Buddha In Blue Jeans An Extremely Short Simple Zen Guide to Sitting Quietly by Tai Sheridan *** Published by Tai

Sheridan at Smashwords Copyright 2 !! Tai Sheridan Smashwords Edition" #i$ense %otes Than& you 'or downloading this 'ree e(oo&) *ou are wel$ome to share it with your 'riends) This boo& may be reprodu$ed" $opied and distributed 'or non+$ommer$ial purposes" pro,ided the boo& remains in its $omplete original 'orm) -' you en.oyed this boo&" please return to Smashwords)$om to dis$o,er other wor&s by this author) Than& you 'or your support)

Books and Podcasts by This Author electronic / print / free / paid editions http/00www)taisheridan)$om Also a,ailable at Ama1on" 2indle" and iTunes) Buddhist Classics in Modern Verse Celestial Music: Sutras of Em tiness The Lotus / Diamond / Heart-Wisdom / Loving Kindness Sutras http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew033 43 Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om The Bare Bones !hamma ada: Bi" Mind Bi" #o$e Buddha's Essential Teachings http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew05636! print edition/ http/00www)taisheridan)$om The Buddhacarita: A Modern Se%uel The oetic Saga of Buddha's Life !rom Birth to Enlightenment http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew073668 http/00www)taisheridan)$om The &en 'heel of #ife Mantra: A Son" of #uminous 'isdom and #o$e Based on the Bhavaca"ra - The Wheel of Life #andala http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew0394 8 Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om &en Classics in Modern Verse The #i"ht of the Ancient Buddhas: Ballads of Em tiness and A(akenin" Based on Kei$an's Transmission of the Light http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew034683 )ice Eyes: Enli"htenment in !o"en*s +itchen % poetic version of Dogen's Ten$o K&o"un on enlightened living and practice http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew0349 6 Sno( ,allin" in Moonli"ht: -des in Praise of !o"en*s Shobo"en.o T'elve oems (ased on Dogen's Sho(ogen$o)The Treasur& of the True Dharma E&e http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew03495! Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om 'arm &en Practice: A Poetic Version of !o"en*s Bendo(a Whole Hearted Wa& http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew034652 Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om -ther

Buddha in Blue Jeans: An E/tremely Short &en 0uide to Bein" Buddha http/00www)taisheridan)$om Buddha*s #i"ht Body: Collected 'orks of Tai Sheridan http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew09 58 print edition/ http/00www)taisheridan)$om

!edication To the Great Silen$e

#isten to the sound o' silen$e) Paul Simon

Contents -ntrodu$tion Sit Quietly Care :or *our (ody A$$ept *our :eelings Gi,e Thoughts ;oom Pain is %atural (e <ho *ou Are #i,e Ea$h =oment <ell #o,e -ndis$riminately #isten to >thers (e Surprised <onder #i,e grate'ully ?o %o @arm (ene'it li'e A <ish 'or The <orld About The Author

Introduction This is an extremely short" simple" and straight 'orward boo&) -t is a uni,ersal guide to the pra$ti$e o' sitting Auietly and being yoursel'" whi$h is the same as being (uddha) Sitting Auietly $an tea$h you many ways to a$$ept li'e" meet pain" age gra$e'ully" and die without regret) - wrote this boo& 'or one reason/ to en$ourage you to sit Auietly e,ery day) Please en.oy being (uddha in (lue Beans/ a person o' presen$e" openness" lo,e" and bene'it) Tai Sheridan 2ent'ield" Cali'ornia 2 !!

Sit 1uietly This is the most important Zen pra$ti$e) -t is the $lassroom 'or li,ing a wise and &ind li'e) Sit anywhere and be Auiet/ on a $ou$h" a bed" a ben$h" inside" outside" leaning against a tree" by a la&e" at the o$ean" in a garden" on an airplane" in your o''i$e $hair" on the 'loor" in your $ar) =editation $ushions are o&ay too) Sit at any time/ morning" night" one minute" three years) <ear what youC,e got on) #oosen your waist so your belly $an mo,e with your breath) Sit as relaxed as possible) ;elax your mus$les when starting and during sitting) Sit with your ba$& straight but not sti'') 2eep your head upright with your ears le,el) ;espe$t all medi$al $onditions) >nly ta&e a posture you $an) All postures are o&ay) ?o what you $an do) 2eep your eyes slightly opened and out o' 'o$us) Closing them will ma&e you sleepy and sometimes busy) >pening them wide will &eep you busy) (reathe naturally through your nose) En.oy breathing) :eel your breath) <at$h your breath) (e$ome your breath) (e li&e a $at purring) :ollow your breath li&e o$ean wa,es $oming in and out) <hen you get distra$ted" $ome ba$& to the simplest and most basi$ experien$e o' being ali,e" your breathing) ThatCs it) %o belie') %o program) %o dogma) *ou do not ha,e to be (uddhist) *ou $an be o' any 'aith" religion" ra$e" nationality" gender" relationship status" or $apa$ity) Bust sit Auietly" $onne$t with your breath" and pay attention to what happens) *ou will learn things) ?o it when you want) *ou de$ide how mu$h is enough 'or you) -' you do it daily" it will get into your bones) Please en.oy sitting AuietlyD
The onl& 'a& to learn sitting *uietl& is to do it+

Care ,or 2our Body *our body is your li'e) Please ta&e good $are o' it) -nhabit your body) #i,e gently inside it) (e$ome best 'riends with it) @urt your body as little as possible)*ou will be surprised by the ways in whi$h you are not $onne$ted to your body) This is li'elong learning) Sleep well and enough) Eat well and not too mu$h) =o,e and stret$h enough) A$$ept and ta&e $are o' you medi$al di''i$ulties) *ou &now what your body needs to be healthy and ali,e) Please en.oy ta&ing $are o' your bodyD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

Acce t 2our ,eelin"s *our 'eelings are your heart and gut response to the world) E,erything you 'eel is o&ay) :eelings $an be di''i$ult) A$$ept your 'eelings) Sometimes you $an trust them as honest responses to people and e,ents) Sometimes you $anCt trust them" they are rea$tions to people and e,ents) 2eep sorting this out) *our 'eelings will tell you what you really need) #earn to be gra$ious with your unmet needs) 2indly as& 'or what you want) ;espe$t e,erybodyCs right to say yes or no to your needs) Gi,e up sel' $enteredness as mu$h as possible) Please en.oy your 'eelingsD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

0i$e Thou"hts )oom *our thoughts are .ust your thoughts) They are not your li'e) They are your thoughts) =a&e a room as big as the s&y in your mind)*our thoughts $an be $louds that 'loat through) Some o' your thoughts are $lear) Some o' your thoughts are muddy) (elie' is .ust thought) An open mind isnCt atta$hed to thin&ing or belie') Thoughts $an be a .ail) <at$hing them $oming and going lets you out to play in the uni,erse) Please en.oy wat$hing your thoughts $ome and goD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

Pain is 3atural Pain is a natural part o' li'e) #earn to a$$ept it) #earn to ta&e $are o' it as best you $an) ?e$rease the $omplaining) ?e$rease the sel'+$enteredness around it) E,erybody has pain) (reathe and relax into the pain as best you $an) Please a$$ept natural painD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

Be 'ho 2ou Are ?onCt waste your li'e trying to be$ome somebody else) ?onCt waste your li'e trying to li,e up to your per'orman$e expe$tations) ?onCt waste your li'e imitating others) ?onCt waste your li'e li,ing out other peopleCs expe$tations) ?onCt waste your li'e en,ious o' other people) (e authenti$) (e genuine) (e real) (e yoursel') *ou won the lottery" you were born) *ou won the lottery" you are you) *ou are (uddha in (lue Beans) En.oy being yoursel'D
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

#i$e Each Moment 'ell %ow is all youC,e got) The past is memory) The 'uture is wish) %ow is real4 2eep bringing yoursel' ba$& to now) Get $onne$ted to your body now) Get $onne$ted to the earth now) Get $onne$ted to this pla$e now) Get $onne$ted to people now) Get $onne$ted to whate,er is in 'ront o' you now) En.oy li,ing ea$h moment wellD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

#o$e Indiscriminately #o,e -ndis$riminately) This is (ig #o,e) The ob.e$t o' your lo,e doesnCt matter) *ou are lo,e) #o,e pretty things and so $alled ugly things) #o,e 'amiliar things and un'amiliar things) #o,e people you li&e and donCt li&e) The o$ean o' lo,e 'lows e,erywhere) E,erything in the uni,erse is you) #o,ing e,erything is lo,ing you) #o,ing you is lo,ing e,erything) There are no walls in the world o' lo,e) En.oy lo,ing indis$riminatelyD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

#isten to -thers #istening to others a''irms them" blesses them" $onne$ts you to them" and letCs you harmoni1e with them) #isten without an agenda) #isten without expe$tations) #isten to the words) #isten to the experien$e behind the words) #isten to body postures and expressions) #isten to emotional tone) #isten without ta&ing it personally) #istening gets you out o' your sel' $entered $amp) #istening is &indness) En.oy listening to othersD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

Be Sur rised E,ery moment is a surprise) E,erything that happens is a surprise) E,ery experien$e is 'resh) E,ents are not your ideas about them) =eet the world without expe$tations) En.oy being surprisedD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

'onder The world is wonder) -n wonder e,erything is $onne$ted) -n wonder you are open) -n wonder you are 'ree) -n wonder you are happy) En.oy wonderD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

#i$e "ratefully *ou were gi,en the gi't o' li'e) (e grate'ul 'or this ama1ing gi't) E,erything is a gi't) (e grate'ul 'or e,erything) En.oy li,ing grate'ully)
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

!o 3o 5arm ?o your best to do no harm) @arm happens be$ause we are human) :orgi,e others their harm) :orgi,e yoursel' when you harm) 2eep doing your best to do no harm)
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

Benefit life Gi,e yoursel' to li'e) Gi,e yoursel' to 'amily) Gi,e yoursel' to so$iety) Gi,e yoursel' to others) Gi,e yoursel' to $reati,ity) Gi,e yoursel' to the earth) Gi,e yoursel' to humanity) Gi,e yoursel' to spirituality) Gi,e yoursel' to things that matter) (ene'it all li'e and bring happiness) En.oy bene'iting li'eD
,ou 'ill learn this sitting *uietl&+

A 'ish for The 'orld =ay All (eings (e @appyD =ay All (eings (e >neD =ay All (eings (e Pea$e'ulD ***

About the Author Poet Tai Sheridan is a Zen priest in the Shunryu Su1u&i lineage) @e trained with San :ran$is$o Zen Center" ?harma Eye Zen Center" (er&eley Zen Center" Zen @eart Sangha" and The Shoga&u Zen -nstitute) @e spe$iali1es in trans'orming an$ient (uddhist and Zen texts into a$$essible and inspirational ,erses) Conne$t with Tai website 0 http/00www)taisheridan)$om email 0 mailto/taisheridan1enEgmail)$om Books and Podcasts by This Author electronic / print / free / paid editions http/00www)taisheridan)$om https/00www)smashwords)$om0pro'ile0,iew0taisheridan Also a,ailable at Ama1on" 2indle" and iTunes) Buddhist Classics in Modern Verse Celestial Music: Sutras of Em tiness The Lotus / Diamond / Heart-Wisdom / Loving Kindness Sutras http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew033 43 Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om

The Bare Bones !hamma ada: Bi" Mind Bi" #o$e Buddha's Essential Teachings http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew05636! print edition/ http/00www)taisheridan)$om

The Buddhacarita: A Modern Se%uel The oetic Saga of Buddha's Life !rom Birth to Enlightenment http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew073668 print edition/ http/00www)taisheridan)$om

The &en 'heel of #ife Mantra: A Son" of #uminous 'isdom and #o$e Based on the Bhavaca"ra - The Wheel of Life #andala http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew0394 8 Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om

&en Classics in Modern Verse The #i"ht of the Ancient Buddhas: Ballads of Em tiness and A(akenin" Based on Kei$an's Transmission of the Light http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew034683

)ice Eyes: Enli"htenment in !o"en*s +itchen % poetic version of Dogen's Ten$o K&o"un on enlightened living and practice http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew0349 6

Sno( ,allin" in Moonli"ht: -des in Praise of !o"en*s Shobo"en.o T'elve oems (ased on Dogen's Sho(ogen$o)The Treasur& of the True Dharma E&e http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew03495! Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om

'arm &en Practice: A Poetic Version of !o"en*s Bendo(a <hole @earted <ay http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew034652 Pod$ast a,ailable at www)taisheridan)$om

-ther Buddha in Blue Jeans: An E/tremely Short &en 0uide to Bein" Buddha http/00www)taisheridan)$om

Buddha*s #i"ht Body: Collected 'orks of Tai Sheridan http/00www)smashwords)$om0boo&s0,iew09 58 print edition/ http/00www)taisheridan)$om

***