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28th out of 415 books
—
479 voters
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-Zen Writings
by
Paul Reps ,
Nyogen Senzaki
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...more
Paperback, 216 pages
Published
September 15th 1998
by Tuttle Publishing
(first published 1957)
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Zen is allusive.
Zen uses too many unnecessary contradictions.
But their hopes are that such techniques awake the deluded mind.
Nonetheless, I think people just get heady about the writings and forget how simple buddhist psychology is. Thus they get intellectual and cute and use that as another blanket of self-deception.
This has lots of fun stories, but it is not the Buddhism I am most fond of.
I must say I have been tempted by such trips though.
Zen uses too many unnecessary contradictions.
But their hopes are that such techniques awake the deluded mind.
Nonetheless, I think people just get heady about the writings and forget how simple buddhist psychology is. Thus they get intellectual and cute and use that as another blanket of self-deception.
This has lots of fun stories, but it is not the Buddhism I am most fond of.
I must say I have been tempted by such trips though.
6 likes · like · see review
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Sep 05, 2011
Joseph
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
philosophy,
favourite
Interpreting the meaning of Zen is difficult at the best of times, and from what I know of it, I’m not even sure that intellectualising it is the best way to go anyway. Therefore, I’m just going to list a couple of my favourite Zen kōans from the 101 Zen Stories, and then try to explain how they affect the way in which I attempt to live my life.
The Moon Cannot be Stolen
Ryokan, a Zen Master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the...more
The Moon Cannot be Stolen
Ryokan, a Zen Master, lived the simplest kind of life in a little hut at the foot of a mountain. One evening a thief visited the...more
A collection of classic short pieces on Zen – often no more than a paragraph or two – which offer a good insight into the enigmatic nature of Zen writing. The book begins with 101 brief Zen stories, followed by the ‘Gateless Gate’ a further collection of thoughts, anecdotes, parables and Koans (Zen puzzles) designed to attune the student’s mind to enlightenment.
The classic ‘10 Bulls’ is also featured – an illustrated account of a bull-hunt that symbolises the ascending stages of awareness – as...more
The classic ‘10 Bulls’ is also featured – an illustrated account of a bull-hunt that symbolises the ascending stages of awareness – as...more
"Zen Flesh" is a solid compilation of short Zen stories, anecdotes, and koans. The first part of the book, "101 Zen Stories" has a lovely range, and will give even a novice reader a good taste of Zen. The second part, The Gateless Gate (or "Mumonkan"), is the classic compilation of Koans, beginning with "Does a dog have Buddha nature?" Because some of the koans contain cultural references that require some explication, you might be better off reading the same material in Yamada's version ( http:...more
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Flesh and Bones, all there is really, not! As one practices Zen Buddhism one finds the zen or Buddha nature we are all imbued with is available if we ahead the flesh and bones to find the essence of our existence. Happiness is not a part of it, sorry! This book remains a cornerstone in the understanding of zen today. Not a comic book read for sure but well worth the life of practice it opens to the participant. Older than Christianity and Islam - zen does not carry the dogma of a man in pajamas...more
ZEN FLESH, ZEN BONES is a wonderful source-book of Zen writings and its precursors; the stories within are thought-provoking, enlightening, even amusing and occasionally outrageous. Critics claim that Zen teaching is deliberately obtuse, often to the point of the ridiculous. Perhaps, but I don't believe such teachings are always to be taken so seriously. ZEN FLESH, ZEN BONES is a mosaic of seemingly trivial parts that, as a whole, arrives at a useful portrait, a gestalt, of Buddhist philosophy....more
This is a pretty good collection of short Zen stories, in three parts: 101 Zen stories, ‘Gateless Gate’ (Mumonkan), the Ten Bulls paintings with explanations and a translation of the Sanskrit Kashmir Shaiva text Vijnana Bhairava, which offers 112 ways to the experience of True Self.
Personally, I don`t think the Shaiva text belongs in this book and that we can place an equality sign between Zen and Kashmir Shaivism. Nevertheless, it is an interesting and meaninfull spiritual text. Overall, a good...more
Personally, I don`t think the Shaiva text belongs in this book and that we can place an equality sign between Zen and Kashmir Shaivism. Nevertheless, it is an interesting and meaninfull spiritual text. Overall, a good...more
A collection of several different writings, a must book for new students of Zen, a recommended for students of philosophy. Nice because you need not read from start to finish. You can pick this book up, read a section (except for the "The Ten Bulls") and put it down for a month (ergo, a good bathroom read for those of you who partake of that disgusting habit :-) ). The first section is a collection of short parables that can be read in any order. This is probably the most interesting section for...more
I've read this book many times, and always loved the stories. Some are a bit hokey and reminiscent of a Star Wars episode (I think that's because many of the philosophical ideas of SW and many other books (including my own 'Chopper Music') and movies are ripped off from these stories), but many are also profound.
For some reason they've always managed to lift me out of any negative or depressive mood I've been in, maybe because of their focus on things greater than ones self.
For some reason they've always managed to lift me out of any negative or depressive mood I've been in, maybe because of their focus on things greater than ones self.
Eh. :-)
The 101 Zen Stories are mildly entertaining, but if you randomly read Zen stuff on the net, it gets a bit repetitive. Gateless Gate, venerable book of koans chock full of incomprehensible Zen gibberish. What worries me is that I may never understand it. What worries me more is that somebody I actually might. It's not just a matter of "illogical". Illogical, I can deal with. My problem with the GG is that it's really quite simply incomprehensible, wtf, does not cohere. One random, non-sequ...more
The 101 Zen Stories are mildly entertaining, but if you randomly read Zen stuff on the net, it gets a bit repetitive. Gateless Gate, venerable book of koans chock full of incomprehensible Zen gibberish. What worries me is that I may never understand it. What worries me more is that somebody I actually might. It's not just a matter of "illogical". Illogical, I can deal with. My problem with the GG is that it's really quite simply incomprehensible, wtf, does not cohere. One random, non-sequ...more
Great bathroom reading for those times you want to contemplate lessons of the mind and right living. It is arranged in tiny vignettes and dialogues. The book is densely packed with insight.
Many of the little stories will be familiar such as "The Muddy Road" (I put her down on the road, why are you still carrying her.), "A Cup of Tea" (You can't fill a cup that is already full.) "Trading Dialogue for Lodging" (gestalt of meaning / distorted perception)
Highly recommended.
Many of the little stories will be familiar such as "The Muddy Road" (I put her down on the road, why are you still carrying her.), "A Cup of Tea" (You can't fill a cup that is already full.) "Trading Dialogue for Lodging" (gestalt of meaning / distorted perception)
Highly recommended.
Mar 29, 2013
Bella
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
religion-and-spirituality
Om at lære at være tavs:
Tendaiskolens elever studerede meditation, før zen blev indført i Japan. Fire af dem var nære venner, og de lovede hinanden at ville være tavse i tyve dage.
Første dag var alle tavse. Deres meditation havde således fået en lovende start, men da det blev aften, og olielampen begyndte at lyse svagt, kunne en af eleverne ikke lade være med at sige til en tjener: "Orden de lamper."
Den anden elev blev overrasket over at høre den første tale. "Vi skulle jo ikke sige et ord," bem...more
Tendaiskolens elever studerede meditation, før zen blev indført i Japan. Fire af dem var nære venner, og de lovede hinanden at ville være tavse i tyve dage.
Første dag var alle tavse. Deres meditation havde således fået en lovende start, men da det blev aften, og olielampen begyndte at lyse svagt, kunne en af eleverne ikke lade være med at sige til en tjener: "Orden de lamper."
Den anden elev blev overrasket over at høre den første tale. "Vi skulle jo ikke sige et ord," bem...more
You do not need to be a Buddhist for this book to work its magic on you. All you need is an open mind, and the desire to find a more peaceful way to be in the world. Here is how I use this book:
Every morning, before I even get dressed, I light a stick of Japanese incense and read a single koan. I sit and meditate on that koan for some period of time (often only 5 minutes), and then I go about my day. But, I try to remember that koan, and I think about it all day. I try to find ways that this day...more
Every morning, before I even get dressed, I light a stick of Japanese incense and read a single koan. I sit and meditate on that koan for some period of time (often only 5 minutes), and then I go about my day. But, I try to remember that koan, and I think about it all day. I try to find ways that this day...more
Not that Zen fits in a book, but this is the best work I've ever found on the subject. The hardcover, boxed-set presentation seems a bit much for me, but maybe that's just because I still remember the battered old paperback edition I carted around everywhere until some long-ago girlfriend 'borrowed' it. There was something lovely and humble about that paperback, more fitting with the book's parables and lessons.
No beauty, but mind games, strongly recommended for those who is interested in knowing. Not living. Paul Rep has raped zen. The book Gateless gate which is included in this book was really annoying one - especially Mumon's comments. One can get a little grasp of what is zen from this book, but not the accurate one. By the way Vigyan Bhairava Tantra is also included in this book. I didn't get the idea of longing for cutting the chain of birth and death. Enlightenment, or zen or, some others - the...more
"It has been said that if you have Zen in your life, you have no fear, no doubt, no unnecessary craving, no extreme emotion. Neither illiberal attitudes nor egotistical actions trouble you. You serve humanity humbly, fulfilling your presence in this world with loving-kindness and observing your passing as a petal falling from a flower." (p. 18 of the 1970 edition).
One of my all time favorites. Every copy I own is well worn. I love how the stories don't state anything, but leave it up to you to interpret. The moon can not be stolen and A Parable are two of my favorites.
http://books.google.com/books?id=m9CC...
http://books.google.com/books?id=m9CC...
I have a small pocket version of this text. It is one of the few books that I read over and over again. I love the simple wisdom and the stories that make life so much more clear. I love the sayings that don't make any sense or those that do but only if I don't concentrate very hard.
A great deal if, for no other reason, you get the Gateless Gate and Blue Cliff Record. However, these are only two portions of this invaluable text for it contains the infamous 10 ox-herding pictures atop many, many pre-Zen and Zen parables. A bargain at twice the cost.
A good collection of Zen stories and ko-ans. For my full review, read my epinions review.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
some of the poems are just wonderful but really this seems to be a hard-core zen text. many of the koans are filled with meanings that i am not able to discern. i stuck with it so that i would not miss any of the gems that are present.
Jul 30, 2011
Ian Young
added it
Timeless, thought provoking, paradigm shifting. Not for everyone, if you have an understanding of Buddhist philosophy then you should certainly appreciate this book. For the uninitiated it may seem pointless or nonsensical.
I read half of this 10 years ago. I gave it away as a gift to a stranger who came into the bar I worked at who i found out had cancer and who I later found out had given her copy to a friend in need.
I wore out my first copy rereading this over the years, so I bought a second copy to replace it. This collection of Zen and Pre-Zen aphorisms is enlightening and entertaining.
This is a great collection of Zen parables and sayings. And this pocket version...well fits in your pocket. Although a bit uncomfortable to sit on :)
"My review/What I learned from this book?"
I think the most appropriate answer would be "nothing".
I think it's on my shelf if you want it.
I think the most appropriate answer would be "nothing".
I think it's on my shelf if you want it.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is the most coherent survey of Zen Buddhism I've ever found. I've read about twenty or so. The language of Zen Flesh is sophisticated, never insulting the reader. Of course you have already reflected on transience! On transcendental experience ... or non-transcendent ... because there is none! The book's rare clarity probably earns its coherence of language by being firmly rooted in Western philosophical categories; hence the subject is intelligible -- even enjoyable -- to u...more
Read my full review on TCMResources: http://tcmresources.wordpress.com/201...
Mind bending, a classic I am told and some of the commentary is unfathomable to me, but still worth the read.
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“14. Muddy Road
Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unble to cross the intersection.
"Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carriedher over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"
"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?”
—
5 people liked it
More quotes…
Tanzan and Ekido were once traveling together down a muddy road. A heavy rain was still falling.
Coming around a bend, they met a lovely girl in a silk kimono and sash, unble to cross the intersection.
"Come on, girl," said Tanzan at once. Lifting her in his arms, he carriedher over the mud.
Ekido did not speak again until that night when they reached a lodging temple. Then he could no longer restrain himself. "We monks don't go near females," he told Tanzan, "especially not young and lovely ones. It is dangerous. Why did you do that?"
"I left the girl there," said Tanzan. "Are you still carrying her?”
