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BANKEI ZEN: Translations from the Record of Bankei
Bankei Translations From the Record of Bankei, by Peter Haskel Softcover book published by Grove Press, 2nd printing
196 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
December 28, 2024
Вчитель дзен Банкей для мене є прикладом безпосереднього досвіду у практиці. Це той спалах у все більше бюрократизованій традиції японського дзен, де значення мали люди, спілкування із ними, засвідчення їхньої буддової природи Ненародженого. Не книги, сутри, авторитети, цитати, канони, а живий досвід засвідчення та присутності у бутті. Тому цей вчитель мене дивує і колись, якщо складуться обставини, його проповіді будуть перекладені українською.
November 23, 2025
Didn't finish it.
Instead of a biography, a translator just takes random texts and translates those. Lectures, poems, letters from childhood. All mixed together. There are often parts that repeat. Unborn mind. Unborn mind. Unborn mind.
I actually got 60% of the way through the book when I reached the section "words and deeds (miscellaneous materials) Bankei's childhood".
The idea of reading more mixed up miscellaneous stuff, particularly from his childhood, just stopped me.
Bankei is a zen teacher with a single philosophy. Stop being "born into your thoughts". Don't fight them. Don't let them control you. At first I thought this meant don't have any thoughts at all. The text is actually somewhat unclear.
While I appreciated the stories and lessons enough to read most of the book, it drags. Unless you're a super zen nerd who worships Bankei, this book is not for you.
Instead of a biography, a translator just takes random texts and translates those. Lectures, poems, letters from childhood. All mixed together. There are often parts that repeat. Unborn mind. Unborn mind. Unborn mind.
I actually got 60% of the way through the book when I reached the section "words and deeds (miscellaneous materials) Bankei's childhood".
The idea of reading more mixed up miscellaneous stuff, particularly from his childhood, just stopped me.
Bankei is a zen teacher with a single philosophy. Stop being "born into your thoughts". Don't fight them. Don't let them control you. At first I thought this meant don't have any thoughts at all. The text is actually somewhat unclear.
While I appreciated the stories and lessons enough to read most of the book, it drags. Unless you're a super zen nerd who worships Bankei, this book is not for you.
August 18, 2026
Bankei is probably the most "down to earth" zen master. Seems there has been some contention over the years as to whether he's actually a zen master or not. His teaching is very direct, as say, compared to the new testament, in all parables and riddles. Bankei is VERY direct and doesn't try to hide his teaching. His parables all without exception resonate deeply on first read and leave no room for doubt. So I consider him a zen master for simplicity's sake.
Only knocking one star due to structure of the book. It does get a little repetitive on the same thing over and over again. Though that could be a good thing. Reads like many random sermons/talks throughout his life thrown together. Which isn't necessarily bad. Some stories hit much harder to me than others, and I assume it's the same for everyone.
Only knocking one star due to structure of the book. It does get a little repetitive on the same thing over and over again. Though that could be a good thing. Reads like many random sermons/talks throughout his life thrown together. Which isn't necessarily bad. Some stories hit much harder to me than others, and I assume it's the same for everyone.
September 29, 2012
"whether I'm progressing or regressing I find the motion creates a refreshing breeze..."
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews