Overview
The essential primer for understanding awakening in the Ch’an Buddhist tradition.
Long acclaimed as a translator and interpreter of ancient Chinese philosophy, David Hinton turns his attention to the practice of meditation. Distilling 2,600 years of Taoist and Ch’an (Zen) wisdom into a narration of a single meditation session, Hinton traces the insights that can arise in the mind of the meditator—insights that reveal the deep interrelation of self and other, humanity and earth, consciousness and cosmos.
Hinton strips away complex Chinese terminology to reveal the simple, empirical truths at the heart of meditative awakening. In plainspoken prose, he shows how our minds are empty in nature, how thought is the cosmos contemplating itself, how our primordial kinship with nature entails an environmental ethics of responsibility, and how beauty can teach us just as effectively as a retreat in a monastery. Interwoven with translations of poems by Yang Wan-li, one of China’s great Ch’an poets, Elemental Mind will deepen your understanding of the power of meditation.
Long acclaimed as a translator and interpreter of ancient Chinese philosophy, David Hinton turns his attention to the practice of meditation. Distilling 2,600 years of Taoist and Ch’an (Zen) wisdom into a narration of a single meditation session, Hinton traces the insights that can arise in the mind of the meditator—insights that reveal the deep interrelation of self and other, humanity and earth, consciousness and cosmos.
Hinton strips away complex Chinese terminology to reveal the simple, empirical truths at the heart of meditative awakening. In plainspoken prose, he shows how our minds are empty in nature, how thought is the cosmos contemplating itself, how our primordial kinship with nature entails an environmental ethics of responsibility, and how beauty can teach us just as effectively as a retreat in a monastery. Interwoven with translations of poems by Yang Wan-li, one of China’s great Ch’an poets, Elemental Mind will deepen your understanding of the power of meditation.
While major retailers like Amazon may carry Elemental Mind (A Little Guide to Awakening), we specialize in bulk book sales and offer personalized service from our friendly, book-smart team based in Portland, Oregon. We’re proud to offer a Price Match Guarantee and a streamlined ordering experience from people who truly care.
We’re trusted by over 75,000 customers, many of whom return time and again. Want proof? Just check out our 25,000+ customer reviews—real feedback from people who love how we do business.
Prefer to talk to a real person? Our Book Specialists are here Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST and ready to help with your bulk order of Elemental Mind (A Little Guide to Awakening).