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Zen in the Vernacular: Things as It Is — Occult Philosophy

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Zen in the Vernacular: Things as It Is

Name: Zen in the Vernacular: Things as It Is
Price: 29.99 USD
Availability: InStock
ISBN: 9781644119754

✍️ Peter Coyote, Lewis Richmond

Reader Score

4.5

(1 review)

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📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

An accessible, secular guide applying core Zen Buddhist teachings to modern daily life.

This volume strips away centuries of Japanese cultural modifications to reveal the foundational principles taught by the Buddha. Peter Coyote draws on the lineage of his own Zen teachers to translate traditional concepts into everyday language. The text explores how fundamental mental and physical states cultivated through practice are universal human experiences available to anyone. By examining core doctrines like the Four Noble Truths through a secular lens, the book demonstrates how ancient eastern philosophy provides a functional moral framework and practical problem-solving mechanism for contemporary life.

Key Themes

The Four Noble Truths Secular Zen practice Everyday anxiety and busyness

Literary Context

Originating from teachings developed over nearly 3,000 years, Buddhism adapted through distinct Indian, Tibetan, Vietnamese, Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian cultural forms. This text places core ancient doctrines into a contemporary American framework suited for modern secular practitioners.

Difficulty

● Easy

Recommended For Fans Of

Shunryu Suzuki · Thich Nhat Hanh · Jack Kornfield · The Tao Te Ching

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Occult Philosophy

Praise for this book

“This stimulating book is a truly American take on life, politics and social issues through the lens of a contemporary interpretation of Zen Buddhism. If that is your interest, this book is for you. Don't miss it.”

— David Brazier, Dharma teacher at Global Sangha

🏛 Inner Traditions International 📅 2024 📖 352 pages 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9781644119754

Fun Fact

This refreshingly candid take on Zen is a breath of fresh air for anyone seeking clear, unpretentious wisdom. Coyote and Richmond excel at demystifying complex concepts, offering a highly practical guide for modern living. While it might disappoint those seeking deep scholarly analysis of traditional Zen lineages or intricate ritual explanations, it perfectly serves readers desiring a direct, secular engagement with Buddhist philosophy for personal growth. It carves out a vital niche for accessible, applicable spiritual insight.

📝 Description: Zen in the Vernacular: Things as It Is

Zen Buddhist priest, Emmy Award-winning narrator, and actor Peter Coyote presents a secular, Western interpretation of traditional Buddhist thought. Coyote, who has practiced Zen since 1974, received priesthood ordination in 2011 and full teaching transmission in 2015. His guide looks beneath the Japanese traditions that have modified Buddha's original teachings over the last 3,000 years, offering practical tools for modern daily life. The volume opens with a foreword by Lewis Richmond and splits into three distinct parts. Part I outlines fundamental concepts across chapters covering dukkha, samudaya, nirodha, the Eightfold Path, and the Precepts. Part II addresses core philosophical concepts, including Heart Sutra emptiness, the self, the Three Treasures, faith, enlightenment, and Fuketsu's Speck of Dust. Part III applies vernacular Zen directly to practical human struggles across chapters focused on anxiety, busyness, and wild body and wild mind. This text suits readers seeking an accessible, non-monastic framework for problem-solving, moral guidance, and daily stress management. It suits those interested in an American perspective on life and social issues without needing to shave their heads, wear robes, or hold beliefs in reincarnation. It is less suited to readers looking for purely traditional Japanese monastic rituals or formal religious dogma.

📑 What's inside

Foreword by Lewis Richmond
PART I What the Buddha Taught
Introduction: Orientation
1 The Four Noble Truths: Dukkha
2 The Four Noble Truths: Samudaya
3 The Four Noble Truths: Nirodha
4 The Four Noble Truths: Marga, the Eightfold Path
5 Marga Part II
6 An Introduction to the Precepts
7 The Precepts
Part IIThings as It Is Introduction: Infusing the Ordinary
8 What Is This Thing We Call the Self?
9 Form and Ceremony
10 Emptiness and the Heart Sutra
11 Enlightenment: Seeing the Unseen
12 Believing in Nothing
13 The Three Treasures: Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha
14 The Role of Faith in Buddhist Practice
15 On Time: Host and Guest
16 Fuketsu's Speck of Dust
PART III
Engaged with Vernacular Zen Introduction: Flashing in the Dark
17 On Anxiety
18 On Busyness
19 Wild Body, Wild Mind
20 Misunderstanding Emptiness
21 Values Not Embodied in Behavior Do Not Exist
22 Karma
23 On Loss: Issa's "And Yet . . ."
24 Contradictions
25 Buddhist Anarchism
Acknowledgments
Annotated
Bibliography of Further Reading

💎 Expert review

“

💎

Esoterica Books editorial team

Occult literature desk

This title succeeds in its ambitious goal of stripping away centuries of cultural accumulation to reveal Zen's core truths. The authors’ ability to present these insights in clear, secular language makes the material inviting and immediately applicable to modern dilemmas. However, practitioners deeply invested in traditional Buddhist liturgy or those seeking rigorous scholarly analysis may find the approach too simplified or lacking in depth. It is not suited for readers who require extensive historical context or doctrinal nuance. Instead, it serves as an excellent primer for the uninitiated, offering a warm and direct introduction to Zen’s practical philosophy without overwhelming the beginner with esoteric jargon.

✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a pragmatic approach to mindfulness will find immense value in this guide, particularly those who feel alienated by traditional religious structures or dense academic texts. Peter Coyote and Lewis Richmond excel at translating profound Zen concepts into accessible, secular language, making the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path immediately relevant to daily life. It is ideal for modern seekers craving moral clarity and practical frameworks for navigating challenges without the baggage of cultural gift-wrapping. If you desire a direct, uncluttered path to understanding the heart of Buddha's message, this book offers essential wisdom tailored for a bustling contemporary world.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Esoterica Books —

⭐ Esoterica editorial review Editorial rating 4.5/5

★★★★★

If you're curious about Zen but intimidated by its traditional complexities, or if you seek a practical, secular approach to mindfulness and ethical living, this book is for you. It offers clarity and direct application for a busy, modern life.

Reader rating

4.5

Based on 1 reviews

Esoterica Books editorial team

This title succeeds in its ambitious goal of stripping away centuries of cultural accumulation to reveal Zen's core truths. The authors’ ability to present these insights in clear, secular language makes the material inviting and immediately applicable to modern dilemmas. However, practitioners deeply invested in traditional Buddhist liturgy or those seeking rigorous scholarly analysis may find the approach too simplified or lacking in depth. It is not suited for readers who require extensive historical context or doctrinal nuance. Instead, it serves as an excellent primer for the uninitiated, offering a warm and direct introduction to Zen’s practical philosophy without overwhelming the beginner with esoteric jargon.

❓ Frequently asked questions

Absolutely. The authors specifically aim to make core Buddhist teachings accessible and understandable for anyone, regardless of prior experience or knowledge of Zen.

No, it deliberately seeks to move beyond specific lineages or cultural 'gift-wrapping,' focusing instead on the universal, fundamental teachings of the Buddha that underpin all Zen traditions.

📖 Who should read this

🎯 Key themes and symbolism

Zen's Modern Relevance

This work explores how Zen principles are not just ancient doctrines but potent tools for addressing the anxieties and complexities of contemporary existence. It positions Buddhist wisdom as a creative problem-solving mechanism and a reliable moral compass, offering practical guidance for everyday life's stresses, rather than abstract philosophy.

Unveiling Core Teachings

The authors diligently peel back the layers of cultural adaptation and historical embellishment that have accumulated around Buddhist teachings over millennia. They aim to reveal the foundational, universal truths of the Buddha's message, free from specific national or ritualistic interpretations, making the essence of Zen universally understandable and applicable.

Secular Path to Wisdom

This book offers a non-dogmatic, 'vernacular' interpretation of fundamental Buddhist concepts. It reframes the Four Noble Truths, the Three Treasures, and the Eightfold Path in terms that resonate with a secular mindset, demonstrating their inherent wisdom without requiring adherence to religious dogma, appealing to a broad audience.

📜 Historical context

Buddhism has consistently adapted to diverse cultures throughout its 3,000-year history, a process the authors call 'gift-wrapping.' This book continues that tradition by re-interpreting Zen for a modern, Western, and often secular audience. It aligns with a contemporary movement to make ancient wisdom traditions more accessible and relevant to current societal challenges, echoing the spirit of earlier adaptations in places like Japan or Tibet.

📚 Glossary

Vernacular Zen
Gift-wrapping
Four Noble Truths

📔 Questions to reflect on

Consider a recent 'stress' or 'problem' in your daily life. How might a 'creative problem-solving mechanism' rooted in basic Buddhist principles offer a different approach or perspective?
Reflect on how cultural or personal 'gift-wrapping' might influence your understanding of spiritual or ethical concepts. What core truths might lie beneath these layers?
The book aims for a 'secular, vernacular interpretation.' How does understanding spiritual ideas outside of traditional religious frameworks change their meaning or impact for you?