BANKEI ZEN: Translations from the Record of Bankei

by Peter Haskel

Bankei Translations From the Record of Bankei, by Peter Haskel Softcover book published by Grove Press, 2nd printing

196 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

Reviews

[Ihor Kolesnyk · Rating 4 out of 5]

Вчитель дзен Банкей для мене є прикладом безпосереднього досвіду у практиці. Це той спалах у все більше бюрократизованій традиції японського дзен, де значення мали люди, спілкування із ними, засвідчення їхньої буддової природи Ненародженого. Не книги, сутри, авторитети, цитати, канони, а живий досвід засвідчення та присутності у бутті. Тому цей вчитель мене дивує і колись, якщо складуться обставини, його проповіді будуть перекладені українською.

[Nik Maack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish it.

Instead of a biography, a translator just takes random texts and translates those. Lectures, poems, letters from childhood. All mixed together. There are often parts that repeat. Unborn mind. Unborn mind. Unborn mind.

I actually got 60% of the way through the book when I reached the section "words and deeds (miscellaneous materials) Bankei's childhood".

The idea of reading more mixed up miscellaneous stuff, particularly from his childhood, just stopped me.

Bankei is a zen teacher with a single philosophy. Stop being "born into your thoughts". Don't fight them. Don't let them control you. At first I thought this meant don't have any thoughts at all. The text is actually somewhat unclear.

While I appreciated the stories and lessons enough to read most of the book, it drags. Unless you're a super zen nerd who worships Bankei, this book is not for you.

[Chris Zarza · Rating 3 out of 5]

"whether I'm progressing or regressing I find the motion creates a refreshing breeze..."