The Daily Zen Book of Wisdom

by Charlie Ambler

I began sharing quotes on Daily Zen in 2008 to accompany my own growing meditation practice. Twitter had just started and it seemed like a clever outlet for the one-line wisdom I found in ancient Eastern texts. I didn’t expect the audience to grow to such a profound degree, however. Today, Daily Zen reaches nearly 300,000 people each month. I regularly get emails from people who say that my writings have helped them in some way. I do not claim to be a Zen master or ‘enlightened’ by any means. I have plenty of difficulties with my own practice, though the community that developed through Daily Zen has helped me grow and recognize the universality of meditation practice. Since I started the site I have written thousands of pages of reflections, read countless spiritual texts, and maintained a daily meditation practice.This is a collection of my Daily Zen writings from 2015 and 2016. Some of them are more conversational in tone, some of them somewhat academic. The goal of these writings is to simply share my ever-changing spiritual purview with others. Some pieces you will connect with; others you might not enjoy so much. I just hope that these short essays stimulate your true self and help you commit further to your meditation practice. If you don’t meditate yet, I hope they encourage you to start. Remember— the good life is as simple as paying attention.

Genres: Buddhism, Philosophy, Zen, Nonfiction

57 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 27, 2016

Reviews

[Adam · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend The Daily Zen Book of Wisdom to anyone looking for a simple and clear book about Zen.

First, it's easy to read. Charlie's writing is simple and clear. His tone is friendly, like sitting down for coffee with a friend who just happens to be able to explain Zen wisdom.

Second, I love that the book is structured in small snippets of text. It's perfect for reading a passage or two at a time. You can easily jump forward and backward to topics that interest you right now.

[Josh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlie is one of my favorite philosophy writers.

[Thomaz Amancio · Rating 4 out of 5]

I suppose a lot of properly religious or spiritual writing depends on your own inclinations to work, or not. What helps Ambler's book is Zen tradition's distance from doctrine and his own simple, direct and unassuming approach to the main teachings of this practice.

[Joe · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided exactly the gentle nudge I needed to practice meditation consistently every day. If you have that feeling that maybe you'd like to try meditation and it might be good for you, this book makes an excellent companion. After reading the Kindle version I went back for a hardcopy (which I don't think is available). I would love to be able to flip it open and re-read a section or two. That accessibility makes it a light and easy read.

[Steve Yoshida · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommended for serious practitioners.

Brings meditation to a practical level. Helps us understand how Zazen eliminates the clutter of everyday thoughts and connects us to a deeper reality through mindfulness. Takes the mystery out of an ancient practice. Highly recommended for serious practitioners.