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Wild Ivy: The Spiritual Autobiography of Zen Master Hakuin
Hakuin Zenji, also known as Hakuin Ekaku (1689–1769), is often referred to as the "father" of the Japanese Zen Rinzai school. His reforms revitalized the school, ensuring its endurance even to our own day. A fiery and dynamic teacher and renowned artist, Hakuin reemphasized the importance of zazen, or sitting meditation, in his teaching.
This intimate self-portrait of the Zen master includes reminiscences from his childhood, an account of how he came to practice Zen, and a description of his enlightenment experiences.
This intimate self-portrait of the Zen master includes reminiscences from his childhood, an account of how he came to practice Zen, and a description of his enlightenment experiences.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
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Hakuin Ekaku
12 books14 followersHakuin Ekaku (白隠 慧鶴), also known as Hakuin Zenji, was one of the most influential figures in Japanese Zen Buddhism. He is regarded as the reviver of the Rinzai school from a moribund period of stagnation, refocusing it on its traditionally rigorous training methods integrating meditation and koan practice.
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
March 11, 2025
Even if you’ve never heard of the profound old Renaissance-era Zen Master Hakuin, chances are you know someone just like him in your own life.
I know I did...
Hakuin was one of those guys who, even as a young lad, was besieged and hounded by a vicious swarm of personal devils.
So God laid it all on the line to the restless kid:
“Your mission, kid - should you choose to accept it - is to set out on a Quest.
“Your Quest will be simply to bear that screaming load of obstreperous devils, which you somehow agreed to yourself to so patiently carry on your accepting back, until you arrive at Mount Doom.
“There you will cast the whole lot of them, lock, stock and barrel, into the bowels of the Fiery Pit...
“And therein find everlasting Peace.”
Now, Hakuin was no fool.
But it was plain that God was right - so he set out on his lifelong mission.
You know, a bright wag once said there is an easy way to understand the word Atonement.
Quite simply, it is the way you find that final state At-One-Ment.
Peace. Heaven. Nirvana.
However you call it, it is the Pot of Gold Beneath the Rainbow - after our own prolonged lifelong storm.
And Hakuin found it.
Here he tells you how.
As his own struggle reached a thundering crescendo and his nightmares mushroomed - just like they did for that poor struggling mouse in the Sorceror’s Apprentice of Disney’s Fantasia, besieged by endlessly multiplying mops and buckets - his Master appeared.
With the antidote.
What a lucky break!
That’s the poetic gist of it, anyway. For the REAL story of Hakuin’s successful mad struggle you’ll have to read this book.
And yes, I knew someone just like Hakuin in my own life.
Relentlessly driven by that great force within her that Percy Shelley would call her Daemon, that driving force of creativity which arose in reaction to her own load of unfriendly demons (and we all have ‘em) she sought her own redeeming Morning Star till the end.
Facing increasingly insurmountable obstacles of multiplying mops and a deep pit of desperation in her life, she persevered through it all.
But I’m happy to report that, like Hakuin, she found Peace just before she died.
For it was at that blessed moment when my forever wife and I were joined in wedlock -
You see, at that moment, approaching her own Mount Doom, my Mother laid to rest her Daemons...
Because she saw that she had at last found Safe Haven for her Wayward Son:
And six months after she died, I started dealing with my own devils -
By undertaking a course of instruction that would lead to my admission into the Catholic Church.
I know I did...
Hakuin was one of those guys who, even as a young lad, was besieged and hounded by a vicious swarm of personal devils.
So God laid it all on the line to the restless kid:
“Your mission, kid - should you choose to accept it - is to set out on a Quest.
“Your Quest will be simply to bear that screaming load of obstreperous devils, which you somehow agreed to yourself to so patiently carry on your accepting back, until you arrive at Mount Doom.
“There you will cast the whole lot of them, lock, stock and barrel, into the bowels of the Fiery Pit...
“And therein find everlasting Peace.”
Now, Hakuin was no fool.
But it was plain that God was right - so he set out on his lifelong mission.
You know, a bright wag once said there is an easy way to understand the word Atonement.
Quite simply, it is the way you find that final state At-One-Ment.
Peace. Heaven. Nirvana.
However you call it, it is the Pot of Gold Beneath the Rainbow - after our own prolonged lifelong storm.
And Hakuin found it.
Here he tells you how.
As his own struggle reached a thundering crescendo and his nightmares mushroomed - just like they did for that poor struggling mouse in the Sorceror’s Apprentice of Disney’s Fantasia, besieged by endlessly multiplying mops and buckets - his Master appeared.
With the antidote.
What a lucky break!
That’s the poetic gist of it, anyway. For the REAL story of Hakuin’s successful mad struggle you’ll have to read this book.
And yes, I knew someone just like Hakuin in my own life.
Relentlessly driven by that great force within her that Percy Shelley would call her Daemon, that driving force of creativity which arose in reaction to her own load of unfriendly demons (and we all have ‘em) she sought her own redeeming Morning Star till the end.
Facing increasingly insurmountable obstacles of multiplying mops and a deep pit of desperation in her life, she persevered through it all.
But I’m happy to report that, like Hakuin, she found Peace just before she died.
For it was at that blessed moment when my forever wife and I were joined in wedlock -
You see, at that moment, approaching her own Mount Doom, my Mother laid to rest her Daemons...
Because she saw that she had at last found Safe Haven for her Wayward Son:
And six months after she died, I started dealing with my own devils -
By undertaking a course of instruction that would lead to my admission into the Catholic Church.
May 9, 2018
An honest account of an anxious boy becoming a pillar of Zen. Hakuin has no respect for the nondualist schools at the time, but is also struggling with his own meditation sickness. A fascinating blend of practical Daoism and Zen.
January 16, 2022
Ancient Japan certainly produced some fine characters, and with a mixture of adventure, Buddhist ethnography and legend, helps produce a sumptuous tale. A very insightful read and i understand that not many autobiographies are written in this mould, therefore, on this basis, worth a read.
June 27, 2011
Can you see the entire sky in a rain drop? Hakuin introduced me to the Zen koan. Thanks Hakuin.
October 23, 2015
Awesomeness. Hakuin was an 18th century Japanese Zen monk who was extraordinarily fierce in his pursuit of enlightened perfection and in his derision for paths that, in his estimation, led astray. His descriptions of his struggles with fears, doubts, and "Zen sickness" are fascinating. And then there is priceless invective like this: "These people, true to their words, do not do a single thing. They engage in no act of religious practice; they don't develop a shred of wisdom. They just waste their lives dozing idly away like comatose badgers, useless to their contemporaries while they live, completely forgotten after they die."
March 8, 2015
I was intrigued as to why there were so many people saying this book was a bore. I thoroughly enjoyed it. It gave a great insight into the life of a Zen Master in the 17th Century (I think it was 17th...). It isn't a book on Zen, say like Charlotte Joko Beck's Everyday Zen (which is superb, by the way), so don't expect to have many satoris whilst reading it... but it definitely shone a light on an area for me that up until now had been left in the dark.
November 28, 2021
Not many biographies of Zen teachers especially ones of the same prominence are available with such detail. Hakuin really maps out his whole journey from a countryside priest to the most famous Zen master in Japan. Using his own story and experience as a foil he presents the whole of the path from the pitfalls and important points of practice, aspects of meditation, student-teacher relationships, the practice of koans, etc.
February 3, 2023
This is in my top ten favorite zen books. Hakuin’s writing is poetic, and his endearing commitment to the Way is beautiful. What sets this one apart is his autobiography, scathing review of false teacher priests (seems things don’t change much) and the teaching on insight meditations for healing. Many bows to his legacy.
May 19, 2021
Very interesting classic. So many interesting and liberating ideas. More detailed review to come.
November 6, 2021
Cool manz.
January 22, 2025
I think this is a very interesting read as something that really lays down the criticisms of priests, monks and the practices of the times, and what someone like Hakuin genuinely believed was astray with Zen.
However, it seems clear that Hakuin was an awful person, and a great example of why Buddhism might as a whole simply not work if this is the conclusions that it leads you to. For how much Hakuin speaks against corruption, his concept of corruption seems very narrowly addressed towards anything that simply is what he doesn't preach.
For everything that Hakuin teaches, he seems very content in laying down what others ought to do, while himself spewing ridiculous stories and taking advantage of someone else's death to justify his beliefs.
For example, in the very beginning he tells the story of a girl who had died, saying that her sister has communicated she is burning in hellfire for being taught "silent illumination" by priests.
Does this seem like a reasonable criticism of 'silent illumination'? Are you now convinced that this is a poor practice?
Does this seem like a reasonable dharma or karma? Why would someone burn in hell for being taught something wrongly?
For any answer you have to this, would you be convinced that you were wrong if I told you, "well, actually, I met a guy who was possessed by a fox spirit, and he told me your answer is wrong, so there you go."
If anything it goes to show that Hakuin is a great practitioner of superstitions over any kind of reasonable teaching or philosophy, and in many ways he seems more akin to a fundamentalist shamanist.
For these reasons I have a lot of doubt when it comes to the rest of his assertions on doing good, and what good his practices are. Hakuin's concept of working for the good of others is very different from what you would consider doing good. It is very clear that his idea of doing good is simply teaching his teachings.
It is sad that Hakuin was so deeply traumatized in his childhood by stories of hell that it rooted his entire life in superstitions in order to avoid it. And the result seems to only have made him more judgmental of who is and isn't heading to hell. More of a "I know better" philosophy as opposed to doing good for others.
Even in the criticisms that Hakuin gets one can't help but agree with his critics and feel pity for him as he himself even struggles to make sense, and cannot help but bring his nose into other people's business and refute their claims by appealing to that they may be damned by hellfire as opposed to any kind of reason.
As he describes the "unborn Zen" as lifeless, it really seems to be a projection of himself. His inability to let go of the thought of hell leaves him a lifeless shell again and again, and he ends up projecting his own demons onto others, only seeming able to spew hate for some sense of peace.
I give this a full recommendation if you want to read something for historical purpose or context, trying to understand or learn about someone's life as this is supposed to be an autobiography. It is a fascinating recount of someone describing their nervous breakdown and anxieties in the 1700s, trying and failing repeatedly to reach a point of happiness. But as far as something interesting in terms of philosophy it's a pure zero.
I'm a bit surprised that people found this philosophically enlightening. It is a pessimistic and nihilistic text that is deeply dogmatic. There is a lot that I appreciate about Zen, but this made it clear that it is has flaws as any other path and doesn't seem to be a way to peace. I'd probably question anyone who recommends this as a serious philosophical work, Hakuin was deeply hurt by his fear of hell, and it became his teaching.
I think the real lesson here is that Hakuin was alienated for most of his life, and refused to indulge in "letting go" or any kind of practice that seemed "empty" or "alienated", because this was how he already felt. Hakuin has little to say about feeling connected to others for most of his life, but ultimately he seems able to feel at peace and connect with people once his teachings actually start to involve other people.
However, it seems clear that Hakuin was an awful person, and a great example of why Buddhism might as a whole simply not work if this is the conclusions that it leads you to. For how much Hakuin speaks against corruption, his concept of corruption seems very narrowly addressed towards anything that simply is what he doesn't preach.
For everything that Hakuin teaches, he seems very content in laying down what others ought to do, while himself spewing ridiculous stories and taking advantage of someone else's death to justify his beliefs.
For example, in the very beginning he tells the story of a girl who had died, saying that her sister has communicated she is burning in hellfire for being taught "silent illumination" by priests.
Does this seem like a reasonable criticism of 'silent illumination'? Are you now convinced that this is a poor practice?
Does this seem like a reasonable dharma or karma? Why would someone burn in hell for being taught something wrongly?
For any answer you have to this, would you be convinced that you were wrong if I told you, "well, actually, I met a guy who was possessed by a fox spirit, and he told me your answer is wrong, so there you go."
If anything it goes to show that Hakuin is a great practitioner of superstitions over any kind of reasonable teaching or philosophy, and in many ways he seems more akin to a fundamentalist shamanist.
For these reasons I have a lot of doubt when it comes to the rest of his assertions on doing good, and what good his practices are. Hakuin's concept of working for the good of others is very different from what you would consider doing good. It is very clear that his idea of doing good is simply teaching his teachings.
It is sad that Hakuin was so deeply traumatized in his childhood by stories of hell that it rooted his entire life in superstitions in order to avoid it. And the result seems to only have made him more judgmental of who is and isn't heading to hell. More of a "I know better" philosophy as opposed to doing good for others.
Even in the criticisms that Hakuin gets one can't help but agree with his critics and feel pity for him as he himself even struggles to make sense, and cannot help but bring his nose into other people's business and refute their claims by appealing to that they may be damned by hellfire as opposed to any kind of reason.
As he describes the "unborn Zen" as lifeless, it really seems to be a projection of himself. His inability to let go of the thought of hell leaves him a lifeless shell again and again, and he ends up projecting his own demons onto others, only seeming able to spew hate for some sense of peace.
I give this a full recommendation if you want to read something for historical purpose or context, trying to understand or learn about someone's life as this is supposed to be an autobiography. It is a fascinating recount of someone describing their nervous breakdown and anxieties in the 1700s, trying and failing repeatedly to reach a point of happiness. But as far as something interesting in terms of philosophy it's a pure zero.
I'm a bit surprised that people found this philosophically enlightening. It is a pessimistic and nihilistic text that is deeply dogmatic. There is a lot that I appreciate about Zen, but this made it clear that it is has flaws as any other path and doesn't seem to be a way to peace. I'd probably question anyone who recommends this as a serious philosophical work, Hakuin was deeply hurt by his fear of hell, and it became his teaching.
I think the real lesson here is that Hakuin was alienated for most of his life, and refused to indulge in "letting go" or any kind of practice that seemed "empty" or "alienated", because this was how he already felt. Hakuin has little to say about feeling connected to others for most of his life, but ultimately he seems able to feel at peace and connect with people once his teachings actually start to involve other people.
December 25, 2019
My favorite passages:
On the fear of the true and false Dharmas, especially mistaking one for the other:
“The true and the false are more distant from each other than heaven is from earth.” (68)
Self-deprecation:
“There is an old saying: ‘When a superior man speaks a thousand words, he may make a single mistake. When an inferior man speaks a thousand words, he may achieve a single benefit.’ If within this rambling nonsense of mine a single benefit is indeed to be found, it might perhaps serve as a small Dharma gift.
My writing is gross-grained, the strokes of my brush a thick, vulgar chicken-scratch. Both of them are riddled with blunders of various kinds. Characters miswritten. One word mistaken for another. I just scribble it down on the paper, make them a ‘fair copy.’ They take it and carve it onto wodden blocks and print it off. Altogether I must have written twenty books that way. No matter. Any wise man who claps eyes on them is sure to fling them to the ground in disgust and spew them contemptuously with spit.” (85)
The master Hakuyū giving Hakuin the cure for Zen sickness:
“You will never regain your health unless you are able to master the techniques of Instrospective Meditation. Just as the old saying goes, ‘When a person falls to the earth, it is from the earth that he must raise himself up.’” (92) The quote is an adage from the Ju Ta-ch’eng lun, and also appears in The Records of the Lamp of the Ching-te Era (Ching-te ch’uan-teng lu).
On the fear of the true and false Dharmas, especially mistaking one for the other:
“The true and the false are more distant from each other than heaven is from earth.” (68)
Self-deprecation:
“There is an old saying: ‘When a superior man speaks a thousand words, he may make a single mistake. When an inferior man speaks a thousand words, he may achieve a single benefit.’ If within this rambling nonsense of mine a single benefit is indeed to be found, it might perhaps serve as a small Dharma gift.
My writing is gross-grained, the strokes of my brush a thick, vulgar chicken-scratch. Both of them are riddled with blunders of various kinds. Characters miswritten. One word mistaken for another. I just scribble it down on the paper, make them a ‘fair copy.’ They take it and carve it onto wodden blocks and print it off. Altogether I must have written twenty books that way. No matter. Any wise man who claps eyes on them is sure to fling them to the ground in disgust and spew them contemptuously with spit.” (85)
The master Hakuyū giving Hakuin the cure for Zen sickness:
“You will never regain your health unless you are able to master the techniques of Instrospective Meditation. Just as the old saying goes, ‘When a person falls to the earth, it is from the earth that he must raise himself up.’” (92) The quote is an adage from the Ju Ta-ch’eng lun, and also appears in The Records of the Lamp of the Ching-te Era (Ching-te ch’uan-teng lu).
December 29, 2022
1 part Kerouac's "On the Road", 2 parts Trumpa's "Crazy Wisdom" wrapped the within the fervour and purpose of a Bodhisattva.
At times hilarious and cheifly profound, this is an important book as raw as the path Hakuin stepped. The honest humility, delivered as acerbic self recriminatory quips remind us that us mortals** fueled by purpose, discipline and energetic resilience can fullfill great works.
This book will be one to revisit often.
Spoiler Alert: a surprise Daoist provides pivotal guidance that allows Hakuan to transcend both Rinzai's psycologization and Taoism's materialism - in service of 4 noble truths.
** In contrast to especially talented people.
At times hilarious and cheifly profound, this is an important book as raw as the path Hakuin stepped. The honest humility, delivered as acerbic self recriminatory quips remind us that us mortals** fueled by purpose, discipline and energetic resilience can fullfill great works.
This book will be one to revisit often.
Spoiler Alert: a surprise Daoist provides pivotal guidance that allows Hakuan to transcend both Rinzai's psycologization and Taoism's materialism - in service of 4 noble truths.
** In contrast to especially talented people.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 23, 2025
Superb! It is a pleasure to read the supremely relatable autobiography of Zen master Hakuin. Biographies of Zen masters and saints can sometimes feel exaggerated and often elide all too human struggles. Not this one.
This book could be compared to Augustine’s Confessions although the practicality of Hakuin’s Introspective meditation techniques and his sense of humor are utterly unique. For those who are not patient and would like to know this secret technique, Hakuin emphasizes that “The golden rule in the art of sustaining life is always to keep the upper body cool and the lower body warm.”
Reading Hakuin’s lines truly did feel like encountering an old friend in a far-off land. 🙏☸️
This book could be compared to Augustine’s Confessions although the practicality of Hakuin’s Introspective meditation techniques and his sense of humor are utterly unique. For those who are not patient and would like to know this secret technique, Hakuin emphasizes that “The golden rule in the art of sustaining life is always to keep the upper body cool and the lower body warm.”
Reading Hakuin’s lines truly did feel like encountering an old friend in a far-off land. 🙏☸️
January 13, 2025
One of the best books I've read shows the need for practice on the spiritual path embracing the effort/no effort paradox. Hakuin was a true master. This book is great motivation on the path. Push on even after the first glimpses of truth, and even after full realisation, keep pushing.
April 12, 2019
Save your reading time for something relevant. Way too much hocus pocus and woo-woo. Poorly translated I hope.
June 11, 2021
I had to read this for my History/International studies class. Even though it had some thought provoking ideas and I can say that I liked it it wasn't really my thing.
March 1, 2023
the soft-butter method really sells the book
August 6, 2025
Changed my life entirely.
November 19, 2025
Fierce, urgent, grumpy as all hell, and utterly compassionate and beautiful. A true pillar of Zen.
December 29, 2025
Quite readable, I believe in large part due to the translation. Very interesting to see how Hakuin writes, and to read his own version of the story of his life, one of the zen greats.
August 15, 2012
I am reading excerpts this book with my meditation group. Sorry, but this is a real snoozer, unless you are a diehard Zennie with a sense of value for historical Japanese Buddhism. So far, I have only read a number of the auto-biographical segments. Hopefully when I get to other sections, my outlook on the book will improve.
October 26, 2014
Had to read this for school and while there is a lot of thought-provoking ideas in this book, I just couldn't muster up the interest. It was rather boring and Zen is not my thing.
December 13, 2023
Hakuin was refreshingly open about his depression and angst. My takeaway was that if you have to live in a cave to feel (x), you should ask yourself why. Try walking!
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews