Public Zen, Personal Zen

A Buddhist Introduction

By: Peter D. Hershock

Narrated by: Tom Pile

Among Buddhist traditions, Zen has been remarkably successful in garnering and sustaining interest outside the Buddhist homelands of Asia, and "zen" is now part of the global cultural lexicon. This deeply informed book explores the history of this enduring Japanese tradition - from its beginnings as a form of Buddhist thought and practice imported from China to its reinvention in medieval Japan as a force for religious, political, and cultural change to its role in Japan's embrace of modernity. Going deeper, it also explores Zen through the experiences and teachings of key individuals who shaped Zen as a tradition committed to the embodiment of enlightenment by all. By bringing together Zen's institutional and personal dimensions, Peter D. Hershock offers listeners a nuanced yet accessible introduction to Zen as well as distinctive insights into issues that remain relevant today.

Including an introduction to the basic teachings and practices of Buddhism and an account of their spread across Asia, Public Zen, Personal Zen deftly blends historical detail with the felt experiences of Zen practitioners grappling with the meaning of human suffering, personal freedom, and the integration of social and spiritual progress.

©2014 Rowman & Littlefield (P)2017 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic reviews

"A masterwork both informative and enlightening." (Thomas P. Kasulis, Ohio State University)

"Hershock has written a powerful portrait of Zen Buddhism that has much to offer not only to the uninitiated but also to those familiar with the history and practice of this religion." ( Publishers Weekly)

"A well-written and accessible academic history recommended for practitioners and students of Zen." ( Library Journal)