When I first cracked open 'The Art of Just Sitting', I didn't expect it to become my meditation nightstand staple. The way Dogen's instructions on 'practicing suchness' blend with modern commentaries creates this beautiful rhythm - like alternating between sipping green tea and biting into a wasabi pea.

What surprised me most was how the book physically changed my sitting practice. After reading Hongzhi Zhengjue's passages, I caught myself naturally straightening my spine during zazen, as if the text had reached through the pages to adjust my posture. The underlined pencil passages (yes, my used copy came with these thoughtful 'easter eggs') particularly resonate during 5am sessions when my mind feels like a hyperactive monkey.

The collection isn't just theory - it's practical alchemy. Loori's selection transformed how I view mundane moments too. Last Tuesday, while stuck in traffic, I found myself applying Shunryu Suzuki's 'beginner's mind' concept to car horns and exhaust fumes. Who knew gridlock could become a mindfulness drill?

Warning though: this isn't a quick-fix manual. Some sections require chewing slowly, like that dense mochi passage about 'goal-less practice'. I keep returning to Keizan Jokin's writings like visiting an old teacher - each rereading reveals new layers, much like how zazen itself deepens over time.

The book lives up to its title by making shikantaza feel accessible yet profound. It's become my literary zafu - not replacing actual sitting, but enriching it immeasurably. Just yesterday, during morning zazen, Dogen's words about 'dropping body and mind' suddenly clicked in a way that made my cushion time vibrate differently. That's the magic of this collection - it keeps unfolding long after you've closed the cover.