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Zen Flesh Zen BOnes: A Collection of Zen and Pre-zen Writings
written by Paul Reps, Nyogen Senzaki
Studio : Tuttle Publishing
by Tuttle Publishing
Publisher : Tuttle Publishing
Released : 1998-09-15
Availability : Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Number of Items : 1
EAN : 9780804831864
Avg. Customer Rating: (based on 44 reviews)
List Price : $14.95
Our Price : $6.94
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Product Description |
When Zen Flesh, Zen Bones was published in 1957 it became an instant sensation with an entire generation of readers who were just beginning to experiment with Zen. Over the years it has inspired leading American Zen teachers, students, and practitioners. Its popularity is as strong today as ever.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a book that offers a collection of accessible, primary Zen sources so that readers can struggle over the meaning of Zen for themselves. It includes 101 Zen Stories, a collection of tales that recount actual experiences of Chinese and Japanese Zen teachers over a period of more than five centuries; The Gateless Gate, the famous thirteenth century collection of Zen koans; Ten Bulls, a twelfth century commentary on the stages of awareness leading to enlightenment; and Centering, a 4,000 year-old teaching from India that some consider to be the roots of Zen. |
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The First and Still the Best |
This little book was the first popular introduction to Zen in the English language, published by Hawai'ian/ Japanese publisher Tuttle in 1957, compiled from earlier booklets. The date gives the Introduction and the comments a quaint Beat Generation-ish flavour not without its charm.
This was the book that introduced me to Zen at the age of 15: I felt I had discovered a new world, I read and re-read it, carried it around with me, was delighted by the stories, baffled by the koans. Many years later I've lost count of how many copies I've gone through.
It consists of four parts. First, 101 Zen stories, including old favourites that I've since seen in so many other books. Then a translation of the "Mumonkan", the "simplest" of the classic koan anthologies. Then the wonderful "Ox-Herding Pictures", an allegory of the stages of spiritual life from the first inkling that "there must be something more to life" to complete realisation. This by itself is a comprehensive spiritual guide.
The last section is the most surprising: a translation of a brief mediaeval Tantric text called the "Vijñana Bhairava", 112 sentences of spiritual instruction supposedly spoken by the god Shiva to his "consort" Devî. (The introduction attributes a ridiculous antiquity to this text.) Each one of these sublime sentences is a concise spiritual method: you could reach Enlightenment through any one of them if you could develop that "Give me Liberation or give me Death" attitude. What it's doing in a book on Zen I haven't figured out, but it's worth the price of the book by itself.
Shame no-one these days prints cute little paperbacks like the old blue Pelican of this book, which you could stick so easily in your pocket. But it's great to know that it's still in print, still introducing teenagers to the delights and brick walls of Zen, to the suspicion that maybe doors open somewhere in the apparently solid façade of "real life". After fifty years and an avalanche of Zen publications this is still the best Beginners' Guide to Zen, and I recommend it with enthusiasm and huge affection. |
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A Timeless Classic on Zen |
Passing in the hot street
once and forever
we - knowingly - smile
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a beautiful work. There's no scholastic interference - just straight up Zen stories, koans, etc.
Unassuming and small, the size of the book betrays the depth of its message. Four books in one - 'Zen Stories' originally published in 1939, 'The Gateless Gate' originally published in 1934, '10 Bulls' originally published in 1935, and 'Centering' originally published in 1955.
'Centering' is the last work but of the most importance. It was born through Kasmir Saivism and, as Paul Reps and others feel, it is of the same spirit as Zen. It is a Tantric text, with 112 methods of meditation (which Paul Reps calls 'Centering'), otherwise known as Dharanas. The sanskrit word Dhyana, in its wandering, became Jhana in Pali, Ch'an in Chinese, and Zen in Japanese. Therefore, the last book of Zen Flesh, Zen Bones could be seen as a Zen manual for self-realization. Practicing its techniques while remaining mindful of the spirit of the Zen stories and koans elsewhere in the book will surely guide a sincere seeker home.
This book will stay by my side for years. Strongly recommended for those after a taste of Zen spirit.
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The Marrow of Zen |
This is one of the earliest Zen books available in English. ZEN FLESH, ZEN BONES is not "about" Zen, it "is" Zen. An omnibus of beloved Zen tales ("101 Zen Stories"), the classic ten "Oxherding Pictures," and the "Mumonkan" ("The Gateless Gate") a collection of those ironic, irreverent, and seemingly illogical Zen riddles known as Koans, this book is an excellent, one might say, indispensable, part of any Zen practitioner's library, whether beginner or Dharma Heir.
It's an excellent translation. Zen writings are essentially paradoxical, filled with sense impressions, and sometimes arcane (Koans descended from Chinese law cases of the Confucian period and are still called Cases today). ZEN FLESH, ZEN BONES will not have you tearing your hair out trying to decipher the language of the Zen Masters (given the number of shaven-headed monks, you have to wonder), but it still gives the reader a great sense of the fluidity of thought that marks the material.
There are other books out there that "explain" Zen, or "teach" Zen, but ZEN FLESH, ZEN BONES is the essence of the immediate experience that IS Zen. The recorded version, read by Peter Coyote, is a wonderful listening experience.
Sit with it. |
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Too bad about the Shambhala edition... |
I've read a number of books on Zen, which technically can't be written about. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones by Reps and Senzaki is a good example of the pithy stories and poems that teachers use to "point toward the moon" while helping students not to confuse the finger for the moon.
The selection of material and translation are very good.
I have the Shambhala edition. It is a shame that one of the few good-quality translations in Shambhala's Pocket Classics series is out of print. If you can find one you should buy it, because it really can be read again and again and it really does fit in your pocket.
For a different sort of introduction to Zen I recommend D. T. Suzuki's Introduction to Zen Buddhism (An Introduction to Zen Buddhism).
For a fuller treatment it is hard to beat D.T. Suzuki's Essays (Essays in Zen Buddhism: First Series).
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Flesh of my flesh and Zen of my bones! |
What strikes me as I read many of the reviews here is that most of the reviewers have a truly fond feeling for this book and that many have also read and re-read it over the years. Both of these experiences are true for me too!
"Zen Flesh, Zen Bones" is a collection of Zen tales that touch the heart and mind in the true spirit of Zen.
It was the first book that I ever read about Zen and it is invaluable still. I purchased my first copy in my early college days and over 20 years later I bought this book again, because I had lost my taped up and worn out copy in a move. I simply had to have this book once more, which in a strange way is an Attachment, yet not... which sounds like some half-baked Koan or humorous Zen twist like those that are so wonderful in the stories in this book. ( "What is the sound of one page turning?" )
If I had to choose one book on Zen it would be this one.
There are many, many fine books that delve deeper into the subject of Zen, but "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones" has the friendly essence and simplicity that is Zen. If you had no other introduction to Zen, somehow I think what is in this book would suffice.
The title of the book is no lie, it is telling the truth!
Peace |
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