"Great Teachings From a Great Master" | 2008-11-18 |
| - Reviewed By mountainearth |
Great short teachings, short stories.
But read Master Seung Sahn's "Compass of Zen" first. |
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"The Perfect Next Step On The Path" | 2008-04-27 |
| - Reviewed By binky_de_piedra |
This book is great! - and is that next step after you're done with "intro" books
I spent so much time reading "intro" books, and they've all been great - and I've been searching for that next level -- and I've either found books way to sophisticated for me - or that are transcripts of speeches/teachings
Again, those are good - but I wanted a stepping stone
THIS book is that stepping stone -- packed with stories, lessons, poems, letters and everything in between -- it's a great great book and not only teaches, but befriends -- |
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"Most Entertaining Book on Buddhism" | 2007-09-19 |
| - Reviewed By pfratianni |
This the most entertaining book on Buddhism I have every read. I found myself laughing quite a bit and breezed through the entire books with little effort.
This book does not espouse the conventional methods on obtain enlightenment instead takes a uniquely different approach. I highly recommend anyone interested in the subject to read this book, especially if previous attempts were stifled by weighty material.
Whatever the case I'm positive most people can get something from this book especially since it is couched in such an amusing way. |
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"The dog runs after the bone.... (A good book on your spiritual journey)" | 2007-06-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1W4C3W8CY1VIX |
"When you hear the wooden chicken crow in the evening, you will know the country where your mind was born. Outside my house, in the garden, the willow is green, the flower is red."
The dog runs after the bone.. KATZ!!!
(you will understand the above and really love the book if you are ready of abstract or theoretical stuff in spirituality). |
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"Fantastic Companion" | 2006-10-16 |
| - Reviewed By User: A1EY3MQS1CKHZA |
I have owned numerous copies of this book; lent them out never to see them again. With most books, I don't bother to repurchase them, however I find myself wanting to pick this book up every couple of months to read either a random story or spend a couple hours with it from cover to cover.
If you are looking for a dissertation on zen or buddhism, this might be a bit of a ho-hum read (as other reviewers have asserted, over and over again) but if you can gain insight from the interactions of others... then Dropping Ashes on the Buddha has you covered. |
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"Worth reading again" | 2005-09-11 |
| - Reviewed By jd32210 |
| Often humorous, wonderful book taken from Korean Zen Master Seung's talks, letters and interviews with students. This is a book you can pick up time and again. I first read it 20 years ago and always enjoy opening it. Stephen Mitchell, now married to Byron Katie, was an early (as Americans go) student of Seung Sahn's and has gone on to a career of writing and translating many spiritual books. |
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"Zen for the west of us." | 2005-07-29 |
| - Reviewed By shake_master |
This book is on Korean Zen master Seung Sahn and his lecures, letters and general dialogue with students and sometimes others.
I wish there were more lectures and less student/teacher dialogue. Out of the hundred pieces or sections in this book, the majority are students having thier understanding tested by Seung Sahn. A lot of this didnt need to be published! It's comes off more as entertainment than anything else a lot of the time. Is there any use in hearing about a student tryin to feign understanding by hitting the floor over and over and saying "the sky is blue, the grass is green" to any question they are asked? I'm not saying these kinda interactions are unnecesary, its just that writing about them and putting them in a book can kinda turn Zen into a toy. Something to be played with.
The lectures and stories on the other hand contained many wonderful moments. I have to admit some of the letters and dialogue was fantastic too, there was just too many ho-hum sections of it. There were many great stories I had never heard of before. Probably due to the fact that works on Korean Zen arent very abundant. This book seemed more along the lines of Tibetan Buddhism thant Zen come to think of it. More of a mythical, romance kinda approach and feel to it (like the story Of Sahn's life, as well as some of the previous masters of his lineage). It also contains a lot of kong-an talk/instruction with students wich were some of the better moments of the interactions for me. Again a lot of brilliant passages but I think a lot of ho-hum moments that could have been left out. I appreciate koans and kong-ans more than ever though. Theres some great ones here!
The whole keep "dont know mind" is at times overused. I think its better to use different terms for it at different times. Theres a lot of value in using multiple terms so as to avoid any unnecesary attachment. From the teacher as well as the student. I think in this way, this book comes off as being a little to "western friendly" at times. Quite a few things that one could very easily attach too and carry around with pride.
All in all this is a very good book (great? maybe...) but with the plethora of great Buddhism books out there this isnt, to me, a must have. I'm not saying it's a waste of money by any means. This would be a valuable addition to your collection or a great book to check out from the library. |
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"Dont-know" | 2005-01-31 |
| - Reviewed By shadyfam |
| This book is an excellent way to learn the highest teachings of Zen. It is a collection of letters, sayings, and speeches by Zen Master Seung Sahn. If you buy this book and plan on learning the fundamentals of Zen, think again; there is no wasted speech here on any accessory means of reaching enlightenment such as mantras, or sitting positions. Seung Sahn teaches don't-know mind and nothing but don't-know mind; which means cutting off all thinking. I have read many books on Buddhism and also on Taoism and just recently discovered Zen and I feel like a tidal wave has washed over everything I have previously read and there is only Zen now. Seung Sahn's teaching method is very unique, and I think you should find it very effective and at some times amusing. Highly recommended. |
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"Help All Beings" | 2003-03-09 |
| - Reviewed By moonlullabybooks |
| Zen Master Seung Sahn is one of the greatest teachers of Zen to have come to the West to date. Many of his Western students are now Zen Masters teaching throughout the world. Kwan Um Zen is a Korean Chogye division of Buddhism, focusing on Kwan Yin (Avalokitesvara) the bodhisattva of compassion, as well as traditional Zen/kong-an practices. This book is unique in that it is a collection of letters through the years which students and non students have written him with questions and doubts. In it you find humorous and cutting wisdom on virtually any subject you can name. And he keeps coming back to the big question-what is your job? Primary point-what is mind? Sometimes he gets poetic, sometimes very funny, never a dull moment when reading this book! This book is for ANY Zen practioner. Anyone interested in Buddhism in general for that matter. if you want to come a few steps closer to understanding your true self, this book is for you. Here is a small example of what is in store for you in this book: "One day, Soen-sa (Seung Sahn) asked his students,"What is one plus two?" One student shouted "KATZ!!!(sound of zen stick)"Is this the truth?" "No" "Then what is the truth?" "One plus two equals three." Soen-sa said, "I thought you were a blind dog, but now I see you are a keen eyed lion."-It is tiny antecdotes like these, to long letters between students, and various dharma talks he has given that make this book a winner. Just order it- you will soon see! |
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"Reflections on Dropping Ashes on the Buddha" | 2002-10-16 |
| - Reviewed By Anonymous |
| 0,1,2,3 -- a-be-ce-dary. With each new day, we learn and grow. Tomorrow I wonder what I will know? New words, new terms? Mere shape and form, hallowed thoughts, which frame the norm. Attachment thinking -- you, I, they. Can the sun come out to play? Sunlight comes and sunlight goes...moonlight washes away sorrows and woes. Blank slates just like before there was thought. The truth is not what we were taught! Why do I seek this clarity? Boddhisatva, come to me. A peasant cries in a faraway land. The clock is ticking. Can you hear the sand? Save all people, set them free. Katz! Why don't you go drink tea. I don't believe you, falling to the floor...why don't you go and study more. If you'd like to decipher this poem of mine, read the book! |
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