{"id":18614,"date":"2022-08-01T15:56:06","date_gmt":"2022-08-01T20:56:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=18614"},"modified":"2022-08-01T15:56:06","modified_gmt":"2022-08-01T20:56:06","slug":"the-other-side-of-nothing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/themagicalbuffet.com\/blog1\/?p=18614","title":{"rendered":"The Other Side of Nothing"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is no secret that I love Brad Warner. I think I have all his books, some I purchased myself, and some I received from publishers to review. And since it is no secret, New World Library<\/a> was kind enough to ask me if I wanted a copy of his latest book \u201cThe Other Side of Nothing: The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being\u201d to review, and of course I said yes. In the pie chart that makes up \u201cRebecca\u2019s Personal Spiritual Practice\u201d, Brad Warner and Zen Buddhism take up a considerable wedge.<\/p>\n

$\"\"$ Anyone who has read anything about Zen Buddhism knows that Zen is stupidly simple, and infuriatingly complex. Thus, why should I be surprised that the ethics of Zen are extremely straightforward, and mind-warpingly complicated. Warner takes up the daunting challenge of tackling the subject with his usual brand of traditionalism cut with ample references to \u201cAncient Aliens\u201d, giant Japanese fighting monsters, and now including stories about his dog Ziggy Pup (who is adorable and has his own Instagram<\/a>).<\/p>\n

A book about Zen ethics could have been summed up with, \u201cDon\u2019t Be a Dick” or \u201cDon\u2019t Be a Jerk\u201d (which is the title of one of Warner\u2019s earlier books<\/a>). See? Easy! Obviously, it\u2019s more involved than that. You get to condensed \u201cDon\u2019t Be a Dick\u201d by learning the Four Noble Truths and following the Noble Eightfold Path. \u201cThe Other Side of Nothing\u201d does an excellent job discussing those topics in depth, and that\u2019s where things get complicated. Zen ethics exist the way they do because of the unique perspective Zen masters had of everything, and nothing, and space, and the mind, and no-mind, and I think you may be starting to grasp how things get mind-warpy. Add into that the difference a translation can make. A difference that Warner highlights throughout by comparing the way different modern day and past Zen groups interpret the same sentence.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Other Side of Nothing\u201d by Brad Warner is the book I personally have been waiting for since reading \u201cSit Down and Shut Up\u201d years ago. It is one thing to grasp how to practice Zen, but \u201cThe Other Side of Nothing\u201d shows you how you live Zen. And as with all things Zen, it is a complicatedly simple way to live.<\/p>\n

You can learn more here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Get your own copy here.<\/a> (This is an affiliate link to my Bookshop, which supports independent bookstores throughout the United States. If you use this link to purchase the book, I will make a small commission at no additional cost to you.)<\/p>\n

Do you enjoy The Magical Buffet? Considering supporting The Magical Buffet on Patreon! For only $5 a month you\u2019ll receive monthly tarot\/oracle forecasts, classes, and behind the scenes updates! Https:\/\/www.patreon.com\/magicalbuffet<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"