Awakening to Zen: The Teachings of Roshi Philip Kapleau

by Philip Kapleau, Polly Young-Eisendrath Ph.D. (Editor), Rafe Martin (Editor)

This comprehensive volume of writings and lectures spans thirty-two years of this popular teacher's career, from 1964 to 1996. Topics include Zen training and practice; Buddhist ethics; illness, death, and dying; and Zen in America. Roshi Philip Kapleau underwent thirteen years of formal training in Japan with two of Japan's most noted Zen masters, Harada Roshi and Yasutani Roshi. Roshi Kapleau returned to the United States in 1966 and has made it his life's work to translate Zen Buddhism into an American idiom.

Genres: Zen, Buddhism, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

A teacher of Zen Buddhism in the Sanbo Kyodan tradition, a blending of Japanese Soto and Rinzai schools.

Reviews

[Andy · Rating 4 out of 5]

. M

[Logan Flood · Rating 3 out of 5]

Awakening to Zen
Logan Flood
Block 3
Living life from moment to moment.
Ethnography is the scientific study of a specific culture. Awakening to Zen relates to Ethnography because, in depth, Roshi Philip Kapleau describes the journey that he took to reach full enlightenment, and how others can reach enlightenment as well. Throughout this novel, Roshi gives multiple examples of Koans, which are paradoxical riddles that are used to provoke enlightenment. Each Koan has a different purpose, and teaches Buddhist students how to think about specific situations. The sixteen precepts of Zen constitute the basic code of ethics for Buddhism. “The fourth precept is not to lie but to speak the truth”(Kapleau, 78). This is of the two most important precepts along with the sixth precept, not to speak of the misdeeds of others. Lying has been defined as the telling of an untruth with the intent to deceive. One must refrain from lying to reach full enlightenment because these precepts cannot be broken if you want to succeed. “The sixth precept, not to speak of the misdeeds of others, is for many people tough to uphold”(Kapleau, 82). It is so easy for people in this world to gossip about others, even gossip that contains a little malice. Speaking of the misdeeds of others is the second most important precept because it is very hard to keep yourself from doing so. To reach full enlightenment, one must stay true to the precepts of Zen because to reach full enlightenment, one must not break the rules of the precepts.