Customer Reviews

The Art of Just Sitting: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza

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

 

 

The book is identical to the First Edition, with the one difference being that all of Thomas Cleary's translations have been yanked out and replaced with versions by other translators. I assume there is some doctrinal or sectarian infighting going on that made such an editorial decision necessary. But if you're buying the book because the Editorial Reviews section on Amazon mentions Cleary's name, AND you are a Cleary fan, then order a copy of the First Edition, still readily available.

Both editions are impeccable and adamantine of course. One is just Clearyless.

Roshi John Daido Loori has assembled the single most comprehensive treasury of writings on the subject.

Often misunderstood, the practice of shikantaza is authoritatively presented and carefully examined in two dozen essays by Chinese, Japanese, and American masters, along with an appendix of six seminal classic texts.

This volume, spanning the centuries since Shakymuni Buddha to the present day, will prove indispensable to meditators and scholars alike.

John Daido Loori has given us a rare treasure.

For those who fear being crushed under the weight of John Daido Loori's arrogance - fear not. This book is a fasinating display of writings from various masters. While the theme of each essay is the practice of Shikataza we are also offered a smorgasbord of other insights. The excellent editing of this book provides the reader with an assembly of some of the best Zen writings to be found under one roof.

Folks, The Art of Just Sitting, Second Edition: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Shikantaza should be basic reading for anyone new to Zen. It is a collection of essays and commentaries on zazen (sitting Zen, or sitting concentration) written by masters from China, Japan, and the West. Each brings a different perspective to bear on the subject, and the collection is quite illuminating (so to speak).

The editor, the late John Daido Loori, has assembled a wonderful collection in this small volume. The English translations are very colloquial and easy to read. I recommend this book most highly.

Having said all that great stuff, please understand that Zen is something you do, not something to read about for abstract study. Ergo, The Art of Just Sitting provides background, and is NOT a substitute for proper instruction by a certified teacher. If you live in a community of some size, get thee to a sitting group or Zen center and learn proper technique. It will take, gee, at least 10 minutes to learn proper posture and the beginnings of zazen mindfulness techniques.

I also recommend Sitting with Koans: Essential Writings on the Zen Practice of Koan Study - also edited by Loori - but only after getting something of a handle on zazen, the basic practice of Zen.

This is certainly not a book for somebody looking for a general introduction into zen budhism. But for those more accustomed with zen writings there is really much to find in this book. Everybody will enjoy to find new aspects of "shikantaza". The classical writings are welcomed, too, although not all are about the art of just sitting. So the book looks just compleat. Or is it? One point left me slightly annoyed: not one of the numerous modern authors comes from Europe. Seems like the Bush administration, J. Daido Loori is fine with the US and the old Europeans do not count. But there is a large and active school of Soto Zen in the tradition of Dogen in Europe, thanks to many years of teaching of T. Deshimaru Roshi, a disciple of Kodo Sawaki. A pity that none of his successors from Spain, Italy, France or Germany was invited to participate. Future editors of such books should do better.