A reader-friendly guide to Zen Buddhist ethics for modern timesIn
the West, Zen Buddhism has a reputation for paradoxes that defy logic.
In particular, the Buddhist concept of nonduality — the realization that
everything in the universe forms a single, integrated whole — is
especially difficult to grasp. In
The Other Side of Nothing,
Zen teacher Brad Warner untangles the mystery and explains nonduality in
plain English. To Warner, this is not just a philosophical problem:
nonduality forms the bedrock of Zen ethics, and once we comprehend it,
many of the perplexing aspects of Zen suddenly make sense.
Drawing
on decades of Zen practice, he traces the interlocking relationship
between Zen metaphysics and ethics, showing how a true understanding of
reality — and the ultimate unity of all things — instills in us a sense
of responsibility for the welfare of all beings. When we realize that
our feeling of separateness from others is illusory, we have no desire
to harm any creature. Warner ultimately presents an expansive overview
of the Zen ethos that will give beginners and experts alike a deeper
understanding of one of the world’s enduring spiritual traditions.
“Brad Warner frames Buddhism with something that touches my soul on the very deepest level — humor!” — Vicky Jenson, director of Shrek
“Fresh, edgy, and insightful.” — Stephen Batchelor, author of Buddhism Without Beliefs
