ZEN FOR CHRISTIANS: A Beginner's Guide

Whereas other Christianity-meets-Buddhism books stress ideology and the intellect, this one emphasizes daily acts of practice—not just meditation, but also breath control and an increased awareness of one's thoughts. It's not, Boykin points out, a book just to be read; it's more like a cookbook in that it is intended to guide the reader through active stages of preparation. This guide is wise, humorous, and more than a little bit hip. Boykin, who was raised as a nominal Christian agnostic, discovered Buddhist meditation in college. She converted to Catholicism as a twenty-something, although she admits that Christian faith still seems "kind of nuts," and she has found great joy in supplementing her nascent Christianity with ongoing Buddhist practice. To aid novice dabblers, the book includes suggestions for Zen practice at the close of each chapter and illustrations of various meditation postures. (Apr.)