Turning Words: Transformative Encounters with Buddhist Teachers

by Alan Senauke

A poignant portrait of spiritual relationships in the diverse worlds of American and global Buddhism, through stories of over 30 luminaries including His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Joan Halifax, Joanna Macy, and more.

Across more than thirty-five years of practice in Zen and socially engaged Buddhism, Alan Senauke has had a range of remarkable encounters with Buddhist teachers and spiritual friends. Here he collects stories of moments in which someone’s words, actions, or presence opened his mind and heart in a new way. Touching on meditation, insight, social action, race, family, community, and more, these vignettes build like a chorus and convey lessons such as taking one’s work seriously without taking oneself seriously, letting things fall apart, and using oneself up on behalf of others.
 
The book’s stories and accompanying photographs feature many of the greatest Zen teachers, engaged Buddhists, and global Buddhist leaders of our day, including Robert Aitken, Bernie Glassman, Shodo Harada, Dainin Katagiri, Jarvis Masters, Ven. Sheng Yen, Sulak Sivaraksa, and many more—with a special section devoted to the teachings of Senauke's primary teacher, Sojun Mel Weitsman.

Genres: Nonfiction, Buddhism, Spirituality

152 pages, Paperback

Published March 7, 2023

About the author

Hozan Alan Senauke was an American Sōtō priest, folk musician and poet residing at the Berkeley Zen Center (BZC) in Berkeley, California, where he served as Abbot. He was an executive director of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship (BPF), holding that position from 1991 to 2001. Alan also was a founder of Think Sangha, a group of writers and intellectuals that are affiliated with the BPF and the International Network of Engaged Buddhists. Think Sangha is a group of individuals who meet together to identify some of the most pressing social issues that they feel engaged Buddhists should be addressing. Senauke, who was born to a secular Jewish family in Brooklyn, New York, arrived in the San Francisco Bay area in 1968 and soon started sitting at the Berkeley Zen Center. Along with his Dharma sister Maylie Scott, Senauke received Dharma transmission from his teacher Sojun Mel Weitsman in 1998 during a ceremony at Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.

Reviews

[Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

How words can turn us in directions that can enrich our lives and engage us more with others. A memoir of a different sort. Glad I read this.

[Paul]

Lots of good stories and wisdom and anecdotes here. I think the title and sub-title sums it up pretty well. This won't attract a large audience, but those that pick it up will likely enjoy it.

Thanks very much for the free review copy for review!!

[Mike McLaren · Rating 5 out of 5]

Turning Words: Transformative Encounters With Buddhist Teachers by Hozan Alan Senauke
Book Review

Turning Words: Transformative Encounters With Buddhist Teachers by Hozan Alan Senauke is just that. With every thumbing of the pages, the words blend into sentences that evoke images of people well known in Buddhist communities throughout the world. At once, his writing is unequivocally intimate. The profiles he includes are of people he knows, respects, and loves. A few I knew personally, most I am familiar with from my studies and reading, and from being familiar with Tassajara, and mostly because Alan was my teacher—in my mind is still my teacher, and mostly likely will always be my teacher, though many years have passed since we last sat together in sesshin.

Alan presided over the Jukai ceremony of my lay ordination, August 22, 2004. He gave me my Buddhist name: Ko Sho Myo Shin (Ancient Voice, Subtle Heart Mind). He spoke as many turning words as he writes about in his latest book.

Whether sitting one-on-one in dokusan, during a talk after a meditation session, or simply chatting after dinner in Forest Heart Temple, Alan was always of a mind to turn words into moments that snapped my mind toward new ways of seeing, thinking about, and understanding the world.

His book is about many of the moments when that happened for him. The people he writes about are a diverse lot, from his dharma sister, Maylie Scott, who created the temple where I discovered my practice, to Reb Anderson of Tassajara, his teacher Sojun Mel Weitsman, his wife, Laurie, Bernie Glassman, Robert Aitken, Joan Halifax, Thich Nhat Hahn, and a mutual friend, Bill Duvall—along with many other recognizable names. Alan even includes a marvelous and insightful profile of himself.

The writing is emotive. For anyone who has met Alan, you can feel and hear his voice. The profiles are touching, some are humorous, some are written with notes of admiration, and all are written with a voice of sincere gratitude and a deep sense of respect.

Even if you do not know of the people he writes about, their profiles offer a glimpse into how turning words work, and every profile offers a phrase that will broaden your path and hold up something to turn your thinking toward a new direction. I highly recommend Hozan Alan Senauke's book, Turning Words, and I wish you happy reading.

[Kerim Altuncu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Hozan Roshi, I am privileged to know him although in the limited space and time of an online dokusan room, has taught me a lot. The person he is teaches silently without words. And as he is healing in the hospital from a stroke, I wanted to hear his voice again. I picked up his book. I think he is best when he tells stories he is involved in. When he is in them as a mischievous young man a student or a teacher. I see that in Buddhism, students and practitioners take no self as not mentioning the self, i think this is a mistake, it's an easy way out into hiding. We are here and we have people around us, most of the time we are our center at times, and the others are our centers. But Hozan Roshi's stories shine when he is the actor, there is so much to learn and also there is so much personal curiosity from my side. Some stories didn't hit me, i am sure those stories and persons are of supreme importance and meaningful to him, but to me as the reader and the witness some of those didn't convey that intimacy. That's why its a four star as a book, but a five star nevertheless!

[Danielle Shroyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I sometimes say about Christian books that they may have been better if written by a Buddhist. They’re often too wordy and stray from the point. This is the first time I think I’ve wondered the opposite, that this book might have been better if the stories he told were not so sparse. Christians and preachers particularly can really weave a good story, and this book needs that. That’s the thing about “turning words.” They land on us emotionally and make an impact. So they do best with good storytelling, allowing us time to feel what the original hearer felt. This fell a bit flat in that department.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is like a koan - to the point, offering little that can become a lot. The book's strength and weakness is the sparse treatment of each teacher. If one is looking for an in-depth narrative on Buddhist teachers, this is not it.

I most enjoyed the brief introductions to teachers I have heard of and not heard of, as well as a glimpse of a particular gift of insight they bring to the Dharma stream. I, also, appreciate how the author taught me how "turning words" - including actions -do not have to be riddles like traditional koans. A "turning word" might be a brain-twister or not. Most are not. They are all around us.

Thanks! Peace.

[Deb Cox-Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked this very much. While I generally read in the Tibetan tradition, this was new in my semi-rural library system so I was curious. I loved what the author describes "turning words" to be- words that have make a significant difference to one's understanding and/or practice. I found some of the short memoirs more moving than others, but was really glad for the chance to read it and am considering buying a copy to re-read. Thank you, Alan Senauke!

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspirational, uplifting, comforting, thought provoking. I’ll keep this at my bedside to revisit often. I found myself folding lots of page corners so I can find my favorite passages easily. I can see myself gaining new insights with each re-reading. Each chapter is a gem. Thank you, Hozan Alan Senauke, for a beautiful gift of a book!

[Mikey The Librarian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great collection of thoughtful experiences. I learned that every monk may practice very similar but their human actions may differ in style and fashion. Great book to learn names of influential works and individuals associated with Buddhism. I’ve got a very long list of new people and books to research.

[Daniela · Rating 1 out of 5]

This books bring absolutely nothing. I’m very disappointed of every aspect of it…

[Megan Rosol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring and informative small collection about various buddhist teachers.