Zen and the Art of Dealing with Difficult People: How to Learn from your Troublesome Buddhas

This book provides a guide to applying the teachings of mindfulness and Zen to difficult or challenging people in our lives, using Zen koans to help us shift our perspective and cultivate wisdom and compassion. The author, a Zen monk, shares personal experiences of trauma and emphasizes the importance of bringing awareness and kindness to these relationships for personal growth.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 216 pages
Publication date: 07 December 2021
Publisher: Watkins Media

This guide aims to provide practical insights and techniques for applying the teachings of mindfulness and Zen to individuals who may be challenging or difficult to interact with. It recognizes that our behavior towards these individuals often reflects a pattern that causes pain, whether it be significant or profound. By acknowledging our feelings and reactions and making a commitment to end this repetitive cycle of suffering, we can embark on a path of growth and self-discovery.

Mark Westmoquette, a Zen monk with profound personal experiences, shares his wisdom in this book. Having faced two life-altering traumas caused by others, including sexual abuse by his father and the tragic death of his stepfather and mother in a car crash due to the negligence of an off-duty policeman, he emphasizes the importance of bringing awareness and kindness to these relationships.

Westmoquette challenges our initial perception of these individuals as "I can't stand this person, they need to change." Instead, he encourages us to expand our perspective and embrace a more inclusive and compassionate stance. The book employs playful Zen koans, seemingly nonsensical phrases or stories, to jolt us out of habitual ways of perceiving the world and guide us toward a new perspective of wisdom and compassion.

By applying the principles of mindfulness and Zen to our interactions with challenging people, we can cultivate greater understanding, empathy, and patience. We can learn to respond to situations with mindfulness, rather than reactivity, and to see beyond the surface-level conflicts to the deeper underlying issues. This approach not only benefits the individuals involved but also fosters a more harmonious and peaceful environment for everyone.

In conclusion, this guide offers valuable insights and techniques for navigating challenging relationships with mindfulness and Zen. By embracing awareness, kindness, and compassion, we can transform our interactions with difficult people and create a more positive and fulfilling world for ourselves and those around us.

Weight: 244g
Dimension: 136 x 214 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781786785480
Edition number: 0 New edition