{"title":"Art Practice","description":"","products":[{"product_id":"making-love-with-light-book","title":"Making Love with Light: Contemplating Nature with Words and Photographs","description":"\u003cp\u003eby John Daido Loori\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book of exquisite photographs arises from the premise that unless we love nature, we will not work to save it from exploitation and eventual destruction. The rich mixture of photographs, Zen poems, and essays presented on these pages is intended to open our hearts to the wild and the wilderness, and to direct us to the ways in which we can heal the earth. The Zen master John Daido Loori, who is widely known for his efforts to make creative expression an integral part of spiritual practice, here inaugurates a new art form: Zen photography. It's a modern continuation of an ancient tradition that looks to art as an expression of the enlightened mind. The camera thus becomes a contemporary version of the Zen brush, as Loori captures moments of exceptional, unrepeatable beauty. Each image is a seed for contemplation.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eHardcover with Slipcase; 184 pages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis book is also available as part of a specially priced set that includes the other two books in Daido Roshi's photographic trilogy on Master Dogen: Hearing with the Eye and The Way of Mountains and Rivers. \u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Hardcover with Slipcase","offer_id":32517521342602,"sku":"B-303 SC","price":32.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/products\/b_303_front__36419.jpg?v=1739049282"},{"product_id":"the-zen-of-creativity","title":"The Zen of Creativity: Cultivating Your Artistic Life","description":"\u003cp\u003eThe now classic book by John Daido Loori (1931 - 2009)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-about-the-book\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slot product-about 9780345466334 isbn-related seemoreenable show opened\" id=\"seemore-0\" height-fold=\"377\" target-height=\"789.992\"\u003e\n\u003csection class=\"overview\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFor many of us, Zen conjures up images of rock gardens and gently flowing waterfalls. We think of mindfulness and meditation, immersion in a state of being where meaning is found through simplicity. Zen lore has been absorbed by Western practitioners and pop culture alike, yet there is a specific area of this ancient tradition that hasn’t been fully explored in the West. With\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eZen of Creativity \u003c\/em\u003e(first published in 2005)\u003cem\u003e,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eAmerican Zen master John Daido Loori presented a book that taps the principles of the Zen arts and aesthetic as a means to unlock creativity and find freedom in the various dimensions of our existence. Loori dissolves the barriers between art and spirituality, opening up the possibility of meeting life with spontaneity, grace, and peace.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eZen Buddhism is steeped in the arts. In spiritual ways, calligraphy, poetry, painting, the tea ceremony, and flower arranging can point us toward our essential, boundless nature. Brilliantly interpreting the teachings of the artless arts, Loori illuminates various elements that awaken our creativity, among them\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003estill point\u003c\/em\u003e, the center of each moment that focuses on the tranquility within;\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003esimplicity\u003c\/em\u003e, in which the creative process is uncluttered and unlimited, like a cloudless sky;\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003espontaneity\u003c\/em\u003e, a way to navigate through life without preconceptions, with a freshness in which everything becomes new;\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003emystery,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/em\u003ea sense of trust in the unknown;\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ecreative feedback,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003ethe systematic use of an audience to receive noncritical input about our art;\u003cem\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eart koans,\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eexercises based on paradoxical questions that can be resolved only through artistic expression. Loori shows how these elements interpenetrate and function not only in art, but in all our endeavors.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBeautifully illustrated and punctuated with poems and reflections from Loori’s own spiritual journey,\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eZen of Creativity\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003epresents a multilayered, bottomless source of insight into our creativity. Appealing equally to spiritual seekers, artists, and veteran Buddhist practitioners, this book is perfect for those wishing to discover new means of self-awareness and expression—and to restore equanimity and freedom amid the vicissitudes of our lives.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/zmm.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/Zen_of_Creativity_intro.mp3\"\u003eListen to the introduction.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https:\/\/monasterystore.org\/pages\/the-zen-of-creativity-an-excerpt\"\u003eRead the first chapter.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"product-body clearfix\" id=\"left-rail-top\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-return-id=\"mobile-praise\" id=\"desktop-praise\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"seemore-2\" class=\"slot product-praise seemoreenable opened\" target-height=\"401.516\" height-fold=\"280\"\u003e\n\u003ch2 class=\"slot-header\"\u003ePraise\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"clearfix\"\u003e“A well-written, wise, insightful book on creativity and Zen, a subject made all the more intriguing and persuasive by Daido Loori’s long experience as a student and teacher in both. The text is enhanced by fine Zen dialogues and stories, poems, koan, photographs, and illustrations as well as apt, stimulating quotations from many writers and Zen teachers. An altogether excellent book.”\u003cbr\u003e—PETER MATTHIESSEN, author of The Snow Leopard\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e“Zen is the immediate suchness and spontaneity of life, a creativity that is art itself. John Daido Loori, one of the truly great American Zen masters, has given us a simple yet profound guide to art, creativity, and life itself—for they all spring from the same source, the same ordinary magic of this and every moment.\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eThe Zen of Creativity\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003eis a rare, elegant, beautiful book, highly recommended.”\u003cbr\u003e—KEN WILBER, author of\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eA Brief History of Everything\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"clearfix\"\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"clearfix\"\u003ePaperback, 272 pages.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"more-link-wrap opened\"\u003e\u003cbutton class=\"btn btn-link more\" type=\"button\"\u003eSee Less\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"right-rail\" id=\"right-rail-top\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv data-return-id=\"mobile-author-spotlights\" id=\"desktop-author-spotlights\"\u003e\n\u003ca id=\"author\" name=\"#author\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slot product-author-info isbn-related 9780345466334 show\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/section\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"more-link-wrap opened\"\u003e\u003cbutton type=\"button\" class=\"btn btn-link more\"\u003eSee Less\u003c\/button\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-listen-to-a-clip\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-also-in-series\"\u003e\u003ca name=\"#alsoinseries\" id=\"alsoinseries\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-also-by-author\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-author-spotlights\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"mobile-second-product-detail\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv id=\"desktop-praise\" data-return-id=\"mobile-praise\"\u003e\n\u003ca name=\"#praise\" id=\"praise\"\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"slot product-praise seemoreenable\" id=\"seemore-2\" height-fold=\"280\" target-height=\"401.516\"\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32438110224522,"sku":"B-527-PB","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/products\/b_527_pb_front_web__12126.jpg?v=1739049244"},{"product_id":"the-complete-cold-mountain","title":"The Complete Cold Mountain","description":"\u003cp\u003eWelcome to the magical, windswept world of Cold Mountain. These poems from the literary riches of China have long been celebrated by cultures of both East and West-and continue to be revered as among the most inspiring and enduring works of poetry worldwide. This groundbreaking new translation presents the full corpus of poetry traditionally associated with Hanshan (\"Cold Mountain\") and sheds light on its origins and authorship like never before.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt honor the contemplative Buddhist elements of this classic collection of poems while revealing Hanshan's famously jubilant humor, deep love of solitude in nature, and overwhelming warmth of heart. In addition, this translation features the full Chinese text of the original poems and a wealth of fascinating supplements, including traditional historical records, an in-depth study of the Cold Mountain poets (here presented as three distinct authors), and more.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":32438876274826,"sku":"B-MOUNTAIN","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/products\/9781611804263__49920.jpg?v=1739048869"},{"product_id":"heart-of-the-brush","title":"Heart of the Brush: The Splendor of East Asian Calligraphy","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Kazuaki Tanahashi\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThis comprehensive and accessible introduction to the history and art of calligraphy as it’s been practiced for centuries in Asia offers the possibility of appreciating it in a hands-on way. It works as a guide for the beginner hoping to develop an appreciation for Asian calligraphy, for the person who wants to give calligraphy-creation a try, as well as for the expert or afficionado who wants nothing more than to exult in lovely examples of this art. After proving a brief overview, Kazuaki Tanahashi invites you to give it a try yourself, giving guidance for materials, and then instruction in the basic strokes. He then provides examples of 150 characters, from \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003eaction\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e to \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003ezen\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, with history and development of each, famous examples, stroke sequences, and the author’s interpretation of the character in styles that range from traditional to modern. It’s a calligraphy course in a book, but it’s also a book for hours of meditative browsing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePaperback, 400 pages\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36504124915878,"sku":"B-HEARTBRUSH","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/products\/hearbrush.png?v=1739048638"},{"product_id":"one-robe-one-bowl-the-zen-poetry-of-ryokan","title":"One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy Ryokan, translated and introduced by John Stevens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe hermit-monk Ryokan, long beloved in Japan both for his poetry and for his character, belongs in the tradition of the great Zen eccentrics of China and Japan. His reclusive life and celebration of nature and the natural life also bring to mind his younger American contemporary, Thoreau. Ryokan's poetry is that of the mature Zen master, its deceptive simplicity revealing an art that surpasses artifice. Although Ryokan was born in eighteenth-century Japan, his extraordinary poems, capturing in a few luminous phrases both the beauty and the pathos of human life, reach far beyond time and place to touch the springs of humanity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46549955444902,"sku":"B-ONE-ROBE","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/files\/onerobeonebowl.jpg?v=1753989227"},{"product_id":"zen-bow-zen-arrow-the-life-and-teachings-of-awa-kenzo-the-archery-master-from-zen-in-the-art-of-archery","title":"Zen Bow, Zen Arrow: The Life and Teachings of Awa Kenzo","description":"\u003cp\u003eby John Stevens\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe inspirational life and teachings of Awa Kenzo (1880-1939)—the master archer from Eugen Herrigel's classic Zen in the Art of Archery.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eZen Bow, Zen Arrow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e offers an insightful exploration into the life and teachings of Awa Kenzo, a legendary archery master who seamlessly blended the art of kyudo (archery) with Zen principles. Kenzo’s inspirational life and teachings illustrate how archery transcends physical skill to become a profound spiritual practice. Through a masterful translation, John Stevens captures Kenzo’s philosophy, emphasizing the harmony between mind, body, and spirit, and how this balance leads to enlightenment.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eKenzo uses the metaphor of the bow and arrow to challenge the practitioner to look deeply into his or her own true nature, gaining insight into self-awareness, mindfulness, and the pursuit of inner harmony. His teachings offer a pathway to personal growth and mastery, encouraging readers to cultivate virtues such as humility, compassion, and mental clarity. The book serves as both a guide and inspiration for those seeking to deepen their understanding of themselves and their connection to the world around them. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"a-text-italic\"\u003eZen Bow, Zen Arrow\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is not just for martial arts enthusiasts but for anyone interested in reflecting on their own journeys, making it a must-read for those yearning for a deeper understanding of life through the art of archery.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46550013968550,"sku":"B-BOW","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/files\/zenbowzenarrow.jpg?v=1753990005"},{"product_id":"sky-above-great-wind","title":"Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Kazuaki Tanahashi\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mb-4\"\u003eThe delightful and often funny poetry and art of Zen's quintessential free spirit--in a fresh translation by a beloved American Zen figure.\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv\u003eRyokan Taigu (1758-1831) was a monk in the Soto lineage of Japanese Zen who spent a good part of his life as a hermit, writing poetry, playing with children, and creating simple and exquisitely beautiful calligraphies--sometimes using twigs as his instrument when he couldn't afford a brush. This loving tribute to the great legendary nonconformist includes more than 140 of his poems, 13 examples of his art, and a selection of laugh-out-loud funny anecdotes about his highly idiosyncratic teaching behavior.\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46550036611238,"sku":"B-SKY","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/files\/skyabovegreatwind.jpg?v=1753990468"},{"product_id":"the-poetry-of-zen","title":"The Poetry of Zen","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Sam Hamill and J. P. Seaton\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"mb-4\"\u003e\n\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"a-text-bold\"\u003eA wonderfully diverse collection of Zen poetry from China and Japan—including works by Lao Tzu and Han Shan—presented by two of America’s premier poet-translators\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eA Zen poem is nothing other than an expression of the enlightened mind, a handful of simple words that disappear beneath the moment of insight to which it bears witness. Poetry has been an essential aid to Zen Buddhist practice from the dawn of Zen—and Zen has also had a profound influence on the secular poetry of the countries in which it has flourished.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003eHere, two of America’s most renowned poets and translators provide an overview of Zen poetry from China and Japan in all its rich variety, from the earliest days to the twentieth century. Included are works by Lao Tzu, Han Shan, Li Po, Dogen Kigen, Saigyo, Basho, Chiao Jan, Yuan Mei, Ryokan, and many others. Hamill and Seaton provide illuminating introductions to the Chinese and Japanese sections that set the poets and their work in historical and philosophical context. Short biographies of the poets are also included.\u003c\/span\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46550063317158,"sku":"B-POETRY","price":18.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/files\/thepoetryofzen.jpg?v=1753990696"},{"product_id":"zen-in-the-art-of-archery","title":"Zen in the Art of Archery","description":"\u003cp\u003eby Eugen Herrigel\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eA classic work on Eastern philosophy, and a charming, deeply illuminating story of one man’s experience with Zen.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cspan\u003eEugen Herrigel, a German professor of Philosophy in Tokyo, took up the study of archery as a step toward an understanding of Zen Buddhism. This book is the account of the six years he spent as a student of one of Japan’s great kyudo (archery) masters, and of how he gradually overcame his initial inhibitions and began to feel his way toward new truths and ways of seeing.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46550161719462,"sku":"B-ARCHERY","price":16.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/files\/zenintheartofarchery.jpg?v=1753993790"},{"product_id":"the-mountain-poems-of-stonehouse","title":"The Mountain Poems of Stonehouse","description":"\u003cp\u003eBy Stonehouse, translated by Red Pine\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Zen master and mountain hermit Stonehouse—considered one of the greatest Chinese Buddhist poets—used poetry as his medium of instruction. Near the end of his life, monks asked him to record what he found of interest on his mountain, and Stonehouse delivered to them hundreds of poems and an admonition:  “Do not to try singing these poems. Only if you sit on them will they do you any good.” Newly revised, with the Chinese originals and Red Pine’s abundant commentary and notes, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan\u003eThe Mountain Poems of Stonehouse\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan\u003e is an essential volume for Zen students, readers of Asian literature, and all who love the outdoors.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Store Weighed Items","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46581093236902,"sku":"B-STONEHOUSE","price":17.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0307\/5683\/1370\/files\/B-STONEHOUSE.jpg?v=1755200682"}],"url":"https:\/\/monasterystore.org\/collections\/the-zen-arts-art-practice\/clearance.oembed","provider":"The Monastery Store","version":"1.0","type":"link"}