A Zen Life of Buddha - by Rafe Martin (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Zen Buddhism begins with the Buddha's enlightenment. While the word, "enlightenment" suggests there is something you get and that once have it you are "enlightened," "intimacy" comes closer to the truth. We gain nothing. Rather, through attention to counting the breath, experiencing the breath, or putting our attention into a koan, we become of less interest to ourselves and, in this losing is finding. The world steps in - trees, mountains, bugs, rivers, people - and we rediscover our original, undiminished intimacy with all things. No longer strangers to this Earth, to others, or to ourselves, such intimacy has healing power. This is to live our own Zen life of Buddha.

Drawing on ancient myth, on Zen koans, on stories, and on his own over fifty years of formal Zen practice and more than ten years of active Zen teaching, Roshi Rafe Martin reveals the life of the Buddha as our own actual life. Using his skills as an award-winning author and storyteller, he organizes the life of the Buddha into five archetypal chapters - Birth, Leaving Home, Enlightenment, Teaching, and Death and reveals how, at every point, the historic/legendary/mythic life of the Buddha is our own lived life. The end result is transformative, helping us to potentially live each day more consciously, skillfully, and gratefully - whatever comes.

Review Quotes

"Should be required reading for all Zen students. Rich in the insight and detail that can only emerge from years of dedicated Zen practice and teaching." Sunyana Graef Roshi, Dharma Heir of Roshi Philip Kapleau and Abbot of Vermont Zen Center

"I love this book, so deeply important for beginners and experienced practitioners alike!" Taigen Henderson Roshi, Abbot of the Toronto Zen Centre

"It rescues the Buddha from the prison of unapproachable myth, revealing him to be utterly human, utterly you, utterly me. Short and eminently readable, it is the fruit of Martin Roshi's half-century deep dive into Zen practice and teaching." Hoag Holmgren, author of No Better Place: A New Zen Primer

"Wonder of wonders, Rafe Martin once again brings ancient story to life and reveals the Buddha not as a distant archetype and legend but as you and me, intimately practicing together in this very moment for the benefit of all beings. Rafe's thoroughly lived Zen life shines with wisdom and love of the dharma as he invites us to walk with him in the Buddha's footsteps, to touch and entrust ourselves to the ground of living earth, and to awaken to who we already are in this impermanent and precious human body and life. The bodhisattva path of compassion and goodness is illumined right in the midst of the fire and with Rafe's humble and steady guidance we begin to see and know everywhere as home. Don't miss this treasure." Chris Fortin, Shunryu Suzuki Roshi lineage; priest and teacher Everyday Zen Foundation and Dharma Heart Zen

"What a marvellous and needed offering! Roshi Rafe Martin brings to life, from a Zen practitioner's perspective, the Buddha's life as way of helping us to deepen and compassionately offer our own daily life as a life of Buddha." Sensei Ron Hogen Green, Dharma Successor to Shugen Roshi, Zen Mountain Monastery/Mountains and River Order

"Struck through with deep confidence in the Dharma, Rafe Jnan Martin's elegant book is a complete teaching. Rafe draws freely from myth and story and verse across time and tradition. It is worth taking the time to savor each page." Hozan Alan Senauke, Abbot, Berkeley Zen Center

"Rafe Martin, Roshi, is a longtime Zen practitioner and experienced Zen teacher. So when he shares in this groundbreaking book the reality that Siddhartha Gautama, known as The Buddha, was no different from us despite the fact that he lived more than two millennia ago it's a startling realization for most Zen students, who commonly place the Buddha "above" the rest of us. Here, Rafe brings him right down to earth, walking hand in hand with each of us." Mitra Bishop, Roshi, Abbot, Mountain Gate

"Zen Teacher Rafe Martin begins his wise book by reflecting on Enlightenment as Intimate Connection. He then shares Zen intimacy with us. Reading his book is like having a sage whisper life's truths directly into your ear, pointing out the nature of the awakened life. Our community will use this as a bookclub text. It's breadth of succinctly distilled, accessible wisdom makes it deeply useful to every type of genuine spiritual practitioner." Hogen Bays Roshi, Co-Abbot, Great Vow Zen Monastery

"Purely, simply beautiful. Clear and resonant. Throughout, no unnecessary elaboration, just: here's the story of the Buddha's life and how it relates to Zen practice. Pitch perfect. Moving and inspiring." Donna Thomson, Co-Founder, SourcePoint Therapy, author of SourcePoint Therapy: Exploring the Blueprint of Health and, Not Poems: Moments of Awareness