This book will help you appreciate the significance of Japan's own religion in everyday life, recognize the key traditions and festivals of the Shinto year, understand what you will see at Shinto shrines and in Shinto rituals, and gain insights into the controversies surrounding Shinto politics and nationalism.

The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo is a long essay linking the role of tea (teaism) to the aesthetic and cultural aspects of Japanese life. Addressed to a western audience, it was originally written in English and is one of the great English tea classics. Okakura had been taught at a young age to speak English and was proficient at communicating his thoughts to the Western mind. In his book, he discusses such topics as Zen and Taoism, but also the secular aspects of tea and Japanese life.

This very short introduction offers listeners a superb overview of the teachings of the Buddha, as well as a succinct guide to the integration of Buddhism into daily life.

Ryokan (1758–1831) is, along with Dogen and Hakuin, one of the three giants of Zen in Japan. But unlike his two renowned colleagues, Ryokan was a societal dropout, living mostly as a hermit and a beggar. He was never head of a monastery or temple. He liked playing with children. He had no dharma heir. Even so, people recognized the depth of his realization, and he was sought out by people of all walks of life for the teaching to be experienced in just being around him.

Noted Japan expert Professor Mark J. Ravina of the University of Texas at Austin covers the politics, economics, and culture of the island nation since World War II - a conflict that saw the end of Japan’s dream of regional conquest, which Professor Ravina calls Empire 1.0. The country’s postwar leaders radically changed course, renouncing a strong military to pursue Empire 2.0 - Japan as an economic colossus.

The 13 chapters of The Art of War, each devoted to one aspect of warfare, were compiled by the high-ranking Chinese military general, strategist, and philosopher Sun-Tzu. In spite of its battlefield specificity, The Art of War has found new life in the modern age, with leaders in fields as wide and far-reaching as world politics, human psychology, and corporate strategy finding valuable insight in its timeworn words.

This is the first book to offer the great master's incisive wisdom in short selections taken from the whole range of his voluminous works. The pithy and powerful readings, arranged according to theme, provide a perfect introduction to Dogen - and inspire spiritual practice in people of all traditions.

In simple and straightforward language, Bhante Gunaratana shares the Buddha's teachings on mindfulness and how we can use these principles to improve our daily lives, deepen our mindfulness, and move closer to our spiritual goals. Based on the classic Satipatthana Sutta, one of the most succinct yet rich explanations of meditation, Bhante's presentation is nonetheless thoroughly modern.

First published in 1843, it tells the story of Ebenezer Scrooge, a mean and unpleasant man who dislikes people generally and Christmas especially. One Christmas Eve he is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley and the spirits of Christmas Past, Present and Yet to Come and given a glimpse of the many homes and lives which Scrooge has touched in his wretched life to date. After their visits, Scrooge is transformed into a kinder, gentler man.

The comprehensive and accurate edition of the Hagakure is a must-have for serious martial artists or fans of samurai and the Bushido code.

安岡教学の集大成
ここに極まれり！

人間の意識の深層（無意識層）は永遠につながっている。これは自分および父母・先祖代々の体験と真理の倉庫であり、秘密の蔵である。
このことを近代の医学・心理学がようやく究明するようになってきた。王陽明のいわゆる「良知（りょうち）」というのは、このことをいうのであって、我われが主観を徹底してゆくと（徹底的に思索すると）、良知に到達する。これは言い換えれば大いなる客観（いわば真理）である。だから、我われは主観を徹底すれば大いなる客観に到達する。客観を徹底すれば大いなる主観に到達する。これを王陽明は龍場（りゅうじょう）という僻地に流謫（るたく）された時に初めて把握した。そこで、真剣に学問求道をやれば、誰でもこの主観を通じて大いなる客観に到達する、つまり主客が合一してくる。――これが「到良知（ちりょうち）＜良知を究める＞」というもので、禅とも通ずる、陽明学の一眼目である。

●収録内容

第一章　五家七宗││禅の発展
第二章　宋学の勃興
第三章　易の哲学││周茂叔と太極図説
第四章　漢民族と日本民族
第五章　宋の試練││文華と文弱
第六章　碧巌録
第七章　華厳と円覚││禅の哲学
第八章　陽明学の前夜││形式化する教学
第九章　王陽

心に沁み入るブッダの教え。私たちが幸福になる秘訣は、「世の中の考え」と「この世の真理」を正しく理解することにあります。


「あなたは、ふだん、まったくあべこべの感覚で生きていますね」

こう言われたら、あなたはどう感じるでしょうか?

「あべこべ」とは「さかさま・逆」の意味。
つまり、「あなたはさかさまの感覚で生きています」ということです。

私たちは、そんなことはないと思うでしょう。
ですが、お釈迦さまから見れば、実際は皆、あべこべ感覚で生きていると言います。

たとえば、「人生は楽しい」と考えても、実際の人生は「苦」ばかりということ。
「私は死なない」と思っても、人間には必ず「死」が訪れます。
「世の中の考え」と「お釈迦さまがいうこの世の真理」はあべこべです。
それは、私たちがものごとを勝手に捏造していることが原因なのです。

この本では、私たちが真の幸福と安らぎを得るために、ものごとをありのままに
知るために、お釈迦さまの道を紹介してくれます。

Listeners of this book will gain a clear understanding of what makes the Japanese, and their society, tick.

Lucidly and beautifully written, Peace Is Every Step contains commentaries, meditations, personal anecdotes, and stories from Nhat Hanh's experiences as a peace activist, teacher, and community leader. It begins where the listener already is - in the kitchen, office, driving a car, walking - and shows how deep meditative presence is available now.

妻の頭を帽子とまちがえてかぶろうとする音楽家、からだの感覚を失って姿勢が保てなくなってしまった若い母親…