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Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-zen Writings
Source: Paul Reps
MSRP: $14.95 Average Cost: $12.95
When Zen Flesh, Zen Bones was published in 1957 it became an instant sensation with an entire generation of readers who were just beginning to experiment with Zen. Over the years it has inspired leading American Zen teachers, students, and practitioners. Its popularity is as strong today as ever.
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a book that offers a collection of accessible, primary Zen sources so that readers can struggle over the meaning of Zen for themselves. It includes 101 Zen Stories, a collection of tales that recount actual experiences of Chinese and Japanese Zen teachers over a period of more than five centuries; The Gateless Gate, the famous thirteenth century collection of Zen koans; Ten Bulls, a twelfth century commentary on the stages of awareness leading to enlightenment; and Centering, a 4,000 year-old teaching from India that some consider to be the roots of Zen.
Reviews of: Zen Flesh Zen Bones: A Collection of Zen and Pre-zen Writings
Review by:
Posted on October 26, 2008 9:59 PM PDT
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
Price Paid: $12.95
Recommends this product or service? Yes.
112 Meditations
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is essential for anyone interested in Zen or meditation. I had initially bought the book for the zen koans, which are wonderful, but have fallen in love with the book because of the section containing the Vigyan Bhairav Tantra (titled "Centering"). The Vigyan Bhairav Tantra contains 112 different meditations given by Shiva. Each of the meditations are simple and straightfoward (often only 1 or 2 sentences); no explanation is given as to what you are to expect. Instead, you are suppose to experiment and find out for yourself. No matter who you are, you can find a meditation that is right for you. Enjoy!
Review by:
Posted on October 16, 2008 12:37 PM PDT
1 of 1 people found this review helpful:
Price Paid: $12.95
Recommends this product or service? Yes.
The Best Intro to Zen Buddhism
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is the best single-volume Zen Buddhism anthology. Zen is foreign to Western minds due to its rejection of logic and reason. As a math and science person, I found that ZFZB helped me to think in less linear, more creative ways.
ZFZB is divided into four sections: Zen Stories, Zen Koans, 10 Bulls (an illustrated story), and "Centering", a modern essay by Paul Reps. Besides "Centering", each section contains myriad short (one page or less) snippets. This structure makes ZFZB a good book for browsing or casual reading. I kept the book by my nightstand and read a few pages every evening.
There is no better guide to Zen than ZFZB. It is not an academic introduction; it gives you direct contact with the stories and koans characteristic of Zen thinking. For anybody who wants to develop a spiritual side, ZFZB is a worthy first purchase.
