Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life [Paperback]

Ray Brooks (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 2000

How did an undisciplined child, an utter waster in his twenties who squandered the best part of his early life away in the pubs, wine bars, and nightclubs of London, find himself playing solo concerts in Japan on a Zen flute? This book began out of a response to that question. Blowing Zen is the story of the author's search for an authentic life. The path he follows leads to a wonderful spontaneity that fuses art, mind, body, and spirit. It was written in the hope that at least one person with thoughts of changing their life will be inspired into action.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

How does an electrical engineer from London find himself playing the flute on a hillside in Japan? Ray Brooks had had a piece of the good life, after all--high salary, late-night parties, fast cars. But in his late 20s, he did some soul searching, only to find that, spiritually speaking, the lights were on but no one was home. Some radical changes took him to Japan and a chance encounter with a master player of the shakuhachi, the Japanese vertical flute. He took it up and simultaneously absorbed the single-minded Zen discipline that seemed to imbue all facets of Japanese life. Brooks tells the story of his life in Japan, of his journey up the hill of gambatte (perseverance), and of his experiences in Japanese culture, such as his chat with a marathon monk and his not-quite-voluntary performance for members of the Japanese mafia. The title Blowing Zen refers to Zen monks who used flute playing as their meditative practice. One wishes more could have been made of this in Brook's memoir, of his own relationship to Zen and how exactly his life has become authentic. But perhaps this is too much to ask when the ineffability of music is coupled with the ineffability of Zen. --Brian Bruya

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: H.J. Kramer (January 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0915811855
• ISBN-13: 978-0915811854
• Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,233,515 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definetly NOT the Road Less Travelled!, March 22, 2000

By 

Micky J Roberto (Langfiordo, Italia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life (Paperback)

In superb Kerouacian fashion, Blowing Zen teaches the reader more about the incredible enlightment and joy of living in the moment than any textbook on zen or buddhism. A must read for anyone itchy to travel but can't and for those who need to be reminded of why we're all here in the first place.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One man's spiritual journey, February 6, 2000

By 

acltaos (Taos, NM, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life (Paperback)

I was fortunate to meet Ray Brooks during a book signing event in Taos. I was touched by his warmth and by the almost palpable feeling of well-being that emanates from him. "Blowing Zen" tells the true story of how Ray found his bliss (and a new career) through "shakuhachi", the art of the Zen flute. The book is a great read, not only for Ray's account of his experiences, but also for his highly descriptive style that puts the reader right there with him. His sensitivity for foreign cultures and practices is refreshing. I recommend this book without reservation for its delightful style and uplifting message.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excerpt from my review, March 8, 2000

By 

Bruce Jones "peke owner" (San Diego, Calif.) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life (Paperback)

Aside from the shakuhachi enthusiast reader, the experiences with the shakuhachi Brooks relays in the book, along with his minor forays into Zen philosophy, make the book an interesting read for people unfamiliar with the shakuhachi. Blowing Zen is made considerably more interesting by the fact that Brooks didn't set out to explore either Zen or the shakuhachi. He's a bit more like someone who decided to go for a stroll, learned that a hiking staff made walking easier and then discovered (in both senses of the term) himself on a pilgrimage.