The Challenge of The Mind: An Essential Guide to Buddha’s Teachings: Zen, Karma, and Enlightenment

In this modern introduction to the essential teachings of the Buddha. So powerful teaching.

I wanted to read this book because I have been trying to meditate and I felt this would be a unique approach. This book was an enjoyable exploration of finding contentment in daily life. The discussion of the middle way was one of my favorite chapters. I found it interesting tolerant more about the teaching of Buddhism.I received this galley from NetGalley.

Ryuho Okawa has written many incredible books about Buddhism and The Challenge of the Mind is no exception. Unlike most books about Buddhism today, which are secular and often present a watered-down version of easy enlightenment, Okawa teaches Buddhism in the manner that Shakyamuni Buddha did, which is quite refreshing to see. Furthermore, the theistic origins of Buddhism are also emphasized. Most people today think that Shakyamuni didn't teach any theistic elements of Buddhism but that only demonstrates how far away from the original teachings things have come. One can still meditate and practice mindfulness in a secular way to some extent, but the full meaning of those practices, as is explained thoroughly in this book, are only achieved where there is an awareness of the higher dimensions of existence. Highly recommended as a starting place for people interested in Buddhism, as well as for those who want to better understand Shakyamuni's core teachings as they originally were.

The fundamental flaw of Religious Buddhism is the same flaw that all corporate religions have. That flaw being an understanding built upon the sand of the mind rather than the Rock of one's eternal Being. Enlightenment is not a state of mind. True Enlightenment is about a leap of faith where one lets go of the conditioned mind. About an interior journey to the core of one's True Being. The Road to the Gestalt of Being is not a Mind trip. The realization of one's original and True Self is not a remembering that can be learned but an awakening that can only be realized through direct identification. A Map of the Moon is not the Moon. True Zen is not being sold in the Desert of the mind. True Zen is sold by a Great River of Being. Little or false mind begins and ends. True Being/True Mind is eternal. There is nowhere Being is not. True Being resides in the eternal and infinite now. The little mind is a projection of what one has been taught while being rocked to sleep by sleepers. Being is not a projection of mind. The Science of Happiness is a thought of the mind separated from Being. Being is the Source of True Thought. Whole Thought. Scientific materialism is the search for a separate peace where there is none. The one little piece that holds the secret of the Whole. The piece does not make the whole for the Whole is greater than the sum of its parts. True Happiness is found in the Whole. The Science of Aristotle is not sustainable. A thought that thinks too much of thinking is the root of all evil. True Being is not a thought. Being is Awareness. Thinking about being alert is not being alert. The Tao that can be thought is not the eternal Tao. Let go of the incremental by embracing the Whole. Thinking without Being produces lines of demarcation where none exists. Being plays in areas of confluence. True Happiness is not a product of the conditioned mind. True Happiness is True Being. Unconditioned Mind. The Conditioned Mind has been taught what is. Let Rush Limbaugh tell you what to think! The Unconditioned Mind of children and sages is Open. Awake! Don't listen to anyone that would have you settle for less.

all was well thank you