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Quote by Philip Kapleau

“For the ordinary man, whose mind is a checkerboard of crisscrossing reflections, opinions, and prejudices, bare attention is virtually impossible; his life is thus centered not in reality itself but in his ideas of it. By focusing the mind wholly on each objects and every action, zazen strips it of extraneous thoughts and allows us to enter into a full rapport with life.”

Quote by Philip Kapleau

Work

The three pillars of Zen: teaching, practice, and enlightenment

This book delves into the foundational aspects of Zen Buddhism, examining the relationship between the three pillars of teaching, practice, and enlightenment. It offers insights into the philosophy and practices that underpin Zen, providing a deeper understanding of its principles and their application in daily life. more

Author

Philip Kapleau
Philip Kapleau

Philip Kapleau was a Japanese Zen master, born in the United States on August 20, 1912. He developed a strong interest in Eastern philosophy, particularly Zen, in his youth and traveled to Japan in the 1930s to study under the renowned Zen master D.T. Suzuki. His studies included training in Kyoto Zen temples and deep immersion in the essence of Japanese culture. After completing his studies, Kapleau returned to the United States, where he became a Zen teacher and writer. His books, including 'The Three Pillars of Zen' and 'The Zen Experience,' have had a profound impact on the popularization of Zen. Kapleau's achievements also include the founding of the Kapleau Zen Center, providing a space for people to learn and practice Zen. He is widely regarded as an important figure in modern Zen, promoting cultural exchange between the East and West and positively influencing the spiritual lives of modern people. more

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“It was a morning in early summer. A silver haze shimmered and trembled over the lime trees. The air was laden with their fragrance. The temperature was like a caress. I remember - I need not recall - that I climbed up a tree stump and felt suddenly immersed in Itness. I did not call it by that name. I had no need for words. It and I were one.”

“Essentially Satori is a sudden experience, and it is often described as a "turning over" of the mind, just as a pair of scales will suddenly turn over when a sufficient amount of material has been poured into one pan to overbalance the weight in the other. Hence it is an experience which generally occurs after a long and concentrated effort to discover the meaning of Zen.”