Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit: Revised and Updated Second Edition

by Robert Kennedy

Overview

A new revised edition of the classic title on Zen and Christian living.

Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit is a study of the intersection between Zen Buddhism and Christianity. Robert Kennedy explores how Zen can help us to live deeper lives and how we can return from a study of Zen to a more profound understanding of Christian living and practice.

"What I looked for in Zen," says the author, "was not a new faith, but a new way of being Catholic that grew out of my own lived experience and would not be blown away by authority or by changing theological fashion." Kennedy is unique in being competent in both Catholic and Zen practice and who responds to people who are drawn to this form of prayer and life. This is a refreshingly simple but also most beautiful book.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781635579970
Publisher:	Bloomsbury USA
Publication date:	05/05/2020
Pages:	192
Sales rank:	575,031
Product dimensions:	5.60(w) x 8.30(h) x 0.62(d)

About the Author

Robert Kennedy is an American Jesuit priest and Zen Roshi (master). He holds a doctorate in Theology from the University of Ottawa, and another in psychology from Andover Newton Theological School in Boston. He continues his Zen practice in Los Angeles and with Glassman Roshi in New York. He founded Morning Star Zendo in Jersey City. He teaches in Ireland, UK, Ecuador, Mexico and in several Zen centers in the USA. He resides in New York City.

Table of Contents

Foreword Bernard Tetsugen Glassman ix

Preface xi

Zen and the Jesuits xviii

About the Book xxi

Part I Lead: The Darkness of Knowledge and Theory 1

About Buddhism 3

About Zen 7

Zen Practice 11

Zen and Christianity 16

Christian Preparation for Zen 24

Temper of Spirit 28

Part II Quicksilver: The Poetry of Inspiration and Desire 31

Cold Mountain 33

Part III Sulfur: The Fire of Practice and Transformation 39

Good Intentions 41

Testing the Spirit 45

The One and the Many 49

The Self 53

The Mind 61

No Mind 67

Teaching 72

Appropriate Teaching 77

Merit 82

Ignorance 86

Imitation 91

Theories 96

Signs and Wonders 101

Holiness 106

Liturgy 112

Prayer 117

Poverty 122

Clinging 126

Conventional Wisdom 131

Christ 137

Interreligious Dialogue 142

Part IV Gold: Achievement and Union 147

The Birds 149

Notes 157

Acknowledgments 165

About the Author 166

Permissions 168

Editorial Reviews

This revised edition of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit could not appear at a more appropriate time ... Robert E. Kennedy, a Jesuit priest and a Zen roshi, reveals in this book and in his own life the path that we, both believers and non-believers, need to take in order to grow in knowledge, love, purification, and union with what is truly real. A more spiritually transformative book and guide can hardly be found.” —Dr Peter C. Phan, Ignacio Ellacuria , S.J. Chair of Catholic Social Thought, Department of Theology, Georgetown University

“Robert Kennedy's unpretentious personal reflections on Zen koans draw the reader into Buddhist practice in an uncanny way; one sees with new eyes … Kennedy opens a door and throws light across the spectrum of Christian spiritual wisdom.” —Roger Haight, S.J., Scholar in Residence, Union Theological Seminary

From the Publisher