What do you think?
Rate this book
The Hazy Moon of Enlightenment: Part of the On Zen Practice collection by Maezumi Roshi, Taizan, Glassman, Bernie (2007) Paperback
Excellent Book
Paperback
First published June 1, 1978
14 people are currently reading
72 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 7, 2014
On the night The Buddha died (entered parinirvana), his disciples gathered and he presented a final teaching. This final teaching is included within The Hazy Moon of Enlightenment, along with commentary by Dogen Zenji (the Hachidainingaku from the Shobogenzo - Treasury of the True Dharma Eye).
The essence of the teaching, which is core to all Mahayana practitioners, revolves around "Eight Awarenesses" which are characteristic of all enlightened persons, or buddhas - 1) Having few desires 2) Knowing how to be satisfied 3) Enjoying serenity and tranquility (having a practice of side-stepping the disturbances of worldly life) 4) Exerting meticulous effort 5) Not Forgetting Right Thought 6) Practicing Samadhi 7) Cultivating Wisdom and 8) Avoiding Idle Talk
Dogen's commentary is followed up with other commentaries by Bernie Glassman-Roshi and Taizan Maezumi-Roshi offer their own commentary and question-and-answer sections with Zen students. Approachable and of assistance to those seeking to follow the Way.
The essence of the teaching, which is core to all Mahayana practitioners, revolves around "Eight Awarenesses" which are characteristic of all enlightened persons, or buddhas - 1) Having few desires 2) Knowing how to be satisfied 3) Enjoying serenity and tranquility (having a practice of side-stepping the disturbances of worldly life) 4) Exerting meticulous effort 5) Not Forgetting Right Thought 6) Practicing Samadhi 7) Cultivating Wisdom and 8) Avoiding Idle Talk
Dogen's commentary is followed up with other commentaries by Bernie Glassman-Roshi and Taizan Maezumi-Roshi offer their own commentary and question-and-answer sections with Zen students. Approachable and of assistance to those seeking to follow the Way.
February 28, 2013
The questions are more important than the answers.
Don't intellectualize or you will become mired in delusion.
Metta.
Don't intellectualize or you will become mired in delusion.
Metta.
January 13, 2021
I can't recommend this enough to anyone who is interested in Buddhist meditation or enlightenment. I got it just so I could read "An Experience of Enlightenment" by Flora Courtois, which Shinzen Young mentions in The Science of Enlightenment: Teachings and Meditations for Awakening Through Self-Investigation. The original An Experience of Enlightenment is out of print, so this is the best way to access this unique account of awakening.
Flora Courtois was a college student in Michigan in the 1940s. She describes her path of increasing obsession with understanding what reality is. My favorite line: "Apparently by now, a number of people were becoming concerned about my unusual behavior and someone had made a telephone call." (That led to a knock on the door from student health services and an invitation for a few days' rest in the infirmary.)
It's really fascinating to see her describe--without ever having heard of them--things that Buddhist teachings (and other traditions and mystic accounts) describe, including her experience of finally awakening and the shift in her perception that happened. It was a bit stressful to read about the aftermath and the challenges of being an awakened person where no one shares your experience or had ever heard of Buddhism, but now you have been warned, so go forth and enjoy!
Flora Courtois was a college student in Michigan in the 1940s. She describes her path of increasing obsession with understanding what reality is. My favorite line: "Apparently by now, a number of people were becoming concerned about my unusual behavior and someone had made a telephone call." (That led to a knock on the door from student health services and an invitation for a few days' rest in the infirmary.)
It's really fascinating to see her describe--without ever having heard of them--things that Buddhist teachings (and other traditions and mystic accounts) describe, including her experience of finally awakening and the shift in her perception that happened. It was a bit stressful to read about the aftermath and the challenges of being an awakened person where no one shares your experience or had ever heard of Buddhism, but now you have been warned, so go forth and enjoy!
May 17, 2014
I will circle back around for another read after a couple more books down the list.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews