The Shamanic Bones of Zen: Revealing the Ancestral Spirit And Mystical Heart of a Sacred Tradition

Zen Buddhist priest and poet Manuel (The Deepest Peace) offers a counterpoint to Western Zen’s embrace of scientific theory in this refreshing take on promoting shamanism within Zen. The volume focuses on indigenous traditions and their connections to the earth, spiritual ancestors, and rituals that enhance Buddhist practice. Drawing from African, Caribbean, and Native American shamanic practice, as well as Black Christian churches, Manuel contends that chanting, zazen (sitting meditation), and other acts can invoke altered states of consciousness and bring practitioners closer to nature. Chapters explain how to make offerings to honor ancestors for healing and transformation, chanting to experience oneness and achieve illumination, and putting forth gratitude, which leads to “a sense of abundance.” Manuel applies shamanic ritual to the realities of racial oppression, finding “ritual and ceremony... to be the most profound way to enter into a realm of liberation and embody compassion for my life and all others.” A valuable resource section, meanwhile, includes chants and tips for attending meditation retreats. The open, conversational tone and inclusion of personal anecdotes help make the spiritual considerations accessible to those less familiar with shamanism. The Zen curious as well as longtime adherents will appreciate Manuel’s revelations. (Feb.)