Dharma Talk: “Zen is Basking in Love and Loving Back” with Ruben Habito

Written by Frederic W. Farrar in 1874, this book is a detailed and tender portrayal of the life of Jesus Christ. It combines the accounts from the four Gospels with extensive historical and geographical research, including sources from Jewish writers, philosophers, and poets. Farrar's work is enriched by his personal visits to the Holy Land and his expertise in Biblical languages. The book is structured to be read alongside the Gospels and provides a feasible timeline and narrative of Christ's life, addressing various historical and theological aspects.

The Three Pillars of Zen is a seminal work that explains the practice of Zen to Westerners. The book includes introductory lectures by Yasutani Roshi, transcripts of private interviews (dokusan) between a roshi and his students, and testimonies from lay students who achieved enlightenment. It provides a detailed and realistic picture of the rigors of Zen life, including the mechanics of Zen practice such as zazen and koan zazen. The book emphasizes the long-term dedication and effort required for spiritual realization and integrates Western and Japanese Zen practices.

Original Love is an essential meditation guide for the twenty-first century. Henry Shukman, a spiritual director and mindfulness teacher, provides a way forward based on four paths—Mindfulness, Support, Absorption, and Awakening—that promote growth and healing through meditation. The book includes inspiring stories from his students and weaves together teachings from Zen Buddhism, Taoism, and other contemplative traditions. It aims to help readers create peace by reducing stress, anxiety, and depression, relaxing the mind and body, easing feelings of worry and anger, and improving decision-making and executive functioning. The book emphasizes the importance of direct experience over intellectual understanding and encourages readers to explore meditation to discover the transformative power of mindfulness and awakening.