| Author: |
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Judith Blackstone
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| Title: |
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Zen for Beginners |
| Moochable copies: |
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No copies available |
| Amazon suggests: |
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| Topics: |
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| Published in: |
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English |
| Binding: |
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Paperback |
| Pages: |
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176 |
| Date: |
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1986-05 |
| ISBN: |
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0863161162 |
| Publisher: |
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Writers & Readers |
| Weight: |
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0.6 pounds |
| Size: |
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5.4 x 8.2 x 0.5 inches |
| Edition: |
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2nd |
Amazon prices: |
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| Previous givers: |
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3 Angela & Dani (USA: MD), kwp (USA: CA), Cathy (USA: CA) |
| Previous moochers: |
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3 Maddie Borth (USA: IL), Abarai (USA: IN), Karl Hanf (USA: MA) |
| Wishlists: |
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| Description: |
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Product Description
Zen from its foundation in China of the 6th Century AD, has always been more than a religion. It is an intriguing system of principles and practice designed to give each individual the experience of eternity in a split second, the knowledge of divinity in every living thing. To create a book about Zen, however, is risky. It is one thing to describe the factual history of this exotic strain of Buddhism. It’s quite another to successfully convey the crazy wisdom of the Zen masters, their zany sense of their uncanny ability to pass on the experience of enlightenment to their students. The authors of Zen For Beginners have clearly overcome these considerable risks. The books uses an engaging mix of clear, informative writing and delightful illustrations to document the story of Zen from its impact on Chinese and Japanese culture to its influence on American writers such as Japanese culture to its influence on American writers such as Ginsberg and Kerouac.
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| Reviews: |
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Angela & Dani (USA: MD) (2006/10/13):
Surprisingly, this volume in Documentary Comic Books Series from Writers and Readers publishers turns out to be a pearl of great price: a readily accessible, fun to read, History of Zen Buddhism. In a delightful series of line drawn cartoons (which the subject lends itself to) we follow Gotama Buddha through his magistral Life, Nagarjuna thru his teachings, Bodhidharma into China, Dogen back to Japan, and every major figure in between. The contributions of these great teachers and patriarchs are reduced to a few key sayings, koans, and concepts. In 160 pages, mostly pictures, the reader garners a coherent picture of the history, identity, meaning, and purpose of Zen, that would otherwise have taken the reading of many volumes, thick ones, to imbibe. This effort is a brief, informative recovery of the original face of Zen history and a wonderful teaching tool. My friend, the late Paul Reps, would have LOVED this slender masterpiece. Or, as Ikkyu puts it in the book:'And what is it, the heart?
it is the sound of the pine breeze
in the ink painting.'
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| URL: |
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http://bookmooch.com/0863161162 |
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