Hardcore Zen - Brad Warner

This book totally and absolutely changed the way I view my life and reality and it hit me like a bucket of cold water over my head.
Ive read a few books about Buddhism over the years and I like the general gist of it but there was always something a little pretentious about it, or I felt that it couldnt relate to my life so Ive never pursued Buddhism seriously in my own life.
This book however made me realise that Zen Buddhism isnt about changing the way you live in some dramatic way, its about looking at your life and finding Zen within it. I started to look at the world differently, trying to see things as they are without instilling negative and positive, and its made me truly interested in Zen Buddhism.
Not to mention its a hilarious book, full of truth... Brad Warner is an ex-punk rocker who works with Japanese monster movies. He's such a character.
I recommend it to anyone who is interested in Zen Buddhism but isnt sure where to start, or finds those thick cryptic books full of flowery buddhist poetry a bit heavy.

 

how marvellous - it sounds most sensible...

 

Sounds like a good read, but would it be a good starting point for someone with extremely limited knowledge of zen?

*Re-read your post - will check it out. :&

 

hehe. yes id say its definitely a good starting point!
ive recommended it to friends who arent even remotely interested in zen, because this book helped me realise zen isnt something far away that we cant reach or that is only accessible to highly spiritual souls. it is about everyday life, it is about real human experience. do check it out, i hope u enjoy it

 

I have been studying Buddhism for years and I know what you mean about it being "cryptic". That's the whole point - to make you go deeper into your psyche. Zen is my favorite because to me it's the ultimate mind fuck that blasts apart those stuck programs. This sounds like a great book. Can't wait to read it. Thanks for the tip.

 

I'll have to check that out. Sounds quite interesting.

*******
http://www.theoutdoorjourney.com/

 

Well, I finally got the book for Xmas and just finished reading it. He makes a lot of good points and does present Zen in practical ways and has had some funny experiences. He lost me in the next to last chapter when he majorly ragged on Zig Zag Zen. This book is about people's experiences with psychedelics and how it opened them up thereby propelling them into fields like Buddhism. Brad had a "bad trip" and just because he didn't utilize LSD properly in a high frequency setting, he totally throws out the baby with the bathwater. He really rags on Charles Tart who is a parapsychologist and has done some amazing work for many years, not just with psychedelics. He uses one quote out of context from an article that shows much insight. Brad's biases come shining thru. The whole point of Zen and Buddhism is to see life with equanimity and accept the many diverse ways that All That Is has of expressing itself.

 

Ive read this book along with his second book, sit down and shut up, which i would also suggest. The book has definitely changed my outlook on reality and my personal life. They are both wonderful books written by a wonderful author, and he explains the philosophy better than any other i have read. I do agree with Pleiadian dreams though, i actually sent him an email, explaining why i believe that he did not take a very good stand on that issue of psychedelics, especially for somebody who does not assume or conclude with out through experience. Other than that, i would suggest it do absolutly anybody.