La via dello zen

by Eugen Herrigel, Stefania Bonarelli (Translator)

Il linguaggio è uno strumento imperfetto inventato dagli uomini per poter scambiare le proprie sensazioni. Purtroppo accade spesso che le parole facciano confondere i simboli con la realtà. Questo pericolo si palesa soprattutto quando si tenta di spiegare la dottrina zen, che sfugge a qualsiasi metodo di razionalizzazione di tipo occidentale. Il prof. Herrigel, per molti anni docente di storia della filosofia nell'università giapponese Tohoku di Sendai, è uno dei pochissimi europei, se non l'unico, cui sia stato dato d'intuire l'essenza dello zen e abbia saputo tradurne i significati reconditi in una forma a noi più intelligibile. "La via dello zen" è un'opera preziosa e insostituibile per chi voglia immergersi nel mare sconfinato della meditazione orientale, acquisendo una visione completamente diversa, serena, naturale ed eterna dell'esistenza. La conoscenza dello zen è una tappa definitiva, è la conquista di un'altra dimensione.

Genres: Philosophy, Buddhism, Zen, Religion, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Psychology

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1960

About the author

Eugen Herrigel was a German philosopher who taught philosophy at Tohoku Imperial University in Sendai, Japan, from 1924 to 1929 and introduced Zen to large parts of Europe through his writings. He was a member of the Militant League for German Culture and was committed to Nazi beliefs until he died.

Reviews

[Mark Darrah · Rating 3 out of 5]

One could write a book about the wind, but if a reader had never felt a breeze, could the reader really comprehend the motion of air?

German professor Eugen Herrigel taught philosophy at the University of Tokyo during the first half of the twentieth century. He sought to become a Zen mystic and studied with Zen Master for six years. After Herrigel's death, this book was created from private notebooks he maintained during that time of Zen practice. It was first published in the author's native language and then later translated into English. I wonder whether Professor Herrigel would have approved.

The Method of Zen provides an academic and theoretical analysis of Zen. The author notes, though, that principles of any kind are foreign to Zen and those who practice Zen live in a state of intuitive awareness. The discipline takes its students to a way of illuminated vision. In a sense, then, this book is at odds with what it attempts to teach. It reduces Zen to words.

Still, I learned from reading this short book and am glad I took the time to read it. If one wishes to approach Zen through an academic/philosophic framework, it is worth reading. A few sections of the book are difficult to comprehend due either to the esoteric nature of the discussion or the various filters the concepts go through before they make it to the English reader.

Herrigel is not free of the European framework with which he approaches his topic. He writes of salvation, a concept that seems to be derived from Christianity. In a section on the nature of love in Zen Buddhism, he fundamentally restates St. Paul's famous words on the topic from "One" Corinthians Thirteen.

In the end, I felt like one who has read a book on the wind but has never felt a breeze.

Three stars.

[Stevie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have a difficult time with the idea of a master, pastor, guru, etc. Most religions seem to have this type of person, that has a special connection that they cannot easily explain and seem to hold over the head of their followers, students, flock, etc. There are many people in my life that I can gain wisdom from that are not in such a position. I believe that anyone, through lifes experiences and gathering knowledge can obtain "enlightenment". I would assume this book does a good job of introducing the the method of Zen. I love the idea of remaining nuetral although you may disagree with someone's actions. Mind your own damn business I guess would be a way to sum up the idea. This is something that I have a very difficult time with myself. The book definitely made me think.

[Phil · Rating 2 out of 5]

Might have been better had I read 'Zen in the Art of Archery' first.

[Mani · Rating 1 out of 5]

كمتر از يه ستاره نداشت كه بهش بدم 😒

[Ivana]

It is not possible to describe and explain Zen in words alone. Herrigel agrees with that, that's why he wrote Zen in the Art of Archery. After his death, The Method of Zen was published, from his compiled notes. And it explains Zen.

[Pamela · Rating 3 out of 5]

After being enthralled by Zen in the Art of Archery I ran not walked to this book. It is posthumously written from notes and although mildly interesting, lacking in the wonder of Zen in the Art of Archery.

[Kamal · Rating 1 out of 5]

اصلا خوب نبود شاید ترجمش بد بوده ولی من که ازین کتاب چیزی دستگیرم نشد

[Stanley Sharpey · Rating 4 out of 5]

I pursued rigorous spiritual discipline and all I got was this incommunicable experience of the absolute

[Wayward Child · Rating 1 out of 5]

The low rating that I`ve given to this book doesn`t mean it`s in fact bad or even that I think it`s bad. It just reflects my personal impression and how I felt while reading it. I`m not even going to try to pretend that I`ve understood half of what was written. That would be an act of hypocrisy. Of course, a subject as deep and complex as Zen Buddhism is certainty not an easy one to grasp, at least not for me. If one wishes to understand it fairly well, a trip to Japan is inevitable. I did some previous research on the subject, of course, but that is still not enough. One has to immerse oneself completely into something like this to be able to understand it. I don`t have the will to do that. I only read this book out of curiosity, not because I believed I could possibly understand the logic or faith behind it just by reading it. I wouldn`t want to anyway. Something about all those "yes, but no", "self, but not self" and all the other contradictions mentioned puts me off.
It`s not that I didn`t like the subject, but I`ve read many different books that have explained even the deepest complexities of Zen Buddhism in a fairly simple way, whereas this book kept going in circles, jumping from one thing to the next without a bit of connection.

[Jake · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked up this book because I enjoyed Herrigel's "Zen in the Art of Archery", which is one of the best books on Buddhism that I've read. This brief volume is really more an addendum to that previous book than a work that stands on its own- I think it was published after Herrigel's death from a series of notes he had written on various aspects of Zen practice. For what it is, it isn't bad- although some of the prose suffers from translation from the German. I particularly liked Herrigel's description of satori, which of course is a kind of oxymoron, since satori is one thing that cannot ever be described. Despite that impossibility, I still learned something from Herrigel's essay about it, and I think my appreciation of his earlier book was deepened by reading this one.

[Rich Yavorsky · Rating 3 out of 5]

'Method' is an efficient introductory survey of Zen Buddhism for a Western audience, published posthumously. Topics such as meditation, breathing, koans, the arts, satori, enlightenment, compassion, etc. are covered.

Nowhere in this book do I see any hints of Herrigel's life as a member of the Nazi party: a mysterious and unfortunate double standard to be sure. On its own, the book has enjoyable merit.

[Me · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book introduced me to Zen 27 years ago. After reading this book, I never left the dharma train. At the time, finding Buddhist books was difficult. The county library and the book store had few books on the subject.

Today, there are much better books to read on the subject, but this short read is worth the time.

[Ramesh Natarajan · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was bowled over by Zen in the Art of Archery, so I ordered this one straight away... About halfway through now. This one reads more like a textbook; no comparison with the first book. Anyway, Eugen Herrigel didn't exactly write this book - it's an edited form of his notes.

[Vi · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very brief book about Zen Buddhism written from an adept. The book is organized as a series of vignettes about meditation and enlightenment that loosely tie together. There is little explanation of how one achieves Zen.

Quick read, but not a very deep read.

[J. Harvey · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh....caked with some less than useful information, a good primer for understanding Zen, not so much for practice.

[Tom · Rating 2 out of 5]

nice overview of the whole process of a life devoted to zen. a bit dated in style, but nice to have a less ethereal book on the subject.

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this book if and only if you want to learn about Zen philosophy.

[Bornbazie Flame · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good companion when your without your bag.

[John Mccullough · Rating 5 out of 5]

Many do not seem to like this book. I found it extremely instructive although, along with "Zen in the Art of Archery" were my introductions to Zen.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Any book must be written with worids or images; words and images completely fail to explain Zen.

The bit on meditation was hrlpful.