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Liked It1 of 1 members found this review helpful “A beautifully written book. This is the book that introduced many young people (when I was 20) to the practice of simply sitting meditation. Suzuki Roshi's words are clear and timeless.” see full review » see other reviews » |
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“This book contains the transcriptions of Shunryu Suzuki, a zen master who moved to United States from Japan and founded a zen center in S. Francisco. ZMBM is focused on zen practice, particularly on Zazen activity. I’ve already read something about zen (see “101 Zen Stories“) but it was hard to me understading the reported lectures. The text lacks of a general structure (quite obvious, as already said, these are just talks trascription), furthermore talks aren’t clear at all, I couldn’t get any precise clue about zen philosophy/principles. My overall impression is that it’s more a guide to Zen practice for experienced people rather than an introduction for novices.”
Baldo wrote this review Sunday, August 9 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“I've read this one at least 5 times. It continues to provide a kind of anchor to guide me back from the noise.”
Floorsander wrote this review Saturday, May 16 2009. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“Should be read daily.”
Paul H wrote this review Tuesday, April 15 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No1 of 1 members found this review helpful“A beautifully written book. This is the book that introduced many young people (when I was 20) to the practice of simply sitting meditation. Suzuki Roshi's words are clear and timeless.”
Bob L wrote this review Saturday, March 8 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
0 of 2 members found this review helpful“Who am I to criticise such a reknowned work? Well, I am no-one inparticular. Perhaps with this text a lot has been lost in translation:
leegee wrote this review Sunday, March 2 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
"We say, 'To hear the sound of one hand clapping.' Usually the sound of clapping is made with two hands, and we think that clapping with one hand makes no sound at all. But actually one hand is sound. Even though you do not hear it, there is sound. If you clap with two hands, you can hear the sound, but if sound did not already exist before you clapped, you could not make the sound. Before you make it, there is sound. Because there is sound, you can make it."
Perhaps it should have been translated, "Before you make it, there are sounds." Such a blundering error in translation, against such a well-repeated image, is unlikely, I think. Let's be straight: there is no sound of hands clapping before they clap: the sound of the clap is the result of air being displaced. Such confusion of cause and effect does seem rife in this book.
Not that there are many sensible points throughout the text, just that there are more elsewhere, better made, with less nonsense. ”
“I read this beginners book before I attended the Buddhist temple to sit Zazen. It was very clear and concise and I found it to be helpful to me on my spiritual path.”
khabira wrote this review Tuesday, February 26 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
1 of 1 members found this review helpful“Incredibly concise and approachable.”
John M wrote this review Monday, February 18 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No“A very interesting read, if you're into this kind of stuff”
Judy A wrote this review Saturday, February 9 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
“A good, quick, casual how-to on Zen meditation.”
bencasnocha wrote this review Monday, February 4 2008. ( reply | permalink ) Was this review helpful? Yes | No
