Henry Shukman is a poet, author, and meditation teacher who has guided thousands of students from around the world through mindfulness and awakening practices. A Zen master in the Sanbo Zen lineage and the spiritual director emeritus at Mountain Cloud Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Shukman is a cofounder of The Way meditation app and founder of the Original Love meditation program and has taught meditation at Google and Harvard Business School. He has written award-winning and bestselling books of poetry and fiction, he has taught poetry at the Institute of American Indian Arts, and his poems have appeared in The New Yorker and the Guardian. He has a master’s degree from Cambridge and a master of letters degree from St Andrews.
"""[Shukman's] writing is gorgeous, funny, fascinating, and audacious."" -- Rick Hanson, bestselling author of Buddha's Brain ""Henry Shukman has a natural, contagious and enlightened enthusiasm which his fine writing style carries so beautifully to the reader through every page. This is a book for breaking the spell of the 'me', not in the sense of erasing ourselves, but in taking the journey of awakening where we can come out from behind the surface, defended self and appear fully and transparently and even lovingly in this difficult world."" -- David Whyte, author of Consolation and The Sea in You ""Original Love is a lively compendium of all you want to learn about meditation, mindfulness, suffering, non-suffering, joy, coming home and being whole. All that is in this book is hard-earned, on the ground, clearly explained. Shukman so much wants to share his understanding that you can feel the excitement and longing right in the center of the still page. This book is a great friend, one who tells the simple obvious truth that is right in front of our face. And on top of all this, Shukman knows how to write, like an angel."" -- Natalie Goldberg, author of Writing on Empty and Three Simple Lines ""Henry is a masterful teacher. His insight, compassion and wisdom combine to provide some of the best meditation teaching out there."" -- Kelly Boys, author of The Blind Spot Effect and Director of The Foundation for a Mindful Society and the Mindful Cities project ""Take a break. Fall in love with your life. Breathe in the rich fragrance of mindfulness as taught by a master Zen teacher who is also a superb poet. For beginning or advanced students of meditation, Henry Shukman will lead you seamlessly into your own original love for life as it is, and you as you are. Extraordinary in its freshness and replete with all kinds of wisdom, this book illuminates waking up naturally, aimlessly, in your own time. Enjoy it."" -- Polly Young-Eisendrath, author of Love Between Equals and The Present Heart"