Zen and the Comic Spirit

by M. Conrad Hyers

List of Illustrations
Acknowledgments
Preface
The smile of truth
Zen masters and clown figures
The Buddha and the bullfrog
The celebration of the commonplace
Laughing at the Buddhas and abusing the Patriarchs
The folly of the desiring self
Socrates in China
Getting the point of the joke
The child of Tao
Epilogue
Index

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1974

About the author

Conrad Hyers was an American writer, lecturer, and ordained Presbyterian minister. He received his Ph.D. in Theology and Philosophy of Religion from Princeton Theological Seminary. Before retiring he was a Professor of Religion at Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, Minnesota from 1977-1997.

Reviews

[Sasha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hyers attempt at explaining Zen humor might be well meant but in the end the book lacks in structure, consistency and tries too much to find a western equivalent to it all. It blurs the line of Congdao/Soto and Linji/Rinzai Zen and is a bit too much in the line of Suzuki Zen to find a proper definition of what Zen Humor entails. It does have interesting and insightful bits and pieces, but as a whole it glosses over too many different concepts and presents it as a unit.

[Mister Weintruab · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just love that this is what Conrad Hyers does, talks about Comedy and Religion.

It's a fire combination for all those hoes out there.

What? You don't think it's a fire combination.


Smh...

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Over 180 pages on how the joke is on us, more or less.