Customer Reviews

The Authorized Dark Zen Meditation Manual of Buddhism

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

 

 

The sad fact of this book is the author can simply not write. It seems strange that these, suposedly Budhhist sutras were lost and now revealed. Even in the authors title "DarkZen" there is a complete contradition of terms. Zen is neither "Dark" nor "light" as duality in the Zen context does not exist at all. The book seems to borrow rather heavily from StarWars and is a silly fusion of Religon and pop-culture. If one is truely serious about Zen/Buddhism there are far beter authors than this pretender.

If I could give this book zero stars or a negative I would. Unfortunaly I will have to give it one star, that being for the attractive yellow colouring of the dust jacket. Simply put I feel sorry for anyone who gets suckered into buying this trash. To call this book Buddhism is like calling Mein Kamph Christianity. It is simply a book of hate created by small minded persons who wish to create a another cult. Dont buy into it!

By reading the editorial reviews of this book, one may get the impression that it contains unprecedented insights and groundbreaking approaches to Buddhist meditation. If so, there is something of a disappointment in store. Don't get me wrong; I believe this little book (yes it's more of a pamphlet to be honest) is a fair and adequate meditation manual. The problem is, despite the hype and exaggerated claims created by it's authors and associates, that none of it seems so shockingly different or more profoundly orthodox than other time-honoured practices, especially if one is familiar with zen/cha'an practices in particular (students of samatha-vipassana will hopefully recognize the practice immediately). I recommend a comparison with Dogen's Fukan-Zazengi, from which I have to admit I do not see any significant variance, though Dogen's work is much shorter and more difficult to penetrate.

Included in the book is a somewhat innovative translation of the famed anapanasati sutta of the Pali Nikayas. The translation varies from more run-of-the-mill works in its emphasis, and perhaps may be helpful for those who never understood "mindfulness" in its true meaning in Buddhist practice (the translator despises the word "mindfulness" as a translation for "sati,"). I'm not enough of an expert in the Pali language to judge whether or not the translation is less accurate than more accepted versions, but the sutta is still recognizeable and seems to be an effort in the direction of elucidating the true practice (which I still have to say is not utterly lost in the standard translations).

So, this book comes recommended fairly for someone who never seemed to benefit from or understand Buddhist meditation for what it is meant to be, and perhaps as an introduction. For those who are dedicated, confident practicioners of some traditional form of Buddhist meditation, this book is of questionable use, depending--of course-- on the individual, since I'm challenged to see where this book varies at all from great teachers and traditions of meditation through the ages. It may help, but more likely for the serious student it will just be a reiteration of what they have already found or been taught. For a preview of the book's contents, look over the meditation teachings at the dark zen web site.

It's truly a shame that there is no 'zero star' choice. For it would be both a beautiful embrace of the void and the perfect commentary for 'Dark Zen' in general and this book of garbage specifically. Dark Zen is considered to be a cult by the majority of Buddhist practitioners and a joke by the remaining minority. The Dark Zen web site reads as though it was created by a 12 year old in Beaverton, OR who had just watched Star Wars, skimmed a few Zen-themed books and downed 8 Red Bull sodas (while torturing his hamster). Aside from the obvious spelling mistakes and poor grammar there is an undercurrent of racism, elitism and pretty much everything that Buddhism (in general) speaks against. Pretty much anything would be better than this book in terms of learning about Buddhism. Even Snoopy makes a better Zen master than this fake.

For the first time Buddhist practice has been restored as it was taught by the Buddha. This meditation of antecedent-conjoinment in Sati and Samadhi yoking to the Unific bliss really works. I'm sick and nauseated by endless books on mindfulness and concentration by New Age scam artists looking to line their wallet and don't give a tinkers-damn about the genuine teachings and path of liberation as the Buddha actually taught it. This book works and works well. It is backed up with the first accurate translation of the Anapanasati Sutta in which the Buddha outlines the practice of liberation from cyclic samsara existence in aggregated being. Wonderful