The Book of Mu

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“The most important of all koans finally gets the attention it deserves. For those considering koan study, or just curious about this unique spiritual practice, this is a very valuable book.”—David R. Loy, author of Money, Sex, War, Karma

THE BOOK OF MU

Essential Writings on Zen’s Most Important Koan

James Ishmael Ford Melissa Myozen Blacker

The word “mu” is one ancient Zen teacher’s response to the earnest question of whether even a dog has “buddha nature”. Discovering for ourselves the meaning of the master’s response is the urgent work of each of us who yearns to be free and at peace. “Practicing Mu” is synonymous with practicing Zen, “sitting with Mu” is an apt description for all Zen meditation, and it is said that all the thousands and thousands of koans in the Zen tradition are just further elaborations of Mu.

This watershed volume brings together over forty teachers, ancient and modern masters from across centuries and schools, to illuminate and clarify the essential matter: the question of how to be most truly ourselves.

Includes writings from: Dogen • Hakuin • Dahui • Thich Thien-An Zenkei Shibayama • Seung Sahn • Taizan Maezumi • Sheng Yen Philip Kapleau • Robert Aitken • Jan Chozen Bays • Shodo Harada Grace Schireson • John Daido Loori • John Tarrant Barry Magid • Joan Sutherland … and many more!

book information
  • Paperback
  • 352 pages, 6.00 x 9.00 inches
  • $17.95
  • ISBN 9780861716432
  • ebook
  • 352 pages
  • $13.99
  • ISBN 9780861716098
about the author
The Book of Mu

James Ishmael Ford is the Senior Priest at the Blue Cliff Zen Network. James has been a student of Zen for fifty years. He is dually credentialed as a Soto Zen Buddhist priest and as a Unitarian Universalist minister. He lives with his spouse Jan Seymour-Ford and their three-legged cat Cassie in Long Beach, California. 

Other books by James Ishmael Ford:
Introduction to Zen Koans
Zen Master Who?
If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break

The Book of Mu

Melissa Myozen Blacker, Roshi, is a Zen teacher and the abbot of Boundless Way Zen, a school of Zen Buddhism with practice centers throughout New England. She is one of the resident teachers at Boundless Way Zen Temple in Worcester. From 1993 to 2012, Melissa was on the staff of the Center for Mindfulness (CFM), founded by Jon Kabat-Zinn, at the University of Massachusetts Medical School. Her positions at the CFM included Director of professional training programs and senior teacher and Associate Director of the Stress Reduction Clinic. In addition to Zen teaching and writing, Melissa also offers private meditation consulting and spiritual direction. She is co-editor of The Book of MU, published by Wisdom Publications in April of 2011. Her chapter from The Book of MU was included in Best Buddhist Writing, 2012, edited by Melvin MacLeod and published by Shambhala Publications.

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