Games Zen Masters Play: Writings of R. H. Blyth

by R.H. Blyth, Robert Sohl (Editor/Introduction), Audrey Carr (Editor/Introduction)

This book presents the techniques as recorded in the most important Zen texts, with commentaries to aid the Western reader. The object us not to alter Zen for Western consumption, but to make Zen accessible to the West. In do so, it takes its place as one of those key works that are making Zen an increasingly potent force throughout the world today.

Genres: Philosophy, Zen

169 pages, Paperback

First published February 1, 1976

About the author

Reginald Horace Blyth was an English author, interpreter, translator, devotee of Japanese culture and English Professor, having lived in Japan for eighteen years.

Reviews

[Tao · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Zen means doing ordinary things willingly and cheerfully."

[Perf · Rating 5 out of 5]

a great short introduction to Zen literature, by a key figure in the Dharma transmission to the West, RH Blyth, a contemporary of Alan Watts, and a colleague of DT Suzuki. This book is an anthology of RH Blyth's works. It has three main subject areas: a key sutra with commentary (Hsin Hsin Ming), Mondo stories, and Koan stories (from Hekigan-roku). The only thing lacking in this volume as an introduction to Zen is the nuts and bolts of daily meditation practice, i.e. howto shikan-taza, with cushions and bells and timing and breath following and arising and passing away of thought bubbles. The book 'Three Pillars of Zen' covers the mechanics of Zen sitting, and has some Dogen works as well, which this volume is missing. But as a short readable intro to the reality of enlightenment and its variations accessible to anyone regardless of knowledge level this book is invaluable.

[Graden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. I took some really good quotes away, but there were incoherent contradictions.

I expect paradoxes in Zen, but I don’t expect incoherency and I don’t expect these contradictions to go without being addressed.

I’m a newbie to Zen and I went in overzealous. This book helped me to see a lot of what’s wrong with Zen. Every religion has its flaws to go along with its good parts. Life is hard. 🙏

[Samuel Binns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buddha is a dried shit-stick.

[Charles · Rating 4 out of 5]

A find from a dusty shelf corner. I had forgotten that this book was written by R H Blyth. Blyth wrote Zen in English and Oriental Literature, a key book in my study of Buddhism and Zen. A happy find.

[thewarinkansas · Rating 5 out of 5]

i love love this

[David Linsday · Rating 5 out of 5]

A perfect Puzzle Book that can be re-opened anytime and put together another way.