The Way of Zen

by Alan Watts

After D.T. Suzuki, Alan Watts stands as the godfather of Zen in America. Often taken to task for inspiring the flimsy spontaneity of Beat Zen, Watts had an undeniably keen understanding of his subject. Nowhere is this more evident than in his 1957 classic The Way of Zen, which has been reissued. Watts takes the reader back to the philosophical foundations of Zen in the conceptual world of... (read more)

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Dr. Val
  • Rated 5 stars

A superior introductory text that introduces Zen to Western readers in a way that only Alan Watts can.

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  • Rated 4.115385 stars
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  • Rated 4.5 stars
 

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  • Gavin

    gavin said:

    As D.T. Suzuki says: satori is the “unfolding of a new world hitherto unperceived in the confusion of a dualistically trained mind.” Great book by Alan Watts, here are some of my favorite koan:
    It’s gold, but to sell it you mix it with sand.
    Ōgon mata kore suna ni washite uru

    Having stolen the robe and bowl, he says,
    “How did these come to be in my hands?”
    Ihatsu o dakkyaku shite iwaku,
    Nan to shite ka soregashi shuri ni aru to.

    First he scratches, then he waits for it to itch
    Arakajime kaite kayugari o matsu

    White waves role on the high mountains,
    Red dust rises on the bottom of the sea.
    Kōzan hakurō okori,
    Kaitei kōjin agaru.

    posted Sunday, March 9 2008
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