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60th out of 242 books
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280 voters
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Zen in the Art of Archery
Since its original publication in 1953, Zen in the Art of Archery has become one of the classic works on Eastern philosophy, the first book to delve deeply into the role of Zen in philosophy, development, and practice of Eastern martial arts. Wise, deeply personal, and frequently charming, it is the story of one man's penetration of the theory and practice of Zen Buddhism....more
Paperback, 96 pages
Published
August 28th 1989
by Vintage
(first published 1936)
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A very quick read. As part of my preparation for kyudo study I grabbed this book. I can't vouch for its accuracy as I ought to listen to my sensei first and foremost, but Herrigel provides an interesting discussion of zen as it relates to kyudo. However, the interpretation of his six years of study may not be accurate, according to some scholars. I'll update my review once I read one particular critical article.
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A painless book to read. I'm just not into the Zen thing. Reading this book made me realize that I never will be this type of person, I couldn't go through with the ssssssslllllllooooooooowwwwwwwww process of learning each step of something to perfection. I'm sure I'd be a better person if I could just be in this way, but I never will, just like I will never be an Astronaut or a Fireman, and that's okey dokey because the world needs anxiously high-strung neurotic people just as much as they n...more
An interesting little book. Zen is fundamentally a practice to be undertaken, not a philosophy to ascribe to. As such, Herrigel's book is Zen its most true, pure form. This book was written in the fifties when most Westerners were still not aware of Zen Buddhism. So when he attempted to study it in Japan, Herrigel was told that before he could even attempt it, he needed a sort of preparatory school in the form of learning Japanese archery. He admits in the opening of the book that it is imp...more
This week’s headline? it happens automagically
Why this book? sold on Amazon
Which book format? from campus bookstore
Primary reading environment? quickly, before shipping
Any preconceived notions? struggling to breathe
Identify most with? someday, the author
Three little words? “experience can teach”
Goes well with? the tea ceremony
I’ve been selling off my personal library through Amazon.
At one point, I had over ...more
Why this book? sold on Amazon
Which book format? from campus bookstore
Primary reading environment? quickly, before shipping
Any preconceived notions? struggling to breathe
Identify most with? someday, the author
Three little words? “experience can teach”
Goes well with? the tea ceremony
I’ve been selling off my personal library through Amazon.
At one point, I had over ...more
Erik Graff
rated it
·
review of another edition
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Zen fans
Recommended to Erik by:
many people
Shelves:
religion
Many persons had recommended this little book over the years of high school and college, it being one of the canon of the counterculture like the novels of Kurt Vonnegut, the meditations of Alan Watts or the more scholarly essays of D.T. Suzuki. I resisted, partly because it was so popular, another herd-phenomenon, and partly because it was about archery of all things. But, seeing the thing and how short it was, I finally sat down and read the thing.
I'd read quite a bit about Zen B...more
I'd read quite a bit about Zen B...more
Fc O'neill
added it
1948 107pp
Herrigel's book became the progenitor to the series of " Zen and the art of..." - stolen and homaged by authors who wrote about everything from motorcycle maintenance to knitting. It is about the all and the nothing, the art and the artlessness of life and living. It is his struggle to become perfect and in becoming perfect in what he is doing becomes master and nothing. Herrigel hard wins his insights into Zen buddhism by seven years of application as an apprentice arc...more
Herrigel's book became the progenitor to the series of " Zen and the art of..." - stolen and homaged by authors who wrote about everything from motorcycle maintenance to knitting. It is about the all and the nothing, the art and the artlessness of life and living. It is his struggle to become perfect and in becoming perfect in what he is doing becomes master and nothing. Herrigel hard wins his insights into Zen buddhism by seven years of application as an apprentice arc...more
While this is a fascinating account of studying kyudo (Way of the Bow) and Zen, it should be noted that some kyudoists are rather critical of the disproportionate influence that this book has had on kyudo philosophy. Apparently the intertwining of Zen and kyudo has no historical basis outside of Awa-sensei's (Herrigel's teacher) own teachings, who was considered an eccentric by his peers.
I was surprised that I enjoyed this book fairly well. My dad -- who believes that I am an incorrigible materialist, simply because he has wacky pseudo-scientific ideas about quantum mechanics that I am constantly forced to rebut -- sneaked this into my bag when I left after Christmas vacation. But I was having trouble finding something to read last night and I picked it up and was done before I knew it.
It's really not as much la-la and hand-waving as I anticipated. I did cringe ever...more
It's really not as much la-la and hand-waving as I anticipated. I did cringe ever...more
SUM: Eugen Herrigel recounts his interesting experience training under a zen archery master in Japan. As a western man, Herrigel encounters problems with the process of archery, and his journey toward zen is framed in a perspective that a western audience can appreciate and understand.
REV: I absolutely love this book. I draw connections, of course, with my own pursuit of writing as an art-form. For anyone remotely creatively-inclined, this book is a must-read. Some of the things th...more
REV: I absolutely love this book. I draw connections, of course, with my own pursuit of writing as an art-form. For anyone remotely creatively-inclined, this book is a must-read. Some of the things th...more
My most given away book! Whenever I find a copy in a used book store, I buy it and when the 'right' person comes round to receive a copy, I give it.
Finished re-reading again 2011.03.10, and find myself once again concentrating on breath and relaxed attentiveness.
Finished re-reading again 2011.03.10, and find myself once again concentrating on breath and relaxed attentiveness.
One of my all-time favorite books! A beautiful description of teaching in a true mentor-style. Written by a German philosopher, it is one of the more accessible (understandable) books on Eastern Zen. Packed with jewels of wisdom!
Whenever I take on a new task or start studying something new, I find that this is my "go to" book. More than Zen, it is a book about how being slow and disciplined allows one to master technique. It was assigned to me first as a textbook for art class. The idea is not to just pick up paints/charcoal/pencil and draw, but to become the the art so that it grows out of one's Unconscious.
You dont have to be a student of kyudo to get this book. It's applications as many as...more
You dont have to be a student of kyudo to get this book. It's applications as many as...more
"Deixe de pensar no disparo!", exclamava o mestre. "Assim não há como evitar o fracasso!"
"Eu não consigo evitar", repliquei. "A tensão é insuportavelmente dolorosa."
"Isso acontece porque o senhor não está realmente desprendido de si mesmo. Contudo, é tão simples... Uma simples folha de bambu pode ensiná-lo. Com o peso da neve ela vai se inclinando aos poucos, até que de repente a neve escorrega e cai, sem que a folha tenha se movido. Como el...more
"Eu não consigo evitar", repliquei. "A tensão é insuportavelmente dolorosa."
"Isso acontece porque o senhor não está realmente desprendido de si mesmo. Contudo, é tão simples... Uma simples folha de bambu pode ensiná-lo. Com o peso da neve ela vai se inclinando aos poucos, até que de repente a neve escorrega e cai, sem que a folha tenha se movido. Como el...more
I read this book either immediately before or immediately after Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. I liked this book very much. The concept of relaxed attention was interesting to me. I remember that for the whole semester after reading this, I would hold books and papers and bags with the minimal amount of force needed to keep them from falling out of my hands, just like the archer should hold the bowstring with the minimal amount of force, waiting for the moment of effortless release.
This is a fascinating book and a quick read, so I can recommend it without hesitation. Some parts might be slightly difficult language because of the translation (from German I believe) but push past it, it's mostly very clearly and succinctly written.
The book follows the author's introduction to Zen, through the practice of the art of archery, but most importantly it presents Zen in a transition from Western to Eastern thinking. Initially the author does a great job of framing the W...more
The book follows the author's introduction to Zen, through the practice of the art of archery, but most importantly it presents Zen in a transition from Western to Eastern thinking. Initially the author does a great job of framing the W...more
I gtave this book a 5 because Zen is one of the things I am exploring right now. It is an excellent read for those who wonder what it is like for a westerner to try to understand the concept of mind/no mind which is an Eastern concept. Zen teaches one to be able to do without thinking and in so doing becoming a hyper focused person. The author who was a philosophy professor from Germany but working in Japan between the wars finally understood the concept of Zen through the years of practice of t...more
Quick read that is inspiring. Teaches the lesson that hard, disciplined work, will be rewarding. Talks about getting in the zone, and clearing your mind. This book isn't truly about Zen as the title would imply. The author has a couple main points that imply this is zen, but there is a great paper on the web that disputes two of the authors main ties to Zen. www.nanzan-u.ac.jp/SHUBUNKEN/publication...
I will say that this is a much easier read than the Unfettered Mind for a western...more
I will say that this is a much easier read than the Unfettered Mind for a western...more
Enthusiastic and enigmatic account of Zen and its role in the art of Japanese archery. Archery, according to Herrigel, is primarily practiced for the purpose of Zen training. Through having repetitive practice, no-mind, and simply being, the art is mastered. More contentious, Herrigel claims there is no need to aim and that the archer does not shoot, but instead 'it' shoots. These latter two accounts are more critical discussed in an article titled "The Myth of Zen in the Art of Archery."
People may complain that this isn't what Kyudo or Zen archery is like, but I don't care. I LOVE this book. I recently took up archery because I wanted a quiet, spiritual persuit. This book helps me focus on what I really want out of life - not just hitting a target. While I don't do Kyudo, I can still take many of the lessons from this book to apply to my regular practice, as well as many other aspects of my life. I will be re-reading this book again and again.
I hadn't read this little classic in some years when I was reminded of it again. It's probably the best introductory discussion for Westerners about Zen. Herrigel helps you avoid the trap I always fall into with more complicated Zen books -- to think hard about a subject that resists conscious thinking. The more you think, the worse you get. And, in fact, it may be true that the more books you read about Zen, the further you get from enlightenment.
This was my second read, with my first being about a year ago when Gabrielle gave me a copy.
I am not a follower of the Buddha myself, but I found much wisdom in this dense little book—especially with regard to fencing. I found it so valuable that I purchased the eBook edition so I would have easy access to it for coaching.
I am not a follower of the Buddha myself, but I found much wisdom in this dense little book—especially with regard to fencing. I found it so valuable that I purchased the eBook edition so I would have easy access to it for coaching.
One of the very first books on Eastern Philosophy I ever read, I highly recommend it as an intro, not only for martial artists, but anyone interested in beginning a study of Zen.
I find that this book had three advantages over some of the more traditional texts.
1 - It is far more accessible to the Westerner unaccustomed to Eastern thought.
2 - It is more "nuts and bolts" than abstract philosophy, and full of meaningful anecdotes and biographical notes ...more
I find that this book had three advantages over some of the more traditional texts.
1 - It is far more accessible to the Westerner unaccustomed to Eastern thought.
2 - It is more "nuts and bolts" than abstract philosophy, and full of meaningful anecdotes and biographical notes ...more
This will be interesting, as I've recently taken up archery again after not drawing my bow for 16 years. I've heard from critics (some of whom are archers) that the book has little to do with the actual practice of archery, and is more a rarefied philosophical discourse. I'll see . . .
A short and simple book about how Zen masters practice archery, and a memoir of the author's archery training in Japan. Become one with the bow, let the arrow shoot itself, that sort of thing. It's interesting to read a book about Zen when it was still very new in the West. It reminded me of An Experiment in Mindfulness. This may sound cheesy, but it also reminded me of the jedi in Star Wars. Probably the most intriguing part in this book is when the archery teacher shoots a perfect bulls-eye in...more
This is a really nice book. Really makes me want to take my archery hobby more seriously, and really get into the Spirit of it! I never realized how spiritual that could be. I already understood how cleansing and amazing of an experience shooting a traditional bow is, but I had no idea it could be taken that far.
This is a stupendous book. It is the original, and very best of the "Zen and the Art of - - - " books. An astonishing account of the relationship between a German would-be archer and his Japanese teacher. I cannot possibly explain it. Just go out and buy a copy. It's easy to read. Nevertheless, read it several times! It is an inspiration.
"Zen," said (I think) Basho, "is doing things properly". Here is a well-written book about "doing things prop...more
"Zen," said (I think) Basho, "is doing things properly". Here is a well-written book about "doing things prop...more
Completely shifted my views and values...about everything. Especially how I approach projects that are time consuming or repetitive, and ones that aren't.
Very densely written but perhaps one of the most insightful short books I've ever read.
Very densely written but perhaps one of the most insightful short books I've ever read.
in high school, we were forced to read this book for our master piano performance class. of course at the age of 15 we had NO idea why we had to read this little book but now, i can only say, what a wise piano teacher we had that year!
we learned that in all arts, it is the process of the discipline which ultimately matters, not talent.
i can't wait for my own daughter to learn to read and grow up into a snarly rebellious and bored, know-it-all teenager... do i have a boo...more
we learned that in all arts, it is the process of the discipline which ultimately matters, not talent.
i can't wait for my own daughter to learn to read and grow up into a snarly rebellious and bored, know-it-all teenager... do i have a boo...more
an interesting read on the zen nature of archery...in the form of tremendously repeated activites (in this case archery, in the case of his wife, tea preparation) that leads eventually to a form of meditation and mind-lessness on the task. Mildly disturbing, drawing me to want to learn more :-)
If your a golfer, tennis player, baseball player etc.. you will find direct correlation to a lot of the lessons in this book... but if you expand your mind even further.. you can relate it to everything...
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