Ordinary Wonder Zen Life and Practice

Fresh and never-before published talks on the crux of Buddhist practice and how to uncover wonder in your daily life from legendary Zen teacher and bestselling author Charlotte Joko Beck.

"As you embrace the suffering of life, the wonder shows up at the same time. They go together."--Charlotte Joko Beck


In this collection of never-before published teachings by Charlotte Joko Beck, one of the most influential Western-born Zen teachers, she explores our “core beliefs”—the hidden, negative convictions we hold about ourselves that direct our thoughts and behavior and prevent us from experiencing life as it is. Wryly humorous and relatable, Beck uses powerfully clear language to show how our lives present us with daily opportunities to move from thinking to experiencing, from compulsivity to confidence, and from anguish to peace. Whether you are a Zen practitioner or a reader interested in exploring these teachings for the first time, Ordinary Wonder offers the depth and breadth of Beck’s remarkable experience in an accessible guide to practice amidst the struggles of daily life.

CHARLOTTE JOKO BECK, one of the most influential Western-born Zen teachers, was born in 1917 and died June 15, 2011. She began her practice of Zen with Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi Roshi, from whom she received Dharma transmission. She was the founder of the Zen Center of San Diego and the Ordinary Mind Zen School. Through her teachings, and her work as the author of two modern Zen classics--Everyday Zen: Love and Work and Nothing Special: Living Zen--Joko Beck became a visible and widely admired force among the first generation of America's convert Buddhists. Her influence continues through her teachings and through those for whom she was a direct teacher.