Zen Pathways: An Introduction to the Philosophy and Practice of Zen Buddhism

Bret W. Davis is Professor and Thomas J. Higgins, S.J. Chair in Philosophy at Loyola University Maryland, where he teaches classes in Western, Asian, and cross-cultural philosophy, and where he directs The Heart of Zen Meditation Group. In addition to publishing more than seventy-five scholarly
articles, he has authored, edited, and translated a number of books, including Japanese Philosophy in the World (in Japanese), Heidegger and the Will: On the Way to Gelassenheit, Martin Heidegger: Key Concepts, Japanese and Continental Philosophy: Conversations with the Kyoto School, Engaging
Dogen's Zen: The Philosophy of Practice as Awakening, The Oxford Handbook of Japanese Philosophy, and Bipedal Philosophers (in Japanese). In 2001, he obtained a Ph.D. in philosophy from Vanderbilt University. He lived in Japan for more than a dozen years, during which time he studied Buddhist
thought at Otani University, and Japanese philosophy at Kyoto University, while practicing Zen at the monastery of Shokokuji in Kyoto. He is fluent in Japanese, semi-fluent in German, and proficient in reading Classical Chinese. In 2010, he was formally recognized as a Teacher (Sensei) and Director
of a Zen Center by Kobayashi Gentoku Roshi, the current abbot of Shokokuji.

Preface: Why Write or Read this Book?
Chapter 1: What Really is Zen? Recovering the Beginner's Open Mind
Chapter 2: Previewing the Path of Zen: Know Thyself, Forget Thyself, Open Thyself
Chapter 3: Zen Meditation as a Practice of Clearing the Heart-Mind
Chapter 4: How to Practice Zen Meditation: Attending to Place, Body, Breath, and Mind
Chapter 5: The Buddha's First and Last Lesson: The Middle Way of Knowing What Suffices
Chapter 6: The Buddha's Strong Medicine: Embracing Impermanence
Chapter 7: The True Self is Egoless
Chapter 8: We are One: Loving Others as Yourself
Chapter 9: But We Are Not the Same: Taking Turns as the Center of the Universe
Chapter 10: Who or What is the Buddha?
Chapter 11: Mind is Buddha: So, if You Encounter the Buddha, Kill Him!
Chapter 12: Dying to Live: Zen, Pure Land Buddhism, and Christianity
Chapter 13: Zen as Trans-Mysticism: Everyday Even Mind is the Way
Chapter 14: Engaged Zen: From Inner to Outer Peace
Chapter 15: The Dharma of Karma: We Reap What We Sow
Chapter 16: Zen and Morality: Following Rules to Where There Are No Rules
Chapter 17: Being in the Zone of Zen: The Natural Freedom of No-Mind
Chapter 18: Zen Lessons from Nature: Samu and the Giving Leaves
Chapter 19: Zen and Art: Cultivating Naturalness
Chapter 20: Zen and Language: The Middle Way Between Silence and Speech
Chapter 21: Between Zen and Philosophy: Commuting with the Kyoto School
Chapter 22: S?t? and Rinzai Zen Practice: Just Sitting and Working with K?ans
Chapter 23: Death and Rebirth-Or, Nirvana Here and Now
Chapter 24: Reviewing the Path of Zen: The Ten Oxherding Pictures

Endnotes
Discussion Questions
Index