Be Still; Know Nothing: Reflections on Zen and Christianity

by Blake Bailey

Be still; Know Nothing is an interfaith book that borrows from the languages of Zen Buddhism and Christianity in order to help us find that which is, as the author holds, is at the spiritual center of each -- in which place there is no Buddhism, no Christianity, no storyline whatsoever. Christian mystic John of the Cross wrote that "Silence is God's first language." The Lankavatara Sutra states "As the ignorant grasp the finger-tip and not the moon, so those who cling to the letter, know not my truth." These writings are not intended to teach, to give credence to a way, or to inspire one to emerge with a newfound spiritual path, only to -- by grace -- know the moon for one's self. This is the same as "My sheep know my voice", and "be still and know."

Yet in Zen it's said "Knowledge is not the Way." It's also said "A sacred transmission outside of the scriptures, not depending on words or letters." Cheekily, this is a book full of words and letters about this. It's my hope that it brings you peace and comfort -- but not borrowed peace or comfort wrapped up in hand-me-down theology or creeds, but a peace which is, in actuality, always right at hand. It's not reserved for the spiritual elite of special traditions, for some time or some life far away from this one, as the result of practice or knowledge. It is not exclusive to held theologies, creeds, religions, one's chosen spiritual expressions. It's here. We've only to take a step back, be still, know nothing.

82 pages, Paperback

Published July 31, 2021

About the author

Blake Bailey is the author of biographies of Philip Roth, John Cheever, Richard Yates, and Charles Jackson. He is the recipient of a Guggenheim Fellowship and an Award in Literature from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Francis Parkman Prize from the Society of American Historians, and a finalist for the Pulitzer and James Tait Black Prizes. His 2014 book, The Splendid Things We Planned, was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Autobiography. He lives in Virginia with his wife and daughter.