Reb Anderson

TENSHIN REB ANDERSON is a lineage holder in the Soto Zen tradition. He began training with Shunryu Suzuki Roshi at the San Francisco Zen Center in 1967; he was ordained by him as a priest in 1970 and given the name Tenshin Zenki (“Naturally Real,” “The Whole Works"). He received dharma transmission in 1983 and served as abbot of the Zen Center’s three training centers (City Center, Green Gulch Farm, and Tassajara Zen Mountain Center) from 1986 to 1995. He is particularly interested in Buddhist yoga, philosophy, psychology, and the relationship of wisdom and compassion to the social and ecological crises of our times. Together with his friends, he founded No Abode Hermitage in Mill Valley, California, in 2002. Tenshin Roshi has retired to No Abode where he continues to offer teachings and practice opportunities. He leads meditation retreats and classes nationally and internationally. Other information, including his teaching schedule and video and audio recordings of many of his dharma talks, are available at www.rebanderson.org.

"Entering the Mind of Buddha is a dharma jewel offered by Tenshin Anderson Roshi as a fruit of more than fifty years of studying, practicing, and teaching at a Zen community. This book is readable, practical, and profound." —Shohaku Okumura, author of Living by Vow and Realizing Genjokoan

"This exquisite exploration of the interconnections among the six paramitas reveals new aspects of their mutually intensifying effect on each other and opens them up for use as powerful tools in daily life." —Konjin Gaelyn Godwin, abbot of the Houston Zen Center and director of the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center

"This book offers highly practical and accessible guidance for an everyday bodhisattva life dedicated to fostering an awakened, compassionate world. It is also deeply grounded in traditional Buddhist texts and philosophy. Based on his many decades of teaching, Tenshin Anderson Roshi graciously explores the six transcendent bodhisattva practices, sharing illuminating stories both from his residential community and his personal life. Reb reveals Intimacy, with self and others and all beings, as the heart of ultimate awareness. These teachings unravel expectations, as when he indicates that true generosity may include welcoming acceptance of our own embarrassing, ungenerous responses. Reb expresses the value of patience amid the processes of frustration and challenge. In truly practicing effort, overwork may reflect laziness. The essence of concentration involves letting go of discursive thinking, not suppression of thoughts. This lively, insightful work elaborates these and many other helpful encouragements to radically realize our own deep selves, and thus to develop our beneficial connection with all beings. Going beyond all these practices, perfect wisdom returns to joyfully renew wholehearted commitment to compassionate engagement. This book will be a valuable resource for both beginning and experienced practitioners or students." —Taigen Dan Leighton, author of Faces of Compassion and Just This Is It

"One can feel Reb Anderson practicing the six perfections in the writing and offering of Entering the Mind of Buddha. Guiding us through these teachings, Reb generously, joyously, patiently interweaves traditional and contemporary Zen stories from a life of teaching and living in community, as well as his personal family life—thus clarifying the heroic path of the bodhisattva and encouraging us to open to the real possibility of walking this path starting now." —Linda Ruth Cutts, Senior Dharma Teacher, San Francisco Zen Center

"Inspiring, warm-hearted, and wise, Reb Anderson’s book is true to the timeless teachings and true to twenty-first-century life. Focusing on the root practice instructions of Mahayana Buddhism, he seamlessly brings together the wisdom and stories of a life of Zen practice with a profound knowledge of Dharma." —Ben Connelly, author of Inside Vasubandhu’s Yogacara and Mindfulness and Intimacy