---
product_id: 8876656
title: "Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice"
brand: "kosho uchiyamajisho warnertom wrightshohaku okumura"
price: "€ 40.05"
currency: EUR
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
url: https://www.desertcart.gr/products/8876656-opening-the-hand-of-thought-foundations-of-zen-buddhist-practice
store_origin: GR
region: Greece
---

# Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice

**Brand:** kosho uchiyamajisho warnertom wrightshohaku okumura
**Price:** € 40.05
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice by kosho uchiyamajisho warnertom wrightshohaku okumura
- **How much does it cost?** € 40.05 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.gr](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/8876656-opening-the-hand-of-thought-foundations-of-zen-buddhist-practice)

## Best For

- kosho uchiyamajisho warnertom wrightshohaku okumura enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted kosho uchiyamajisho warnertom wrightshohaku okumura brand quality
- Free international shipping included
- Worldwide delivery with tracking
- 15-day hassle-free returns

## Description

Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice

## Images

![Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71+lAUEHxoL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Superb
*by W***N on June 6, 2025*

I’ve seen this described as a beginner book but, while the writing is clear and straightforward, the depth of insight is incredible and I think very precious even for those that have been practicing for years. This may be the best book on Zen I have read.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent and instructive guidance on meditation
*by J***L on December 22, 2013*

This is a very good and encouraging book about meditation. I have been practicing daily for 18 years and found that I could relate to this book in a very direct and personal way. I had a number of "aha" experiences during the reading. Theory doesn't matter. What matters is direct experiencing: the "aha" moments.I think it would work well for beginners too, as the author of this book, a Japanese Zen Master, explains what the meditative experience is like for an ordinary person like me. Many people try meditation for a while and then give up, because they don't like what they encounter during meditation. Because they encounter what they personally label as "failure", they give up, imagining that meditation is not for them.The message in this book is "stay present and allow", rather than escape into the imagined future and memories of past. This is a sane approach and really works, if you stick with it throughout the months and years of daily sitting meditation. It is utterly transformative, over time.So what's not to like? Very little: Prescriptions, such as keeping the eyes open or closed, having a meditation object, such as counting from one to ten on each in-out-breath. The author discourages closed eyes, breath counting and breath watching. This isn't so good, because these things don't actually matter. There is no "right" or "wrong" way to practice meditation: find out what you like, e.g. visualisation, and stick with it throughout the days and years. If it doesn't work for you personally, it is best to change it. If visualisation, or breath counting, helps you to be present, then that is "right" for you. So is keeping the eyes closed, or open. In other words, it is not the method that matters, but staying present without escaping, during the periods of formal sitting practice.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The great zen master Kosho Uchiyama explains zen with clarity and beautiful simplicity
*by M***H on July 27, 2017*

This book stands out as one of the most important books about what zen is and how to practice it. It is a clearly stated treatise defining how to practice zen, simply stating the way to sit and the method of how "not to think," but in a different manner than other great and important works such as Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind.Kosho Uchiyama was the head Zen priest at one of the great zen temples in Kyoto and led meditation there. He was a student of the great zen master Kodo Sawaki. What he does in this book is to explain that it is important to practice zazen in order to understand it. It is returning to self when you sit, basically meaning, that as you let go of thought, all thoughts while sitting, what you are left with is true self, free from emotions, feelings and thoughts which normally rule our lives. By opening the hand of thought we release the grasp that thoughts hold us by, which is what defines most people's lives.Kosho Uchiyama writes with a simplified manner, talking about deep concepts in an amazingly simple way, removing a lot of the poetic manner some books are written in, to create an easier to understand guide. This is a book to read and reread. It is a manual to understand how to sit and let go of thoughts and desires that control our lives because they seem like reality. But make no mistake, this book is worded with beauty and passion and is very easy to read.

---

## Why Shop on Desertcart?

- 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016
- 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories
- 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price
- 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members)
- 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection
- ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews

**Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.gr/products/8876656-opening-the-hand-of-thought-foundations-of-zen-buddhist-practice](https://www.desertcart.gr/products/8876656-opening-the-hand-of-thought-foundations-of-zen-buddhist-practice)

---

*Product available on Desertcart Greece*
*Store origin: GR*
*Last updated: 2026-02-22*