The Heart of Being: Moral and Ethical Teachings of Zen

What does it mean to become a Zen Buddhist? How does one enter the way? What kind of training is required? To answer such questions, few are better equipped than Loori, abbot of the Zen Mountain Monastery in Mt. Tremper, N.Y., and founder and director of the Mountains and River Order of Zen Buddhism. Loori offers an explanation of the Buddhist precepts, or vows taken as an initiation into Buddhism, together with a commentary on the classic instructions of Master Dogen concerning moral and ethical behavior. From examinations of the Buddhist concepts of the Koan to Zazen, Loori's clarity is exceptional, and his ability to frame the discussion for contemporary Americans is striking in its utility. In a year of so many exceptional Buddhist publications, Loori's book is a welcome introduction to what it takes to enter Dharma. (Oct.)