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60 EASTERN HORIZON | BOOKS IN BRIEF

BOOKS IN BRIEF BOOKS IN BRIEF

Shambhala Publications, Inc.
(including Snow Lion, an imprint of
Shambhala Publications, Inc)
4720 Walnut Street,
Boulder, CO 80301-2670, USA
www.shambhala.com

Rebirth in Early Buddhism and Current Research. Bhikkhu Zen in the Age of Anxiety. Wisdom for navigating our
Anālayo. 2018. pp 279. US$29.95 Hard cover. modern lives. Tim Burkett. 2018. pp 170. US$16.95

German Buddhist monk and university professor Bhikkhu Tim Burkett, a student of Shunryu Suzuki, a former CEO,
Analayo had not given much attention to the topic of and a psychotherapist by training, writes that wrestling
rebirth until some friends asked him to explore the with fear doesn’t have to be a negative experience. In this
treatment of the issue in early Buddhist texts. This succinct book, he offers an approach to life that unlocks a new way
volume presents his findings, approaching the topic from of thinking and being in the world, one that leads directly
four directions. The first chapter examines the doctrine of through the center of the anxieties we seek to avoid.
rebirth as it is presented in the earliest Buddhist sources
and the way it relates to core doctrinal principles. The Written in the style of an owner’s manual, a guide to
second chapter reviews debates about rebirth throughout being human, Burkett focuses on areas of pain and anxiety
Buddhist history and up to modern times, noting the role as they tend to manifest for modern people: feelings of
of confirmation bias in evaluation of evidence. Chapter 3 unworthiness, and issues surrounding sex, money, failure,
reviews the merits of current research on rebirth, including and even death. Providing wisdom from Zen (channeled
near-death experience, past-life regression, and children through his many experiences as a psychotherapist) and
who recall previous lives. The chapter concludes with an using language and metaphors from popular culture, he
examination of xenoglossy, the ability to speak languages takes anxiety and teaches us to turn those fears into the
one has not learned previously, and chapter 4 examines building blocks of a fulfilling life. There are also Zen stories,
the particular case of Dhammaruwan, a Sri Lankan boy poetry, and relevant research findings about living a good
who chants Pāli texts that he does not appear to have life, as well as how to meditate to transform our various
learned in his present life. Rebirth in Early Buddhism human difficulties into clear seeing, equanimity and ease.
and Current Research brings together the many strands This is therefore a book about the substance and beauty of
of the debate on rebirth in one place, making it both Zen practice. EH
comprehensive and compact. It is not a polemic but an
interrogation of the evidence, and it leaves readers to
come to their own conclusions. EH