Book description
Zen, plain and simple, with no BS.
This is not your typical Zen book. Brad Warner, a young punk who grew up to be a Zen master, spares no one. This bold new approach to the "Why?" of Zen Buddhism is as strongly grounded in the tradition of Zen as…
Why read it?
2 authors picked Hardcore Zen as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I can never get enough books on Zen, and Brad Warner has to be the most unique voice in the field. He's almost like a modern Chuang Tzu in terms of drawing our attention to false conceptions with humor, wit and much firmness of clarity that avoids the dogmatic.
Brad Warner is an interesting character, an American Zen master who’s also a punk guitarist and Godzilla fan. Brad studied with Gudo Nishijima Roshi for many years and received Dharma transmission from him. His books are written in a very accessible way that doesn’t take Zen too seriously and get their meaning across all the better for it. Below are the three books I’ve read – I imagine the rest are equally good:
From Goran's list on zen and martial arts.
If you love Hardcore Zen...
The High House
The Victorian mansion, Evenmere, is the mechanism that runs the universe.
The lamps must be lit, or the stars die. The clocks must be wound, or Time ceases. The Balance between Order and Chaos must be preserved, or Existence crumbles.
Appointed the Steward of Evenmere, Carter Anderson must learn the…
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