Taizan Maezumi (1931-1995) was abbot of the Zen Center of Los Angeles from 1967 to 1995, and he founded other centers throughout the United States, Europe, and Mexico. In the foreword to this book, his student and dharma successor Bernie Glassman talks about his flexibility in transmitting Zen forms and practices from another culture. "Taste as much of this as you can," Taizan Maezumi said, "Swallow what you need and spit out the rest." During his life, this Zen master gave more than 1,500 teisho (a presentation to the disciples of a master's direct realization).

As the title of this paperback indicates, Taizan Maezumi emphasized the value of the spiritual practice of gratitude. "I want you to appreciate your own life, too. Every moment, right now, is nothing other than us, our practice, our life, our realization, our manifestation! Refresh it each moment! Having such a practice not only benefits you and gives you joy, it also inspires others."

Whether talking about zazen, the three "pillows" of Zen, koans, copying sutras, or being pure in heart, Taizan Maezumi pays attention to the state of "thusness" — being in body and mind. He also challenges students of Zen to practice "evenness" of mind, not giving preference to one thing over another. Closely aligned with this is the principle of "no-gain," which enables us to live in contentment with what we already have. These teachings on Zen practice are testaments to a teacher who believed that this life is "unsurpassable."