Real Zen for Real Life

By: Bret W. Davis, The Great Courses

Narrated by: Professor Bret W. Davis

Length: 13 hrs and 51 mins

Publisher's summary

What do you think of when you hear the word Zen? Many Westerners may associate Zen with the counterculture of the 1960s and '70s, while others may associate it with today’s hipster culture. Many use the word to simply mean laid-back and relaxed. 

But what does Zen really mean? Zen is a school of Buddhism and a rigorous spiritual discipline. To understand what Zen is really about, it is vital not only to study its profound philosophical teachings, but also to engage in the practice of Zen. The word Zen means meditation, and Zen meditation is a practice of “clearing the heart-mind”. For Zen, an open mind entails an open heart, and this open heart-mind is the source of both creativity and compassion. 

Professor Bret W. Davis, professor of philosophy and the T. J. Higgins, SJ, chair in philosophy at Loyola University Maryland, has created a highly accessible introduction to the philosophical concept of Zen with Real Zen for Real Life. Bringing the academic purview of a philosophy professor, the view of an academic scholar, and the spiritual experience of a practitioner and teacher of Zen, this course reflects the push and pull between Eastern and Western traditions and cultures with the goal of making the study and practice of Zen more accessible and engaging to all viewers.

Over the course of 24 lessons, including the eight meditation checkups within lessons, you will learn both what Zen has traditionally meant for East Asians and what it can mean for contemporary Westerners. Prepare to be challenged as Professor Davis asks you to set aside your preconceptions in order to open yourselves to what Zen masters who lived in the past and in distant lands have to teach you. You will especially need to be open to the possibility that Zen may be able to teach you about yourself. This course aims to challenge and inspire you, both intellectually and personally. 

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2020 The Great Courses (P)2020 The Teaching Company, LLC

Probably the best GC yet.

I have listened to about a dozen of these. Too often, for my tastes anyway, the professor is too....how do I say... professorial. Meaning, they don't seem to in anyway embody what they are teaching. So that I'd you are listening to a lecture on Hegel, you don't get the impression that he is "Hegelian. NOT HERE.

This man really has lived and lives Zen. He didn't read it in a book. Which is good because you cannot "learn" it that way, because it isn't something learned in any usual sense of the word.

I highly recommend this for people interested in Zen. If you have no, or too little, time spent with eastern philosophy it may be hard going at times; challenging. Surely you are tough enough to be confused though.

I would send anyone here to learn about Zen. It wouldn't be a bad place (though not optimal either) to begin to learn about Buddhism either. If your on the fence, consider this a nudge.

balanced bias and beautiful insight

The book helped me understand old issues I've had with Christianity and opened my eyes to a myriad of things I'd like to continue investigating within zen. so glad it exists and that I've been able to find it.

An Enlightening Lecture

this audiobook surprised me with it's incredible content and the knowledge of the presenter. if you are looking to understand Zen Buddhism, or Buddhism in general, 5h8s is an amazing way to do it, and even better then the Buddhism for Dummies book (which is amazing too).

if you are coming from a Christian perspective, this is a great audiobook for you, as the presenter intertwines the two to help you understand the many similarities between them.

if you want to know more, get this audiobook... you won't be dissatisfied

very helpful

This course is great for anyone at any level of Buddhism. I recommend it highly.

A GREAT “GREAT COURSE “

This is an outstanding set of lectures. I highly recommend getting this course.
Professor Davis is an excellent lecturer. I learned so much and I will certainly listen to this course again.
The accompanying PDF is interesting and you can also get a course outline by going to “Great Courses”.
My thanks to all involved on Audible and certainly my thanks to professor Davis, JK.

What an insightful look into the life of a Zen

This has become one of my all time favorites and I will continue to refer back to it as I practice. I enjoyed trying to guess who some of the stories were from...Thank you for hard work.

Great stuff

Thanks, the best thing Davis says in the lecture is LOVE YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART.

Informative

It clarified many misunderstanding and gave me a deeper understanding of what it is.

Re-Enter The Stream

Highly recommend this class. Slow start to cover basics but it goes deep and wide, balancing practical applications of teaching without shying from esoteric concepts of the various schools.

I used this as refresher after many years of disengagement. Returned me to the originals with fresh perspective. Thank you!

Excellent teacher and material

This is a "don't miss" for those interested in the topic, Dr. Davis is an internationally known scholar and practitioner of Zen who nonetheless makes the material very accessible and enjoyable. He is clear, personal, and humorous, even while presenting the history, philosophy, and practice of Zen on a very high level. I am learning so much from the course, and being inspired in my own practice. Instead of only talking about Zen concepts and figures, he also teaches how to meditate effectively ("Zen" literally means meditation) so that one can have personal experience and insights. Highly recommended!

Contents:
1 What Is Zen? Recovering the Beginner’s Mind

2 The Zen Way to Know and Forget Thyself

3 Zen Meditation: Clearing the Heart-Mind

4 How to Practice Zen Meditation

5 The Middle Way of Knowing What Suffices

Meditation Checkup: The Middle Way of Meditation

6 Embracing the Impermanence of Life

7 The True Self Is Egoless

Meditation Checkup: Lead with the Body and Physical Stillness

8 Loving Others as Yourself

9 Taking Turns as the Center of the Universe

Meditation Checkup: From Mindless Reacting to Mindful Responding

10 Who or What Is the Buddha?

11 Mind Is Buddha: If You Meet Him, Kill Him!

Meditation Checkup: Dealing with Unavoidable Pain

12 Dying to Live: Buddhism and Christianity

13 Zen beyond Mysticism: Everyday Even Mind

14 Engaged Zen: From Inner to Outer Peace

Meditation Checkup: Dealing with Distractions

15 The Dharma of Karma: We Reap What We Sow

16 Zen Morality: Follow and Then Forget Rules

17 The Zone of Zen: The Freedom of No-Mind

18 Zen Lessons from Nature: The Giving Leaves

Meditation Checkup: Three Ways of Breathing In and Out

19 Zen Art: Cultivating Naturalness

20 Zen and Words: Between Silence and Speech

Meditation Checkup: Chanting as a Meditative Practice

21 Zen and Philosophy: The Kyoto School

22 Just Sitting and Working with Koans

Meditation Checkup: Walking Meditation

23 Death and Rebirth: Or, Nirvana Here and Now

24 Reviewing the Path of Zen: The Oxherding Pictures

Finding a Zen Community