Shinzen's book, 'The Science of EnLightenment'

Just got my copy in the mail. It has a ton of accolades from various luminaries in the preamble. I noticed that Jon Kabat-Zinn has a grudging positive paragraph. But none of those I think of as the first wave, the original IMS guys: Joseph Goldstein. Joseph, Sharon Salzberg, and Jack Cornfield are in the list. I don't really know the whole field of teachers over the last 50 years, and all the names that did make it into this book, but those conspicuous absences made me feel a bit sad, but also as if we are moving right along. Can't wait to read the book.

As my obnoxious ex coworker used to repeat hypo manically, "f**k those guys!"

ooh it had to be really comforting to hear that being said by the coworker on the other side of the cubicle wall

Lol it was restaurant work. A different standard of professionalism.

still, that dude had easy access to cutlery!

So I see 6 messages for this topic and think, wow, really hopping, and this is the level of discourse I find! Seriously, is it remotely possible that the Vipassana crowd aren't talking about someone outside their bailiwick? Or they never saw the book prepublication? Whatever.

I didn't realize Young and IMS's bailiwicks were so far apart, compared to the zillion other teachers that did review the book. I'm still learning about the landscape.

Thanks for the heads-up on this. I listened to his "Science of Enlightenement" audio series around seven years ago when I started getting serious about the long-term applications of my practice. Having gone through many "lenses" of looking at my practice, it's notable that the lenses Shinzen provides have been useful the entire time.

Looking forward to reading.

( schism )

Sounds True version spoken by Shinzen is on youtube

Chris Marti wrote: I don't understand why it matters who did or didn't review the book. What am I missing?

I'm a wander in life,
seeking a place with clear view,
with recognizable faces,
harmony filled days,
taking pleasure at door opening to a warm welcome
noticing and talking about what I find.

Chris Marti wrote: Katz!

Don't get this.

Which is short for "God's wounds!" Referring of course to the crucifixion.

I think it's some sort of traditional Korean Zen expression, or specific to Soen Sahn, the first such Zen master to be widely known in the US.

I'm about halfway through the book. So far it isn't much different than the CD recording he release a long while ago. So if you want to get the heart of the book, the post above with the YouTube sound recording is probably pretty close if not the same.

I am reading the book and find it pretty good. I am finding some descriptions of some things that I have experienced and was not really sure what they were, some hints of directions that I would not be exploring were it not for the book, and some interesting thoughts on how the maps from different traditions compare to each other. This makes me wish the book were slightly more structured in terms of exercises, what to do when, how to do it, and so on.

Post deleted - right speech

Edited post:

On the subject of the IMS boomer founders, I guess I consider them to be a significant part of Pragmatic Dharma lineage. Without them, a lot of subsequent history would be different if not impossible. So, mushroom culture or not, I am grateful to them.

My misstep, I'll delete the comment. I didn't understand that jargon to be specifically deragatory, as my Jewish mother and friends growing up have used similar "tongue in cheek" terms throughout.

Dan Harris uses the term in multiple 10% happier podcasts, including ones with Jay Michaelson, and Sharon Salzberg.