The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown
Explore the heart of American Zen Buddhism with the dharma talks of Edward Espe Brown

It was the wish of Ed’s teacher, Shunryu Suzuki, that Zen Buddhist practice might be transformed into a vibrant and new form in coming to North America. Ed exemplifies that transformative view. —Danny S. Parker, editor

The Most Important Point presents the essential teachings of master baker, cook, and Zen priest Edward Espe Brown, brilliantly edited by one of his long-time students. Adapted from Brown’s decades of dharma talks, the essays explore the core matters of living day to day: from a coffee meditation, to accepting your own mess, to learning from the natural world, to depression, aging, relationships, and more.

Flavored with wise insights, irreverent humor, and an authentic humility that welcomes everything to the table, The Most Important Point presents a timeless collection of Zen essays from a beloved American teacher.

Praise for The Most Important Point

“Suzuki Roshi once said, ‘The most important point is to find out what is the most important point.’ After a lifetime of practice inspired by his teacher, Suzuki Roshi, Ed Brown has discovered that the most important point is love and acceptance. No one expresses this most important point better than Ed. His simple, soulful, honest talks will melt your heart.” —Norman Fischer, poet and Zen priest, author of Experience: Thinking, Writing, Language, and Religion

“These talks capture the modesty and down-to-earth reality of Dogen and Suzuki Roshi’s, and now Ed Brown’s, Zen. I was deeply touched by them. One recipe after another for true practice, if you are ready to cook and be cooked. Enjoy!” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Falling Awake

Like the best teaching in any spiritual tradition, The Most Important Point speaks to you just where you are. If you’re new to Zen, this book is for you. If you’ve been practicing a long time, this book is also for you. It is filled with the wisdom of a lifetime.” —Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being and The Face

1129070177
The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown
Explore the heart of American Zen Buddhism with the dharma talks of Edward Espe Brown

It was the wish of Ed’s teacher, Shunryu Suzuki, that Zen Buddhist practice might be transformed into a vibrant and new form in coming to North America. Ed exemplifies that transformative view. —Danny S. Parker, editor

The Most Important Point presents the essential teachings of master baker, cook, and Zen priest Edward Espe Brown, brilliantly edited by one of his long-time students. Adapted from Brown’s decades of dharma talks, the essays explore the core matters of living day to day: from a coffee meditation, to accepting your own mess, to learning from the natural world, to depression, aging, relationships, and more.

Flavored with wise insights, irreverent humor, and an authentic humility that welcomes everything to the table, The Most Important Point presents a timeless collection of Zen essays from a beloved American teacher.

Praise for The Most Important Point

“Suzuki Roshi once said, ‘The most important point is to find out what is the most important point.’ After a lifetime of practice inspired by his teacher, Suzuki Roshi, Ed Brown has discovered that the most important point is love and acceptance. No one expresses this most important point better than Ed. His simple, soulful, honest talks will melt your heart.” —Norman Fischer, poet and Zen priest, author of Experience: Thinking, Writing, Language, and Religion

“These talks capture the modesty and down-to-earth reality of Dogen and Suzuki Roshi’s, and now Ed Brown’s, Zen. I was deeply touched by them. One recipe after another for true practice, if you are ready to cook and be cooked. Enjoy!” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Falling Awake

Like the best teaching in any spiritual tradition, The Most Important Point speaks to you just where you are. If you’re new to Zen, this book is for you. If you’ve been practicing a long time, this book is also for you. It is filled with the wisdom of a lifetime.” —Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being and The Face

17.95 In Stock
The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown

The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown

The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown

The Most Important Point: Zen Teachings of Edward Espe Brown

Paperback

$17.95 
  • SHIP THIS ITEM
    Qualifies for Free Shipping
  • PICK UP IN STORE
    Check Availability at Nearby Stores

Related collections and offers


Overview

Explore the heart of American Zen Buddhism with the dharma talks of Edward Espe Brown

It was the wish of Ed’s teacher, Shunryu Suzuki, that Zen Buddhist practice might be transformed into a vibrant and new form in coming to North America. Ed exemplifies that transformative view. —Danny S. Parker, editor

The Most Important Point presents the essential teachings of master baker, cook, and Zen priest Edward Espe Brown, brilliantly edited by one of his long-time students. Adapted from Brown’s decades of dharma talks, the essays explore the core matters of living day to day: from a coffee meditation, to accepting your own mess, to learning from the natural world, to depression, aging, relationships, and more.

Flavored with wise insights, irreverent humor, and an authentic humility that welcomes everything to the table, The Most Important Point presents a timeless collection of Zen essays from a beloved American teacher.

Praise for The Most Important Point

“Suzuki Roshi once said, ‘The most important point is to find out what is the most important point.’ After a lifetime of practice inspired by his teacher, Suzuki Roshi, Ed Brown has discovered that the most important point is love and acceptance. No one expresses this most important point better than Ed. His simple, soulful, honest talks will melt your heart.” —Norman Fischer, poet and Zen priest, author of Experience: Thinking, Writing, Language, and Religion

“These talks capture the modesty and down-to-earth reality of Dogen and Suzuki Roshi’s, and now Ed Brown’s, Zen. I was deeply touched by them. One recipe after another for true practice, if you are ready to cook and be cooked. Enjoy!” —Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Falling Awake

Like the best teaching in any spiritual tradition, The Most Important Point speaks to you just where you are. If you’re new to Zen, this book is for you. If you’ve been practicing a long time, this book is also for you. It is filled with the wisdom of a lifetime.” —Ruth Ozeki, author of A Tale for the Time Being and The Face


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781683641605
Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated
Publication date: 04/02/2019
Pages: 264
Sales rank: 1,037,776
Product dimensions: 5.20(w) x 7.90(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Edward Espe Brown

Edward Espe Brown began cooking and practicing Zen in 1965. He was the first head resident cook at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center from 1967 to 1970. He later worked at the celebrated Greens Restaurant in San Francisco, serving as busboy, waiter, floor manager, wine buyer, cashier, host, and manager. Ordained a priest by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, he has taught meditation retreats and vegetarian cooking classes throughout North America and Europe. He is the author of several bestselling cookbooks, including The Tassajara Bread Book, and the editor of Not Always So, a book of lectures by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi. He is the subject of the critically acclaimed 2007 documentary film How to Cook Your Life. He resides in Fairfax, California.

Table of Contents

Preface ix

Part I You Can't Always Get What You Want

Wild West Tassajara 2

Easy Is Right 9

Tasting the True Spirit of the Grain 12

Rotten Pickles 18

You Might As Well Dance 22

True Calm Is Not What You Thought 29

The Benefits of Meditation 37

A Misbehaving Egg 40

Rujing, the Great Road, and the Bandits of Dharma 44

Two Demons at the Door 48

Offer What You Have to Offer 54

Part II See What You Can Find Out

The Light in the Darkness 62

Even a Thousand Sages Can't Say 66

The Gift of Attention 72

Finding What You Really Want 80

Accepting Yourself Completely 83

Just Go Ahead 87

The Backward Step 92

Everything Is Coming from Beyond 97

Physical Challenges 100

Informed by a Daffodil 106

Part III Cooking Your Life

Giving and Receiving 110

Virtue and a Cook's Temperament 115

In Search of the Perfect Biscuit 122

Coffee Medication 126

A Cook's Inspiration 130

A Place at the Table 133

Trusting Your Own Experience 136

Honoring Leftovers 141

Dreaming of Pizza: A Talk for Children 146

Thanksgiving and Gratitude 149

Don't Put Another Head Above Your Own 154

Part IV The Uncalled For

The Ten Thousand Idiots 160

Subtle Feeling Reveals Illumination 166

Sitting with Tragedy 171

Rohatsu 176

Zen Practice and Meeting Early Childhood Trauma 179

Confronting War and Uncertainty 182

The Secret to Life 188

Enjoyment, Excitement, Greed, and Lust 194

When Is Adversity Useful? 198

Bugs in a Bowl 201

Part V Bites

Is My Practice Working? 208

Beginner's Mind 210

What Was Said to the Rose 212

Bewildered? 213

No Masterpieces, Just Cooking 215

Soft Mind 217

Misfits 219

Wherever I Go, I Meet Myself 222

Small Acts with Great Kindness 224

Each Moment a New Life 226

Afterword 229

Acknowledgments 230

Sources of Teachings 233

Permissions 239

About the Author and the Editor 241

From the B&N Reads Blog

Customer Reviews