditation

• Zazen (Sitting Meditation): This is the most fundamental form of Zen meditation. The practitioner sits in a specific posture with eyes half-closed, maintaining an upright but relaxed back, and focuses on the breath. The goal is not to empty the mind but to simply observe thoughts and feelings as they arise without judgment or attachment.
• Wall Gazing: This practice involves concentrating on a blank wall or a small object like a pebble. The intense focus required in this practice can help calm the mind and prepare it for Zazen. While not as inherently pleasant as Zazen, the benefits are substantial for those who dedicate themselves to it.
• Chado (The Tea Ritual): This mindful practice elevates the simple act of drinking tea into a sacred ritual. It involves preparing the tea with serenity and gratitude, savoring the aroma and taste, and drinking slowly and deliberately. The tea ritual encourages practitioners to find beauty and presence in everyday activities.
• Kinhin (Walking Meditation): This practice involves walking slowly and mindfully, paying attention to the movement of the body and the shifting of weight with each step. Kinhin integrates meditation into daily life, encouraging practitioners to maintain a meditative state throughout their activities.

Four Teachings of Zen Sutra

• The Nature of All Things Is Emptiness: The Heart Sutra emphasizes the concept of “sunyata,” often translated as emptiness. It suggests that all phenomena, including our thoughts, feelings, and even our sense of self, are impermanent and lack inherent existence. This doesn’t mean that things don’t exist, but rather that they are in constant flux and dependently originated.
• The Raging Storm of Thoughts and Emotions: The sources describe how our thoughts and emotions can feel like a relentless storm, tossing us about and creating suffering. Zen teachings, particularly the Heart Sutra, encourage us to observe these mental and emotional states without clinging or aversion. Recognizing their impermanent nature can help us find peace amidst the turmoil.
• The Illusion of Suffering: The Heart Sutra proclaims, “There is no suffering…”, challenging our conventional understanding of pain and adversity. It suggests that suffering arises from our attachment to impermanent things and our resistance to change. By recognizing the emptiness of all things, including suffering, we can find liberation from unnecessary pain.
• The Perfection of Wisdom: The Heart Sutra highlights “prajna paramita,” often translated as “the perfection of wisdom”. This refers to the direct, intuitive understanding of reality that arises through meditation and mindful living. The sources suggest that this wisdom allows us to see through delusions and find true liberation.

Four Aspects of Zen

• The Temple of Life: The sources stress the importance of caring for the physical body. Our bodies are seen as temples housing our life force, and maintaining good health is considered essential for spiritual practice. This includes practicing mindful eating, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activity.
• Emotional Hygiene and Cleansing (Osoji): Inspired by a Japanese tradition, the sources introduce “Osoji,” a practice for emotional cleansing. It involves acknowledging and releasing negative emotions, grudges, and past hurts. Decluttering the mind through this practice is seen as a way to cultivate inner peace and create space for positive qualities.
• Zen Speech: The sources emphasize the importance of mindful communication. They advise us to watch our words, speak truthfully and kindly, and avoid harmful speech. Cultivating this mindful approach to communication can foster harmonious relationships and contribute to a more peaceful and fulfilling life.
• A Philosophy of Life: The sources encourage readers to develop a personal philosophy of life guided by Zen principles. This could include following specific guidelines, like those proposed by Soyen Shaku, a Zen master who taught in the United States, or creating a unique set of principles that resonate with individual values and aspirations. Living in accordance with a carefully considered philosophy can provide direction and meaning to life.

Four Virtues of a Zen Practitioner

• Compassion: This virtue involves recognizing the suffering of others and cultivating a genuine desire to alleviate it. The sources highlight compassion as a fundamental aspect of Zen practice, encouraging practitioners to act with kindness and understanding toward all beings.
• Humility: Zen teachings encourage a sense of humility, recognizing that we are all interconnected and interdependent. Humility involves letting go of ego-driven desires and cultivating a sense of gratitude for the gifts we have received.
• Discipline: The sources emphasize the importance of self-discipline for spiritual progress. Discipline is presented as a path to freedom, enabling us to overcome laziness and resistance, and to dedicate ourselves to meaningful practices.
• Forgiveness: Forgiveness involves letting go of resentment, anger, and bitterness towards oneself and others. It is seen as a way to free ourselves from the burden of the past and to cultivate a sense of peace and well-being.

Four Principles of Zen

• Sit Quietly: This principle emphasizes the importance of dedicating time each day for meditation and quiet contemplation. It encourages practitioners to create space for stillness and to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment.
• Care for Your Body: This principle highlights the interconnectedness of physical and mental well-being. It encourages practitioners to treat their bodies with respect, nourish themselves with wholesome food, engage in regular exercise, and get enough sleep.
• Learn to Handle Pain: This principle emphasizes acceptance of pain as an inevitable part of life. Zen teachings encourage us to observe pain mindfully, without resistance or complaint. By acknowledging the impermanent nature of pain, we can reduce suffering and find greater resilience.
• Practice Non-Violence: This principle extends beyond physical harm to encompass non-violent thoughts, words, and actions toward oneself and others. It encourages practitioners to cultivate compassion, understanding, and a deep respect for all forms of life.

About the Author: Om Swami

Om Swami is a mystic residing in the foothills of the Himalayas. Before embracing renunciation, he founded and ran a multi-million-dollar software company with global offices. Om Swami is also the bestselling author of several books, including If Truth Be Told: A Monk’s Memoir (2014), The Wellness Sense: A Practical Guide to Your Physical and Emotional Health Based on Ayurvedic and Yogic Wisdom (2015), When All Is Not Well: Depression, Sadness and Healing – A Yogic Perspective (2016), and The Last Gambit (2017), all published by HarperCollins.

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