Zen - An Alternative to Trump - The Phoenix Centre Press

Sometimes, having another approach to life is crucial.

OK, so the world is a pretty weird place right now, and living with the tension of “not knowing” (how Zen!!) can be a bit much.

It’s why I wrote Half Asleep in the Buddha Hall.

It’s hard to believe that a simple book has practical, down-to-earth methods and approaches that will help you not only to cope, but to thrive. I want to assure you that Half Asleep in the Buddha Hall brings you into direct contact with the wisdom of the East, and especially the light of Zen.

You’ll discover how to find wisdom and depth.
The Zen stories guide you in a new and powerful direction.

The book is liberally sprinkled with teaching stories, and examples and lessons from my 30 years of Counselling experience.

You are able to see and do — you discover a way of being in the world that is both powerful and gentle.

There’s really only one way out —
you have to begin the only adventure worth your time and effort —
the adventure of being wholly and fully yourself!

In Zen, we speak of discipline. The key discipline is ‘non-following,’ or non-attachment. You let each non-helpful thought go by not clinging to it. Now, of course, as with Beth, such thoughts will arise until you die.

Following such thoughts leads to paralysis by analysis. This paralysis seems inevitable, until I notice that repeating dysfunctional thought patterns causes the paralysis. I am ‘lost in thought,’ and the cure is to stop myself — not by more thinking, but by acting. Less thought, more action. Remember: you cause yourself problems by over-thinking and under-doing. Pick a way to be, and then just be it. Swing for the fences, letting the critical thoughts fade into background noise.

If you’d like to read a ton of reviews or have a look at a sample chapter, we have you covered. Give this a click!

Half Asleep in the Buddha Hall