Holding the Lotus to the Rock: The Autobiography of Sokei-an, America's First Zen Master

by Michael Hotz (Editor)

Sokei-an Sasaki (1882-1945), in many respects, was the original Dharma Bum: a sculptor, poet, Zen student, and journalist, whose favorite subject was America. He arrived in San Francisco in 1906 with the mission of bringing Zen to America. After his teacher returned to Japan in 1910, he wandered alone through the American West and lived a wild bohemian life in the Greenwich Village of the Roaring ‘20s. His accounts of his childhood in Meiji, Japan, his struggle to transform himself through Zen, his experiences teaching Zen to New Yorkers — which led to the founding of the First Zen Institute of America — his run-in with the FBI, and his internment on Ellis Island are all conveyed with charm and humor in this autobiography of one of the great pioneers who introduced Zen Buddhism to America. Photos are included.

272 pages, Hardcover

First published April 13, 2003

Reviews

[Maurice · Rating 3 out of 5]

This autobiography by Zen Master, Sokei-An, who brought Zen to the West, is a bit all over the place for me. How many times does he say, this is the only time I need to say that, and then he goes on for pages more of the same thing? Maybe the editor should have been more on top of it. Sokei-An does have a good poem on page 130: in part "...In the pearl of evening twilight the lotus hides her heart of fire."
Another poem: "I have a window opened for my tea. May drifts in from the treetops."

"In Buddhism there are two gates: One is the Buddhism which is unspeakable--nothing which can be expressed by human words. The other gate is very sweet, like a honeydew melon. Through this we get art, science, philosophy, and drama."
For a student of Zen, this book is a valuable resource.

[Shaun Tubert · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing read about an amazing human. More of the world should know Sokei-an.

[Sal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating to read what San Francisco, Medford, Oregon, Seattle, and the West Village NYC was like from 1906-1945 from the stance of the first Japanese Zen master to live and teach in America. Wish I was there. It's pretty good right now, but wish I was there to experience it first hand.