Customer Reviews

Two Arrows Meeting in Mid-air (Tuttle Library of Enlightenment)

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4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is one of the best explanations of Zen koans you will find. In clear and vivid language, Loori demystifies koans, making them understandable. However, judging from the other reviews, not everyone got it. To undertake koan study, Zen study, is not the same as undertaking, say, the study of literature. To study Zen is to attempt to become Zen, become the koan, become the teacher. You can't just learn about koans, you have to let your mind take the shape of each koan. You will change. In contrast, the study of literature is designed to make you a critic or a teacher, not necessarily a great writer. You won't change; you'll just be the same person with some extra knowledge. If your study of Zen has turned you into a critic of Zen masters, then you have wasted your time.

The purpose of the koan is to free the student's mind from its "normal" way of thinking.

Since enlightenment is neither in the koan, nor in the answer, how can there be a book of answers?

Only a westerner with no understanding could have written this.

Buy his book and he will take both your money and your enlightenment!

Better to break his begging bowl so that you can both attend the banquet.

This book is poorly made. The binding split in the middle half of the book, which made several pages surrounding the split very loose and eventually seperate from the binding completely. All of this after I very lightly skimmed through the middle parts of the book. The physical shelf life of this book is not to be trusted.