In March I listened to the audiobook Living Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck.
This audiobook is one of those audio presentations offered that really wasn't a book. Rather, this was audio of lectures Beck performed during a week long visit to an American Zen studio. During this time, portions of the day students would attend lecture followed by question and answer sessions.
Beck kept the answers remarkably simple. The recurring answer to many questions was: Practice. If there is a perceived problem, the answer is often stop, feel the problem instead of thinking about it, and let it go. This takes practice and meditation is the way to practice. Even if there isn't a problem someone is feeling, practice. Beck stresses the importance of daily practice.
Zen masters routinely stress the importance of meditation and so does Beck. This is the first time I've heard one speak about raising children, the stresses of raising children, and that she has actually gotten angry. It was interesting to finally hear someone explain how they went through the same trials as everyone else and still managed to overcome them.
