Dancing with Your Books: The Zen Way of Studying.This is not a book about Zen Zen Important school of Buddhism that claims to transmit the experience of enlightenment achieved by the Buddha Gautama. Arising as Chan in China in the 6th century (introduced by Bodhidharma), it divided into two schools, the Southern school, which believed in sudden , but rather a text that applies a few Zen principles to the task of studying. And, although the title of book serves notice that its subject is studying, the philosophy and techniques discussed by the author are applicable to most activities. Gibbs has been a college teacher for some two decades and has authored his book to help the student study and master new material in an "effortless ef·fort·less adj. Calling for, requiring, or showing little or no effort. See Synonyms at easy. ef  fort·less·ly adv. way." He begins his discussion explicating the
first fundamental of effective study: "the less the self is
consciously present in the performance of schoolwork, or any other work,
the more of the self there is available to do the work." (4-5)
Living fully in the present moment, totally absorbed and completely
focused on the task at hand, removes the self from the situation. Only
then is it possible to establish the proper relationship: "The
perfect relationship is one in which there is not separation between the
person and the task. There is no person and there is no task. There is
only the doing of the task in the moment.... There is no subject-object
or person-task duality Duality (physics)The state of having two natures, which is often applied in physics. The classic example is wave-particle duality. The elementary constituents of nature—electrons, quarks, photons, gravitons, and so on—behave in some respects ." (6) From these ideas, Gibbs moves to such topics as the problems faced by students (e.g. time management), staying centered in the moment, concentration on the moment, ("letting go of what you are not doing at the moment," boredom Boredom See also Futility. Aldegonde, Lord St. bored nobleman, empty of pursuits. [Br. Lit.: Lothair] Baudelaire, Charles (1821–1867) French poet whose dissipated lifestyle led to inner despair. [Fr. Lit. , gaining control and freedom, relaxing, right effort, beginner's mind (approaching tasks without expectations or preconceptions), the tyranny Tyranny Big Brother omnipresent leader of a totalitarian nightmare world. [Br. Lit.: 1984] Creon rules Thebes with cruel decrees. [Gk. Lit.: Antigone] Gessler Austrian governor treats Swiss despotically; shot by Tell. of the ego, and the instability of goals as a foundation for action. Gibbs next discusses techniques for clearing and calming the mind. Here he examines Zen meditation meditation, religious discipline in which the mind is focused on a single point of reference. It may be a means of invoking divine grace, as in the contemplation by Christian mystics of a spiritual theme, question, or problem; or it may be a means of attaining . This section is followed with discussions of barriers to studying and of the requisite skills for effective study. This is a remarkable book. Building on Zen ideas, Gibbs has successfully constructed a perspective regarding study that is both practical and effective. It is the dancing that's important -- wherein where·in adv. In what way; how: Wherein have we sinned? conj. 1. In which location; where: the country wherein those people live. 2. self and task become one in the doing. |
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