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Zen Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices
Informed by almost two decades of dialogue, research and teaching, this book refutes the mistaken premise that Zen Buddhism is more suited to people who lived all those years ago, or at least live all those miles away. Pivotal to this work is recognition that Buddhism is a mind culture. To appreciate that one is not in control of one's own mind is alarming indeed, but it is our perceptions of real and imagined threats that generate our anxieties, not an objective appraisal of the situation. Beginning with the annotated 'ox path' pictures, the gradual development of the wayward mind away from aimless wandering and towards Buddhahood is depicted and examined. Ever mindful of the legacy of India, the life and teaching of Sakyamuni Buddha are revisited as are the scriptures themselves. At every point, this book presents Zen Buddhism, not as some esoteric mystery cult, accessible only to the eastern mind, but in an animated, meaningful manner that demonstrates its purpose and function
in today's world.
in today's world.
172 pages, Paperback
First published October 19, 2005
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June 8, 2015
As opposed to many of the 'newer' writings I've read (book form and online) which tend to focus on current Zen practice having broken away quite a but from it's own past - Fowler argues it's impossible to do so and that Zen, as any Buddhism, is entirely steeped in it's past and must be viewed in it's historical context to make sense.
I think, and I am but a simple lay artist, that the state of Buddhism, as well as any religion, philosophical thought, or, life in general, is in constant flux and change, as per the author's own writings. And that his subject, in this case Zen, is as much an ancient religion as it is a completely new concept re-invented in the west.
Instead I feel the author is stuck on his ox-hearding parable and describing the 'beliefs and practices' a la his title and ends up forgetting to conclude his book, or make and further headway in the study of Buddhism, philosophically, personally, or intuitively.
Additionally, as the book goes on, we get more and more random stories from the authors personal life. They're un-noted, whimsical even, and whether fact or fiction don't seem to serve much of a point. Maybe he's trying to get his own む moment here, but it just doesn't work.
I think, and I am but a simple lay artist, that the state of Buddhism, as well as any religion, philosophical thought, or, life in general, is in constant flux and change, as per the author's own writings. And that his subject, in this case Zen, is as much an ancient religion as it is a completely new concept re-invented in the west.
Instead I feel the author is stuck on his ox-hearding parable and describing the 'beliefs and practices' a la his title and ends up forgetting to conclude his book, or make and further headway in the study of Buddhism, philosophically, personally, or intuitively.
Additionally, as the book goes on, we get more and more random stories from the authors personal life. They're un-noted, whimsical even, and whether fact or fiction don't seem to serve much of a point. Maybe he's trying to get his own む moment here, but it just doesn't work.
Displaying 1 of 1 review