{"product_id":"elegant-failure-a-guide-to-zen-koans-9781930485259","title":"Elegant Failure: A Guide to Zen Koans","description":"Zen koans are stories of exchanges between Zen masters and their disciples at the moment of enlightenment or near-enlightenment. These stories have long fascinated Western readers because of their wisdom, humor, and enigmatic quality. Drawing on over thirty years of practice and teaching, Richard Shrobe (himself a recognized Zen Master) has selected twenty-two cases from \u003ci\u003eThe Blue Cliff Record\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWu-men-kuan\u003c\/i\u003e that he finds deeply meaningful and helpful for meditation practice. In \u003ci\u003eElegant Failure, \u003c\/i\u003e he provides a wealth of background information and personal anecdotes for each koan that help to illuminate its meaning without detracting from its paradoxical nature. As Shrobe reminds us, \"The main core of Zen teaching is the bare bones of what is there. In a certain sense, embellishing a story takes away from the central teaching: Don't embellish anything, just be with it as it is.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Richard Shrobe\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Shambhala\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 05\/25\/2010\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 256\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.82lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.58h x 5.78w x 0.63d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781930485259","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45156103979145,"sku":"9781930485259","price":27.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0636\/9240\/6921\/files\/img_9ce6a814-661c-4f9e-963b-8f7eecab833c.jpg?v=1768294867","url":"https:\/\/sonsanddaughtersbooks.com\/products\/elegant-failure-a-guide-to-zen-koans-9781930485259","provider":"Sons and Daughters Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}