Zen Cancer Wisdom: tips for making each day better
Zen Cancer Wisdom: tips for making each day better
$33.95
In stock, will ship in 2 – 3 business days
ISBN / SKU
9781614291237
Format
Paperback
Pages
320
Dimensions
200 x 125
Category/ies
Description
With a much-needed sense of levity, Daju Suzanne Friedman teaches the art of keeping one's body, mind, and spirit together while living with cancer.
"Layman Wang once asked his attendant,'What would you do if a dragon suddenly arrived here?' His attendant answered, 'I wouldn't pay attention to anything else.' This is how it feels when you've been diagnosed with cancer. Your attention and focus shift dramatically towards just this one thing. While single-minded focus can be beneficial, it is also important to remember that you are more than your diagnosis, and that there is more to life than being a patient."
—from the introduction
In Zen Cancer Wisdom, Daju Suzanne Friedman—Zen teacher, Chinese medicine doctor, and Qigong specialist—shares the inspirations, insights, and humor that helped her to continue to live fully in the face of cancer. With sections devoted to soothing the spirit, harnessing the mind, nourishing the body, and qigong stretches for soothing aches and pains, Friedman provides thoughtful guidance on topics ranging from hair loss and constipation to coping with stress and learning to laugh again. Each chapter begins with an anecdote drawn from the Zen tradition, followed by personal reflection, and a brief guided practice specifically for cancer patients. Pocket-sized, with short, buoyant chapters, and meditation exercises designed to be practicable anywhere in only a few minutes time, Zen Cancer Wisdom is the perfect companion book for cancer patients.
PRAISE
"A refreshingly up-beat, humorous, compassionate treasury of practical wisdom for those living with cancer."
—Willa B. Miller, coauthor of The Arts of Contemplative Care
"This remarkable book combines the deep and authentic wisdom of Zen ancestors' pithy teachings with the everyday practical intelligence required to live with cancer. If you are ill, this book is required reading, but it is also recommended for those of us who face aging and mortality—everyone. This book brilliantly addresses living fully each day while facing a life that ultimately veers beyond our control."
—Grace Schireson, author of Zen Women
"As a person living with chronic illness, this book has become one of my most valuable resources. It's a rich and comprehensive guide to opening our minds to our life as it is and for soothing our struggling bodies."
—Toni Bernhard, author of How to Be Sick and How to Wake Up
"Daju Suzanne Friedman gives us a wise, practical and compassionate fusion of modern and ancient Zen mind body approaches that allow one to live with cancer."
—Herbert Benson, MD, author of The Relaxation Response
"Something truly astonishing can happen when we are pushed to the edge of our life. Daju Suzanne Friedman met her cancer diagnosis with the courage of everyday Zen. She leads us through the mundane and the horrific with such steadfast wisdom that her book reminds us what is possible for our lives as we engage the inevitable challenges of old age, sickness, and death."
—Rodney Smith, author of Lessons from the Dying
"As straightforward as a Zen Master, and as compassionate as a Bodhisattva, Daju gently unveils the path of living with cancer. This is a healing jewel, studded with ancient wisdom and good humor. I will be giving this to many friends as a companion on the way of doing illness."
—Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, author of Most Intimate: A Zen Approach to Life's Challenges
"You have cancer: Now what? You begin your journey of fears, hopes, and…laughter? In Zen Cancer Wisdom, Daju Suzanne Friedman shares her deep insights of Zen, knowledge of healing, and her irreverent sense of humor to all those who find themselves on this path. Let her show you the freedom of don't know mind so that you can fully embrace the love, joy, and, yes, laughter, surrounding you now."
—Reishin Denise Leong, Zen priest, Hollow Bones Rinzai Order
"Layman Wang once asked his attendant,'What would you do if a dragon suddenly arrived here?' His attendant answered, 'I wouldn't pay attention to anything else.' This is how it feels when you've been diagnosed with cancer. Your attention and focus shift dramatically towards just this one thing. While single-minded focus can be beneficial, it is also important to remember that you are more than your diagnosis, and that there is more to life than being a patient."
—from the introduction
In Zen Cancer Wisdom, Daju Suzanne Friedman—Zen teacher, Chinese medicine doctor, and Qigong specialist—shares the inspirations, insights, and humor that helped her to continue to live fully in the face of cancer. With sections devoted to soothing the spirit, harnessing the mind, nourishing the body, and qigong stretches for soothing aches and pains, Friedman provides thoughtful guidance on topics ranging from hair loss and constipation to coping with stress and learning to laugh again. Each chapter begins with an anecdote drawn from the Zen tradition, followed by personal reflection, and a brief guided practice specifically for cancer patients. Pocket-sized, with short, buoyant chapters, and meditation exercises designed to be practicable anywhere in only a few minutes time, Zen Cancer Wisdom is the perfect companion book for cancer patients.
PRAISE
"A refreshingly up-beat, humorous, compassionate treasury of practical wisdom for those living with cancer."
—Willa B. Miller, coauthor of The Arts of Contemplative Care
"This remarkable book combines the deep and authentic wisdom of Zen ancestors' pithy teachings with the everyday practical intelligence required to live with cancer. If you are ill, this book is required reading, but it is also recommended for those of us who face aging and mortality—everyone. This book brilliantly addresses living fully each day while facing a life that ultimately veers beyond our control."
—Grace Schireson, author of Zen Women
"As a person living with chronic illness, this book has become one of my most valuable resources. It's a rich and comprehensive guide to opening our minds to our life as it is and for soothing our struggling bodies."
—Toni Bernhard, author of How to Be Sick and How to Wake Up
"Daju Suzanne Friedman gives us a wise, practical and compassionate fusion of modern and ancient Zen mind body approaches that allow one to live with cancer."
—Herbert Benson, MD, author of The Relaxation Response
"Something truly astonishing can happen when we are pushed to the edge of our life. Daju Suzanne Friedman met her cancer diagnosis with the courage of everyday Zen. She leads us through the mundane and the horrific with such steadfast wisdom that her book reminds us what is possible for our lives as we engage the inevitable challenges of old age, sickness, and death."
—Rodney Smith, author of Lessons from the Dying
"As straightforward as a Zen Master, and as compassionate as a Bodhisattva, Daju gently unveils the path of living with cancer. This is a healing jewel, studded with ancient wisdom and good humor. I will be giving this to many friends as a companion on the way of doing illness."
—Roshi Pat Enkyo O'Hara, author of Most Intimate: A Zen Approach to Life's Challenges
"You have cancer: Now what? You begin your journey of fears, hopes, and…laughter? In Zen Cancer Wisdom, Daju Suzanne Friedman shares her deep insights of Zen, knowledge of healing, and her irreverent sense of humor to all those who find themselves on this path. Let her show you the freedom of don't know mind so that you can fully embrace the love, joy, and, yes, laughter, surrounding you now."
—Reishin Denise Leong, Zen priest, Hollow Bones Rinzai Order
Contents
Foreword
Introduction
I. Practical Navigation Wisdom
1. Learning is Not the Path · 9
How Much is Enough Information?
2. Head Like a Coconut · 12
Remembering the Important Stuff
3. Not-Knowing Mind · 15
Staying Open to Options
4. Flawless Jade · 19
Looking Good, Regardless
5. To Know The Road Ahead, Ask Someone Returning · 22
Getting Answers to Key Questions
6. The Expert Archer Does Not Try to Hit the Target · 25
Learn Something New
7. Empty Your Cup! · 28
Being Flexible
8. Beware the Three-Inch Scholar · 30
Find the Experts
9. The Supreme Way is Not Difficult · 32
Choosing What Fits
10. Without Words, Without Silence · 34
Reaching Out to Others
11. Do Not Fight with Another’s Bow and Arrow · 36
Following Your Own Path
12. When Two Thieves Meet, They Need No Introduction · 39
Sharing in Community
13. The Build Goodness Temple · 41
Welcoming the Positive
14. Tame the First Lion · 45
Trying New Approaches
15. You Can’t Call it a Wooden Stool · 47
Making Tough Decisions
16. When the Moon Reaches the Window · 51
Setting Simple Goals
17. The Ultimate Teaching · 53
Remembering What Matters
II. Soothing Your Spirit
18. Tree Stumps · 59
Developing a Meditation Practice
19. Meditation in Action · 62
Bringing Presence Into Your Day
20. Make Every Place a Temple · 64
Creating a Home Altar
21. Be A Light Unto Yourself · 67
Slowing Down and Checking In
22. The Sound of One Hand Clapping · 70
Listening Meditation
23. The Mind is an Unruly Monkey · 73
Stilling the Mind
24. Donkey Milk · 76
Looking for Spiritual Teachers
25. The Summit is Obscured · 80
Cultivating Moments of Awareness
26. Sit in the Bodhi Seat · 83
Owning Your Power
27. Light Another’s Lamp and Your Own Path Brightens · 86
Being of Service
28. Riding an Ox While in Search of an Ox · 89
Recognizing Your True Nature
29. No Self, No Other · 92
Opening to Interconnection
30. Your Treasure is Within, Containing All You Need · 96
Remembering Who You Are
31. The Master’s Special Medicine · 100
Appreciating the Ordinary
32. Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha · 105
Valuing Your Time
33. A Drifting Fishing Line · 109
Meditating With Water in Nature
34. Boil Some Tea · 112
Developing a Mindfulness Ritual
35. Crawling Turtles · 116
Opening To What Comes
36. Dig Inside · 119
Practicing Internal Focus
37. Like An Arrow · 123
Walking Meditation Outdoors
III. Harnessing Your Mind
38. Worthy! · 129
Using Positive Mantras
39. A Fallen Flower Doesn’t Return to the Branch · 132
Being Here Now
40. Everyday Mind is the Way! · 134
Writing Little Poems
41. Go Wash Your Bowl! · 138
Taking Action to Change Your Mood
42. When To Pick Up Your Nose · 140
Laughter is the Best Medicine
43. Contentment is True Wealth · 145
Accessing Internal Wealth
44. Express your Mind Without Your Tongue · 148
Channeling Emotional Energy
45. Wisdom Shines Through Darkness · 151
Who (Not) To Spend Time With
46. Thusness · 154
Accepting What Is
47. Stuck Like Ice · 158
Moving the Bodymind
48. Baby Snake or Dragon? · 161
Embracing Strength and Vulnerability
49. Sometimes the Obstacle is the Path · 163
Acknowledging Any Benefits
50. A Lustrous Pearl in Your Hand · 168
Appreciating the Beauty Around You
51. Laughing Now · 171
Letting Your Emotions Flow
52. Bushido: The Way of the Warrior · 174
Coping with What Arises
53. The Essence · 177
Narrowing Your Focus
54. Your Nose · 180
Stepping Away from Your Routine
55. Losing Your Eyebrows · 183
Double-checking Your Habitual Thoughts
56. Heads and Tails · 186
Following Through
IV. Balancing and Nourishing Your Body
57. Drink Some Tea! · 191
Staying Hydrated
58. Three Pounds of Flax · 193
Keeping Things Moving
59. One Flavored Zen · 195
Deciding What to Eat
60. Flowers Planted When the Ground is Ready · 199
Using Aromatherapy
61. Try Not to Remember What I’m Saying · 203
Eating to Help Mental Focus
62. Bitter Taste, Good Medicine · 206
Taking Appropriate Herbs
63. A Mosquito On An Iron Bull · 208
Packing Small Meals
64. Stick a Needle In It! · 211
Feeling Better With Acupuncture
65. Burning the Buddha for Warmth · 214
Keeping Warm for Comfort
66. A Bee Doesn’t Return to an Old Hive · 217
Standing Tall For A Better View
67. Sky Above, Earth Below · 219
Taking In The Outdoors
68. No Goats or Hounds · 221
Enjoying Chocolate (Yes, Chocolate!)
69. The Taste of Salt · 223
Drinking Healthy Soup
70. Dragon’s Mouth · 226
Soothing Your Mouth and Lips
71. A Mere Grain of Rice · 229
Cooking Smart
72. Speaking Fire · 231
Easing Stomach Discomfort
73. Attaining the Marrow · 233
Soothing Broths and Stews
74. To Catch a Rabbit · 236
Bouncing Your Way to Better Health
75. Sleeping Zen · 239
Getting Adequate Sleep
76. A Picture of Cake · 242
Avoiding Sugar
V. Self-Healing Qigong Exercises
77. Water Wears Down the Hardest Rock · 249
Releasing Fear
78. Not Found in Understanding · 252
Acupoint Self-Massage for Calming and Sleep
79. Monkey Screeches · 255
Releasing Anger and Anxiety
80. When Mind and Body Become One You Are Free · 258
Cultivating Meditative Mind
81. No Consciousness in the Skull · 261
Breathing to Ground and Center
82. Hakuin’s Duck Egg · 264
Visualizing to Relax and Renew
83. Take What I Say As Dirty! · 267
Purifying Your Energy
84. Heaven and Hell · 271
Creating an Energetic Boundary
85. Draw Your Bow Before the Thief Runs · 274
Stretching for Bravery and Energy
86. Dragging A Cat · 279
Coping with Pain
Introduction
I. Practical Navigation Wisdom
1. Learning is Not the Path · 9
How Much is Enough Information?
2. Head Like a Coconut · 12
Remembering the Important Stuff
3. Not-Knowing Mind · 15
Staying Open to Options
4. Flawless Jade · 19
Looking Good, Regardless
5. To Know The Road Ahead, Ask Someone Returning · 22
Getting Answers to Key Questions
6. The Expert Archer Does Not Try to Hit the Target · 25
Learn Something New
7. Empty Your Cup! · 28
Being Flexible
8. Beware the Three-Inch Scholar · 30
Find the Experts
9. The Supreme Way is Not Difficult · 32
Choosing What Fits
10. Without Words, Without Silence · 34
Reaching Out to Others
11. Do Not Fight with Another’s Bow and Arrow · 36
Following Your Own Path
12. When Two Thieves Meet, They Need No Introduction · 39
Sharing in Community
13. The Build Goodness Temple · 41
Welcoming the Positive
14. Tame the First Lion · 45
Trying New Approaches
15. You Can’t Call it a Wooden Stool · 47
Making Tough Decisions
16. When the Moon Reaches the Window · 51
Setting Simple Goals
17. The Ultimate Teaching · 53
Remembering What Matters
II. Soothing Your Spirit
18. Tree Stumps · 59
Developing a Meditation Practice
19. Meditation in Action · 62
Bringing Presence Into Your Day
20. Make Every Place a Temple · 64
Creating a Home Altar
21. Be A Light Unto Yourself · 67
Slowing Down and Checking In
22. The Sound of One Hand Clapping · 70
Listening Meditation
23. The Mind is an Unruly Monkey · 73
Stilling the Mind
24. Donkey Milk · 76
Looking for Spiritual Teachers
25. The Summit is Obscured · 80
Cultivating Moments of Awareness
26. Sit in the Bodhi Seat · 83
Owning Your Power
27. Light Another’s Lamp and Your Own Path Brightens · 86
Being of Service
28. Riding an Ox While in Search of an Ox · 89
Recognizing Your True Nature
29. No Self, No Other · 92
Opening to Interconnection
30. Your Treasure is Within, Containing All You Need · 96
Remembering Who You Are
31. The Master’s Special Medicine · 100
Appreciating the Ordinary
32. Sun-faced Buddha, Moon-faced Buddha · 105
Valuing Your Time
33. A Drifting Fishing Line · 109
Meditating With Water in Nature
34. Boil Some Tea · 112
Developing a Mindfulness Ritual
35. Crawling Turtles · 116
Opening To What Comes
36. Dig Inside · 119
Practicing Internal Focus
37. Like An Arrow · 123
Walking Meditation Outdoors
III. Harnessing Your Mind
38. Worthy! · 129
Using Positive Mantras
39. A Fallen Flower Doesn’t Return to the Branch · 132
Being Here Now
40. Everyday Mind is the Way! · 134
Writing Little Poems
41. Go Wash Your Bowl! · 138
Taking Action to Change Your Mood
42. When To Pick Up Your Nose · 140
Laughter is the Best Medicine
43. Contentment is True Wealth · 145
Accessing Internal Wealth
44. Express your Mind Without Your Tongue · 148
Channeling Emotional Energy
45. Wisdom Shines Through Darkness · 151
Who (Not) To Spend Time With
46. Thusness · 154
Accepting What Is
47. Stuck Like Ice · 158
Moving the Bodymind
48. Baby Snake or Dragon? · 161
Embracing Strength and Vulnerability
49. Sometimes the Obstacle is the Path · 163
Acknowledging Any Benefits
50. A Lustrous Pearl in Your Hand · 168
Appreciating the Beauty Around You
51. Laughing Now · 171
Letting Your Emotions Flow
52. Bushido: The Way of the Warrior · 174
Coping with What Arises
53. The Essence · 177
Narrowing Your Focus
54. Your Nose · 180
Stepping Away from Your Routine
55. Losing Your Eyebrows · 183
Double-checking Your Habitual Thoughts
56. Heads and Tails · 186
Following Through
IV. Balancing and Nourishing Your Body
57. Drink Some Tea! · 191
Staying Hydrated
58. Three Pounds of Flax · 193
Keeping Things Moving
59. One Flavored Zen · 195
Deciding What to Eat
60. Flowers Planted When the Ground is Ready · 199
Using Aromatherapy
61. Try Not to Remember What I’m Saying · 203
Eating to Help Mental Focus
62. Bitter Taste, Good Medicine · 206
Taking Appropriate Herbs
63. A Mosquito On An Iron Bull · 208
Packing Small Meals
64. Stick a Needle In It! · 211
Feeling Better With Acupuncture
65. Burning the Buddha for Warmth · 214
Keeping Warm for Comfort
66. A Bee Doesn’t Return to an Old Hive · 217
Standing Tall For A Better View
67. Sky Above, Earth Below · 219
Taking In The Outdoors
68. No Goats or Hounds · 221
Enjoying Chocolate (Yes, Chocolate!)
69. The Taste of Salt · 223
Drinking Healthy Soup
70. Dragon’s Mouth · 226
Soothing Your Mouth and Lips
71. A Mere Grain of Rice · 229
Cooking Smart
72. Speaking Fire · 231
Easing Stomach Discomfort
73. Attaining the Marrow · 233
Soothing Broths and Stews
74. To Catch a Rabbit · 236
Bouncing Your Way to Better Health
75. Sleeping Zen · 239
Getting Adequate Sleep
76. A Picture of Cake · 242
Avoiding Sugar
V. Self-Healing Qigong Exercises
77. Water Wears Down the Hardest Rock · 249
Releasing Fear
78. Not Found in Understanding · 252
Acupoint Self-Massage for Calming and Sleep
79. Monkey Screeches · 255
Releasing Anger and Anxiety
80. When Mind and Body Become One You Are Free · 258
Cultivating Meditative Mind
81. No Consciousness in the Skull · 261
Breathing to Ground and Center
82. Hakuin’s Duck Egg · 264
Visualizing to Relax and Renew
83. Take What I Say As Dirty! · 267
Purifying Your Energy
84. Heaven and Hell · 271
Creating an Energetic Boundary
85. Draw Your Bow Before the Thief Runs · 274
Stretching for Bravery and Energy
86. Dragging A Cat · 279
Coping with Pain
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