A Little Bit of Zen

This entry in the popular Little Bit of series introduces the ancient practice of Zen Buddhism

What is Zen? It’s an ancient spiritual system rooted in Buddhism that began in China and spread throughout Asia, finally reaching the West. It encompasses meditation, mindfulness, and calming the mind—exactly what so many of us need and crave in this busy, stressful world. A Little Bit of Zen is the perfect, accessible introduction for newcomers, providing a history, overview, and exercises to use in their own daily practice, and covering everything from Zen literature to the ritual chants and bows.

Author Biography

Roshi Pat Enkyo O’Hara, PhD, is the abbot of the Village Zendo in downtown Manhattan. A Soto Zen priest and contemporary American Zen teacher, she integrates traditional meditation and koan practice with social engagement and peacemaking. A founding teacher of the Zen Peacemaker Order, she taught for many years at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, centering on new media technologies and social justice. Roshi O’Hara’s writing has appeared in Tricycle, Turning Wheel, Shambhala Sun, Buddhadharma, and other Buddhist journals. She is the author of Most Intimate, A Zen Approach to Life’s Challenges, and A Winter Sesshin: Ten Talks on the Heart Sutra.