Big Sky Mind: Buddhism and the Beat Generation

by Carole Tomkinson

Essays, poems, photographs, and letters explore the link between Buddhism and the Beats--with previously unpublished material from several beat writers, including Jack Kerouac, Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, Gary Snyder, and Diane diPrima.

Genres: Buddhism, Poetry, Religion, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Spirituality, History

352 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Teacherhuman · Rating 5 out of 5]

A most excellent read--which happily includes a wonderful anthology of the Beats' work.

[Jon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has turned me on to Philip Whalen who I previously thought of as a marginal Beat writer. It has also given me a little bit more of an understanding, though I was already aware, of the Buddhist influence on Jack Keroauc, Allen Ginsberg and especially Gary Snyder's work.

Whalen was a good writer and I am enjoying his section of the book though the author does not really define "Buddhism". This book isn't meant to critically analyze this idea (i.e. the influence of Buddhism on American literature), but rather to present some writings by authors associated with the Beat movement which to the other's mind reflect a Buddhist influence or awareness.

Another defect of the book is that it does not critically or intellectually examine the fact that Kerouac's "Eastern" influence has alot of Hinduism and hindu theology in it as does Ginsberg's.

[Sherry · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overview about how the Beat generation influenced Buddhism in America and how Buddhism also influenced the Beat authors. Reading the Beat authors got me interested in studying Buddhism myself, so that is why I bought this book in the first place. I really liked that all the authors works were collected in one place for you to see. Some writers I had only heard about, but never read before. I recommend this book.

[ADRIANA HAUSMANN · Rating 5 out of 5]

what can I say I love beats, of all kinds. Heart beats, beets, BEATS, Mindful beats. Great read. Lots of views, little dogma. Cool.

[Robert Bagnall · Rating 2 out of 5]

All credit to Tonkinson for curating this drivel, but that’s exactly what this is: drivel.

[Margaret Gray · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate what Prothero tries to do in the introduction, but I think that he pushes a little too hard to legitimize the Beat Generation as spiritual poets. Just because one aspect of something has been ignored for a long time doesn't mean that you should pretend all the other, "louder" aspects don't exist. The entire thing was about how Kerouac was this great, real life Buddhist, but then Prothero mentions (in passing) that he gave up practicing after a few years... ok... anyway the beat poets are cool... I guess

[Louie From · Rating 2 out of 5]

An attempt to cash in on the beat generation. Waste of time.