The Rose Is Without Why

[neurohacker]

I only began meditating a few months ago, but I first became interested in Zen-thinking (see?) while I was studying philosophy at university. My lecturer was a guy named Dr. Robert Miller, and he is a really cool Scottish guy who radiates... I dunno, balance? Enlightenment? Something that made me not want to miss a single lecture.

Anyway, he wrote a book called "The Rose Is Without Why", which his publisher retitled "Buddhist Existentialism: From Anxiety to Authenticity and Freedom". It's brilliant, and I think that it's a real shame that I rarely see his stuff even in local bookstores. I can't find my copy right now, but from memory he discusses Zen, voidance, and similar concepts very lucidly from a Western perspective. It isn't your typical East-meets-West fare either, it's really quite something else. It is both readable and rigorous, and I couldn't recommend it any more highly to anyone.

You can order his book here.

He has also given some public lectures on Zen and Buddhism in philosophy. The one that ties in with his book is available here, and the others are hosted on the Melbourne Existentialist Society website.