An essential guide to what it's like to
spend a week inside
a Zen Buddhist monastery.
The notion of spending days at a time in
silence and meditation amid the serene beauty of a Zen
monastery may be appealing--but how do you do it, and what can
you really expect from the experience?
Waking Up provides
the answers for everyone who's just curious, as well as for all
those who have dreamed of actually giving it a try and now want
to know where to begin.
Jack Maguire take us inside the monastery
walls to present details of what it's like: the physical work,
common meals, conversations with the monks and other residents,
meditation, and other activities that fill an ordinary week. We
learn:
• What kind of person resides in a
Zen monastery?
• Why do people stay there/ And for
how long?
• Must you be a Buddhist to spend
time there?
• What do the people there do? What
is a typical day like?
• How does the experience affect
people's spiritual life once they're back home?
• How can I try it out?
A detailed "Guide to Zen and Buddhist
Places" and a glossary of terms make Waking Up not only a
handbook for the curious seeker, but an excellent resource for
anyone wanting to know more about the Buddhist way.
“A beautifully described, intimate view of Zen monastic life…especially valuable
for those who have had no experience participating in a week-long retreat practice. Highly recommended.”
—Rabbi David A. Cooper, author of God Is a Verb and Silence, Simplicity & Solitude: A Complete Guide to Spiritual Retreat at Home
“An excellent way to glimpse life inside a Zen monastery.”
—Marcia and Jack Kelly, authors of Sanctuaries:
A Guide to Lodgings in
Monasteries, Abbeys, and Retreats
“First-rate…. has the feel of a ‘being there’ video, often inspiring and moving.
An accurate and firsthand account of the rites and rituals of a place that has the power to heal and transform.”
—Mu Soeng, Director, Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, Barre, Massachusetts
“‘What will it really be like?’ Jack Maguire has done an excellent job of answering this and many other questions, beautifully introducing the Zen experience.”
—Jennifer Louden, author of The Women’s Retreat Book
John Daido Loori, Roshi,
is abbot of Zen Mountain Monastery and author of numerous books, including Two Arrows Meeting in Mid-Air and Making Love with Light.
