Zen Howl

by Natalie Goldberg, Dosho Port

Zen howl is the sound of our masks falling away, teaches Natalie Goldberg. When the masks we hide behind wither and die, there is immediate intimacy between ourselves and the world. This hint of intimacy of touching something out of reach is what ignites our longing to write and our desire to practice meditation.

Genres: Writing, Zen, Nonfiction

2 pages, Audio CD

First published April 1, 2003

About the author

Natalie Goldberg lived in Brooklyn until she was six, when her family moved out to Farmingdale, Long Island, where her father owned the bar the Aero Tavern. From a young age, Goldberg was mad for books and reading, and especially loved Carson McCullers's The Ballad of the Sad Cafe , which she read in ninth grade. She thinks that single book led her eventually to put pen to paper when she was twenty-four years old. She received a BA in English literature from George Washington University and an MA in humanities from St. John's University.

Goldberg has painted for as long as she has written, and her paintings can be seen in Living Color: A Writer Paints Her World and Top of My Lungs: Poems and Paintings. They can also be viewed at the Ernesto Mayans Gallery on Canyon Road in Sante Fe.

A dedicated teacher, Goldberg has taught writing and literature for the last thirty-five years. She also leads national workshops and retreats, and her schedule can be accessed via her website: nataliegoldberg.com

In 2006, she completed with the filmmaker Mary Feidt a one-hour documentary, Tangled Up in Bob, about Bob Dylan's childhood on the Iron Range in Northern Minnesota. The film can be obtained on Amazon or the website tangledupinbob.com.

Goldberg has been a serious Zen practitioner since 1974 and studied with Katagiri Roshi from 1978 to 1984.

Reviews

[Eldra · Rating 3 out of 5]

At first, I thought, oh...Then I just relaxed into the message and found it delightful. If you are interested in writing or teaching writing, this is a little gem.

[JZ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always enjoy listening to Natalie. She makes me think more about my writing, and always cheers me up.

[Cristian Marrero · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's okay. A female teacher has to decide whether to practice zen or be a teacher. Enjoy silence? Enjoy noise? A quick short read.

[Annare · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book is very good. Good to read.

It's better not to read this book, but to listen, because of the voice of Nataly Goldberg - the author and amazing narrator (It is my opinion. It is possible, you don't like her stile of narration.)

[Maggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

second listen on 15 september 2012 -- several bookmarks of worthy ideas. write.

[Edith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Anything by her is fantastic. Great for writers. Love Natalie. She studied with Ram Dass as well back in the day.

[BLACK CAT · Rating 1 out of 5]

Noisy mind vs enlightened mind. It talks about that struggle.