
Opening the Hand of Thought
Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice
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Narrated by:
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Sean Runnette
About this listen
For over 30 years, Opening the Hand of Thought has offered an introduction to Zen Buddhism and meditation unmatched in clarity and power. This is the revised edition of Kosho Uchiyama's singularly incisive classic.
This new edition contains even more useful material: new prefaces, an index, and extended endnotes, in addition to a revised glossary. As Jisho Warner writes in her preface, Opening the Hand of Thought "goes directly to the heart of Zen practice...showing how Zen Buddhism can be a deep and life-sustaining activity." She goes on to say, "Uchiyama looks at what a person is, what a self is, how to develop a true self not separate from all things, one that can settle in peace in the midst of life."
By turns humorous, philosophical, and personal, Opening the Hand of Thought is above all a great book for the Buddhist practitioner. It's a perfect follow-up for the listener who has heard Zen Meditation in Plain English and is especially useful for those who have not yet encountered a Zen teacher.
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Story
It’s true, as they say, that we can only love others when we first love ourselves and we can only experience real joy when we stop running from pain. The key to understanding these truisms lies in remaining open to life in all circumstances, and here Pema Chödrön shows us how. Because when we embrace the happiness and suffering, intelligence and confusion that are a natural part of life, we can begin to discover a wellspring of courageous love within our hearts.
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Narrator doesn't do Pema justice.
- By jenjen on 08-07-19
By: Pema Chodron
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An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
- By: D. T. Suzuki
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
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One of the world's leading authorities on Zen Buddhism, D. T. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both Japanese and English, and was most instrumental in bringing the teachings of Zen Buddhism to the attention of the Western world. Written in a lively, accessible, and straightforward manner, An Introduction to Zen Buddhism is illuminating for the serious student and layperson alike.
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great introduction to zen
- By Cliente de Kindle on 05-07-23
By: D. T. Suzuki
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Ordinary Wonder
- Zen Life and Practice
- By: Charlotte Joko Beck, Brenda Beck Hess
- Narrated by: Barbara Barnes
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
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In this collection of never-before-published teachings by Charlotte Joko Beck, one of the most influential Western-born Zen teachers, she explores our “core beliefs” - the hidden, negative convictions we hold about ourselves that direct our thoughts and behavior and prevent us from experiencing life as it is. Wryly humorous and relatable, Beck uses powerfully clear language to show how our lives present us with daily opportunities to move from thinking to experiencing, from compulsivity to confidence, and from anguish to peace.
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Thank you
- By fred on 08-01-21
By: Charlotte Joko Beck, and others
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Crooked Cucumber
- The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki
- By: David Chadwick
- Narrated by: David Chadwick
- Length: 21 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
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Shunryu Suzuki, author of the beloved classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, is lovingly remembered as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of the 20th century - whose legacy is felt in every facet of American Zen. This monumental biography of Suzuki, written and read by his student David Chadwick, weaves together a rich tapestry of stories and memories of Suzuki’s students, family, and friends. In this updated and revised audiobook edition, Chadwick also offers rare excerpts from archived recordings of Suzuki’s teachings in the great Zen master's own voice.
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Beautiful narration
- By Maurice Echeverria on 08-03-22
By: David Chadwick
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Bring Me the Rhinoceros
- And Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life
- By: John Tarrant
- Narrated by: John Tarrant
- Length: 5 hrs and 9 mins
- Unabridged
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Bring Me the Rhinoceros is an unusual guide to happiness and a can opener for your thinking. For fifteen hundred years, Zen koans have been passed down through generations of masters, usually in private encounters between teacher and student. This book deftly retells more than a dozen traditional koans, which are partly paradoxical questions dangerous to your beliefs and partly treasure boxes of ancient wisdom. John Tarrant brings the heart of the koan tradition out into the open, reminding us that the old wisdom remains as vital as ever.
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Master Storyteller Refreshing Authenticity
- By Julie Reed on 12-24-24
By: John Tarrant
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Living Everyday Zen
- By: Charlotte Joko Beck
- Narrated by: Charlotte Joko Beck
- Length: 3 hrs and 29 mins
- Original Recording
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Beyond the meditation cushion, where do you ultimately find the profound clarity, presence, and simple joy of Zen? "Where it has always been - in everyday life," teaches Charlotte Joko Beck, "whether it's raising our kids, working in the office, or even cleaning the house." On Living Everyday Zen, this seminal voice in American Zen shares some of her hallmark teachings and insights from nearly 50 years of practice.
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Everyday Zen
- By The Masked Reviewer on 09-17-17
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Discovering the True Self
- Kodo Sawaki's Art of Zen Meditation
- By: Kodo Sawaki, Arthur Braverman - editor translator and introduction
- Narrated by: David Shih
- Length: 5 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
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As an orphan in the slums of Tsu City, Japan, Kodo Sawaki had to fight his way to adulthood, and became one of the most respected Zen masters of the twentieth century. Though he remained poor by choice, he was rich in spirit. A student of Kosho Uchiyama, Arthur Braverman has compiled an anthology of Sawaki's writings and a garland of sayings gathered from throughout his lifetime. One of a few collections of Sawaki's teachings published in English, his life and work bracket the most intriguing and influential period of modern Zen practice in Japan and America.
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Narrator Mistakes Nonfiction For Drama
- By John on 02-11-24
By: Kodo Sawaki, and others
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The Lankavatara Sutra
- By: D.T. Suzuki
- Narrated by: Ratnadhya
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
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The Lankavatara Sutra, dating from the early years of the Common Era, sometime before 443, is one of the most important Mahayana Buddhist texts, not least because of its influence on later Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. One of its possible early translators in the 8th century was Gunabhadra, who is sometimes regarded as the first father of Zen in China. The Sutra takes the form of a dialogue between the Buddha in his cosmic form (as opposed to the historical figure of the Pali Canon) and the Bodhisattva or ‘Great Being', Mahamati.
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Excellent!
- By Skeet Fortner on 11-09-23
By: D.T. Suzuki
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The Essential Dogen
- Writings of the Great Zen Master
- By: Kazuaki Tanahashi - editor, Peter Levitt - editor
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 43 mins
- Unabridged
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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.
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A Great Pearl of Little Price
- By IndyInAsiaPacific on 06-08-17
By: Kazuaki Tanahashi - editor, and others
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Words of My Perfect Teacher
- A Complete Translation of a Classic Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
- By: Patrul Rinpoche
- Narrated by: Homer Todiwala
- Length: 17 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
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The Words of My Perfect Teacher is the classic commentary on the preliminary practices of the Longchen Nyingtig—one of the best-known cycles of teachings and a spiritual treasure of the Nyingmapa school—the oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Patrul Rinpoche makes the technicalities of his subject accessible through a wealth of stories, quotations, and references to everyday life. His style of mixing broad colloquialisms, stringent irony, and poetry has all the life and atmosphere of an oral teaching.
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Great text, poorly pronounced
- By Emma on 03-24-23
By: Patrul Rinpoche
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Losing Ourselves
- Learning to Live Without a Self
- By: Jay L. Garfield
- Narrated by: Eric Meyers
- Length: 6 hrs and 51 mins
- Unabridged
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Jay Garfield, a leading expert on Buddhist philosophy, offers a brief and radically clear account of an idea that at first might seem frightening but that promises to liberate us and improve our lives, our relationships, and the world. Drawing on Indian and East Asian Buddhism, Daoism, Western philosophy, and cognitive neuroscience, Garfield shows why it is perfectly natural to think you have a self—and why it actually makes no sense at all and is even dangerous. Most importantly, he explains why shedding the illusion that you have a self can make you a better person.
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Losing the self
- By Laimis on 03-01-24
By: Jay L. Garfield
What listeners say about Opening the Hand of Thought
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
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- Ruth N. Radford
- 05-07-24
Breaks thru Zen's opacity
Sean's narration is spot on. A long time personal favorite, very pleased to revisit 20 after first reading it.
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- Otto Hannah
- 09-07-23
One of the best books on Zazen
Uchiyama Roshi was one of the great masters of the twentieth century. Listen carefully and use his words as a guide to practice.
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2 people found this helpful
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- Amazon Customer
- 06-23-23
Excellent book for Zen/Chan practitioners!
Love everything about this book. Smoothly takes you to an effective practice, clearing all the possible confusions regards this amazing practice. Also the narrator voice is right for this type of book. Thank you so much.
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2 people found this helpful
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- RshLoudash
- 11-15-23
Very beautiful, essential
Opening the Hand of Thought is the best zen book I’ve ever read. It’s practical in its direction and beautiful in how it inspires and teaches.
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1 person found this helpful
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- DL
- 11-04-24
Buddhist knowledge not found anywhere else in such a comprehensive way!
Superb! The best book I’ve read on the subject! I would caution beginners to have an open mind as some of the ideas are advanced but it’s a great read for the novice and you can re listen to it! Each time you listen it will sound like it’s the first time you’re hearing it due to your Understanding of the deeper meanings.
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- Shukin
- 05-15-24
Very well read
I have read and reread this book countless times over the years since it was first published. To have it in audio form is to feel like I’m listening to a dharma Talk. Like all of Buddhist teachings it takes time I understand such a simple message. 
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1 person found this helpful