Back in Print: My Christian Journey with Zen

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  • Jundo
    Treeleaf Founder and Priest
    • Apr 2006
    • 40190

    Back in Print: My Christian Journey with Zen

    Dear All, and especially for our members who walk the Christian and Zen path together ...

    My Dharma Brother, Gustav Ericsson's, book is back in print:

    In this spiritual memoir chronicling the journey of a man who became both an ordained Zen meditation teacher and an ordained priest in the Lutheran Church of Sweden, Gustav Ericsson shares reflections and glimpses into the story of how he learned to stop and sit down, be still and listen.

    Artfully crafted around a travel journal from a deeply reflective trip to Japan, My Christian Journey with Zen is an expression of the author’s spiritual path, focusing on how his meditation practice has grown in both his life and in his service as a parish priest and hospital chaplain.
    ...

    Gustav Ericcson is a Dharma successor of our Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi (Jundo's Teacher) and, since 2010, also a Lutheran Priest with the Church of Sweden, which is the largest Christian church organization in Sweden and largest Lutheran church in the world. In 2009 he founded Anzenkai, which is an interreligious network of friends based on daily shikantaza zazen. He is also a former prison guard before becoming a Lutheran priest. Obviously, Gustav is very interested in the intersection of Buddhist and Christian Teachings. You can read an interview with Gustav HERE.
    It is on Amazon only:



    My review there:

    Lovely Perspectives

    I am so glad to see this back in print. Although I am not a Christian, and only a Zen fellow of rather skeptical nature, this book helped me sweep away all such concerns to find the common road beyond this or that. A marvelous, moving story and beautiful perspectives. I am recommending the book, not only to all those who walk the "not one, not two" paths of Zen and Christianity, but to those who doubt or are merely curious as to how that may be done. So many people who have come to Zen and Buddhism later in life have done so, in part, due to some less than fulfilling memories of their encounter with the religion of their childhood. This book teaches that it need no be so for all, and many can find common ground if their heart is wide enough to look beyond differences in words and symbols. Zen accepts "just what is," and that "just what is" can include another religious belief when we drop inner barriers. Thank you for this lesson, Gustav. Such a lovely and good man, such a lovely and good book. Peace, Jundo
    Gustav was a guest teacher at Treeleaf Tsukuba a few years ago, and you can still sit with us ...


    Gassho, J

    SatTodayLAH

    (sorry, needed some length)
    Last edited by Jundo; 09-03-2020, 10:07 PM.
    ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE
  • Meitou
    Member
    • Feb 2017
    • 1656

    #2
    I've just bought this and I'm looking forward to reading it. It's of particular interest as I've drawn closer to the Church in recent months.
    Gassho
    Meitou
    Sattoday lah
    命 Mei - life
    島 Tou - island

    Comment

    • Onkai
      Treeleaf Unsui
      • Aug 2015
      • 3003

      #3
      Thank you, Jundo. My mother and I are both looking forward to reading this book.
      Gassho,
      Onkai
      sat/lah
      美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
      恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

      I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

      Comment

      • Heiso
        Member
        • Jan 2019
        • 833

        #4
        Thank you, I'm not a Christian but I have bought this and will have a read.

        Gassho

        Heiso
        StLah

        Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

        Comment

        • Tai Shi
          Member
          • Oct 2014
          • 3406

          #5
          I do not have time for this book right now. I'm reading Recovery Dharma, Loving-Kindness, and The Search for Self--for Ango vows 2020/ 2021, and if possible some of The Heart of Haiku. I'm trying to press myself into reading more because I've lost so much reading ability over the last 10 years to 15 years, and I used to read many books in a year. I am vowing to read My Christian Journey (Kindle $5.95) with Zen, a book directly dealing with my Zen practice, a book I desperatly need, in spring 2021.
          Gassho / lah
          sat
          Tai Shi
          Last edited by Tai Shi; 09-03-2020, 02:59 PM.
          Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

          Comment

          • Shinshi
            Treeleaf Unsui
            • Jul 2010
            • 3638

            #6
            In Amazon in the US it is listed at $864.56. I don't think I have seen a book price that high before!


            Gassho, Shinshi

            SaT-LaH
            空道 心志 Kudo Shinshi
            There are those who, attracted by grass, flowers, mountains, and waters, flow into the Buddha way.
            -Dogen
            E84I - JAJ

            Comment

            • Onkai
              Treeleaf Unsui
              • Aug 2015
              • 3003

              #7
              Originally posted by Shinshi
              In Amazon in the US it is listed at $864.56. I don't think I have seen a book price that high before!


              Gassho, Shinshi

              SaT-LaH
              This link should show the paperback version available for $11.95, with a five day wait: https://smile.amazon.com/Christian-J...a-6185fb77bc58 There is also a Kindle version for $5.95 at this link: https://smile.amazon.com/Christian-J...qid=1599166332
              I'm in the U.S. so I hope this helps.

              Gassho,
              Onkai
              Sat/LAH
              美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
              恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

              I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

              Comment

              • Victor
                Member
                • Mar 2019
                • 108

                #8
                Thank you for sharing, Jundo. This is intriguing to me and I will see if I may purchase it. It could offer some important perspective for me.

                Gassho,
                V
                ST

                Sent from my Pixel using Tapatalk
                "Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is the place to train"-Ueshiba Morihei

                Comment

                • Jundo
                  Treeleaf Founder and Priest
                  • Apr 2006
                  • 40190

                  #9
                  Originally posted by Shinshi
                  In Amazon in the US it is listed at $864.56. I don't think I have seen a book price that high before!


                  Gassho, Shinshi

                  SaT-LaH
                  Hah. You are looking at the old, out-of-print edition ... or maybe the one where Gustav flies to your home and reads it to your personally .

                  Here is the correct link for the new edition ...



                  Gassho, J

                  STLah
                  ALL OF LIFE IS OUR TEMPLE

                  Comment

                  • Getchi
                    Member
                    • May 2015
                    • 612

                    #10
                    Oh I remember Gustav, a wonderful man and ready to admit being wrong (difficult to admit he'd done right though he was never really satisfied like l).

                    SatToday
                    LaH
                    Gassho.
                    Nothing to do? Why not Sit?

                    Comment

                    • Tai Shi
                      Member
                      • Oct 2014
                      • 3406

                      #11
                      The Japanese version might be very expensive, but I ordered, and received English version, $5.95. Sorry if this contradicts understandings. Thank you.
                      Gassho
                      sat / lah
                      Tai Shi
                      Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

                      Comment

                      • Tai Shi
                        Member
                        • Oct 2014
                        • 3406

                        #12
                        Correction, the Kindle version $.00
                        Gassho
                        sat/ lah
                        Gassho
                        Peaceful, Tai Shi. Ubasoku; calm, supportive, for positive poetry 優婆塞 台 婆

                        Comment

                        • Onkai
                          Treeleaf Unsui
                          • Aug 2015
                          • 3003

                          #13
                          Thank you again, Jundo, I loved this book.

                          Gassho,
                          Onkai
                          Sat/lah
                          美道 Bidou Beautiful Way
                          恩海 Onkai Merciful/Kind Ocean

                          I have a lot to learn; take anything I say that sounds like teaching with a grain of salt.

                          Comment

                          • Heiso
                            Member
                            • Jan 2019
                            • 833

                            #14
                            I'm not a Christian but read a couple of pages of this lovely book before bed each night and got a lot out of it. Thanks for recommending it.

                            Gassho
                            Heiso
                            StLah

                            Sent from my E5823 using Tapatalk

                            Comment

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