Charlotte Joko Beck (1917-2011) is widely regarded as one of the most influential Western-born teachers of Zen Buddhist practices. Ordinary Wonder: Zen Life and Practice collects 34 of her never-before-published talks and teachings, which present her lessons on awareness, joy and developing one's practice. Beck also discusses how to cultivate a steadiness with the practice of what she refers to as "sitting"--meditation--in accessible ways both for newcomers to Zen practice and also longtime practitioners.
Beck avoids lofty metaphors in favor of plain explanations of how moments in everyday life present opportunities to engage in Zen practice. She states, "There isn't some magic in Zen practice. It's not going to change you the way you expect. It will not give you anything you think you deserve. But when you do the work of being with exactly what is, slowly, unexpectedly, transformation happens."
She also emphasizes that practicing is not about striving toward something, but rather, a process of finding one's "core belief"--a negative belief about ourselves that causes us pain--and instead of suppressing it, learning to sit with it and to exist with it so that we can "recognize what's underneath the surface, what's underneath even that core belief. There you are." For Beck, finding oneself isn't about striving toward enlightenment but learning to find peace in the everyday and to find the courage to be in the moment and in one's body, and do things differently than one might have before. --Michelle Anya Anjirbag, freelance reviewer