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Book: Barefoot Zen

The author, Nathan Johnson is an eloquent writer. The book is written in a narrative that provides detailed historical lineages the most popular martial art disciplines (Kungfu and Okinawan systems) known throughout the world. Most of the book focuses on the principles of zen. Mr Johnson, demostrates numerous katas and shows how the posture translate into arm twists, throws, and strikes. The application was not design inflict permanent injury rather control. Control rather than injury seems build his case for the actual intrepretation of the purpose of the martial art system. He effectively defends his intrepretations of these kata with philosophical discussions about their historical origins, religious buddist intent, and zen application. It is clear that Mr Johnson believes that spiritual and moral development is the core of the Shaolin Martial Art system teachings. He convinces the reader of this fact by dedicating a chapter to discussing why the shaolin martial art system was not a system of combat. Mr. Johnson demostration of pushing hands conveys the message, the tao is the middle way, "not agressive and not passive." The hand transformations where used to understand how to blend with resistence or force, neutralize it, and return it to the sender. The book is about the desire of enlightenment, kindness, and hard work and how to achieve lasting meaning in the study of the martial art system.

According to this book Zen is : enlightenment (God - Morality), kindness (Virtue - the study of controlling force), and hard work (the way - perfection). Refinement is the process of combining all three into a harmony and balance. Zen produces great focus. The idea that a Master can catch an arrow or fight with a sword blind folded demonstrates a high degree of focus and sensitivity.
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Book: Barefoot Zen

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ZEN Joke:

A Zen Master is visiting New York City from Tibet. He goes up to a hotdog vendor and says, "Make me one with everything."

The hot dog vendor fixes a hot dog and hands it to the Zen Master, who pays with a $20 bill.

The vendor puts the bill in the cash box and closes it.

"Where's my change?" asks the Zen Master.

The vendor responds: "Change must come from within!"
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For me, Zen has always been the easiest to understand and visualize from the other forms of Buddhism. I know that you can get lost in the schools, houses and sects within the Buddhist history.
But if you look at the core of Zen long enough... I do believe you'll find enlightenment!
Note: my father (a hippie) received a "mail in" certificate back in the 70's to be an Official Zen Buddhist Priest just so he could legally marry his two friends at their wedding. I still think it was one of the funniest things he did.

http://rlv.zcache.com/zen_bunny_alt_final1_sticker-p217034679131596285tdcj_210.jpg
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