Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen [Paperback]

Richard Shrobe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 11, 2004

"Don't-know mind" is our enlightened mind before ideas, opinions, or concepts arise to create suffering. Practicing with don't-know mind has long been a central concern of Korean Zen. Here, an American Zen master in the Korean lineage brings the teaching to life by using stories about the Chinese and Korean Zen masters as jumping-off points for his own teaching. Don't-Know Mind is a clear, direct, and heartfelt presentation of Zen teaching applicable to anyone, both for formal practice and for all the rest of life.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Shrobe, a therapist who heads a Korean Zen Buddhist center in New York, guides students lightly through the history of that branch of Zen. He cites major teachers and their teachings, including poems, other writings and kong-ans (koans, or logic-defying riddles), then comments on and interprets them. This sketch of lineage provides a grounding glimpse of a spiritual tradition that works by challenging practitioners about their attachment to whatever grounds them or makes them know with certainty. Zen is that most slippery body of teachings about human knowing, and Shrobe does a fine job of unpacking stories and words for meaning without getting lost in the conceptualization that Zen debunks. Because explanation through concepts can be misleading in Zen, he "explains" key Korean Zen teachings through examples and stories from past master practitioners rather than using abstract ideas. ("Not explaining, not understanding is the transcendence of ideas, concepts, words and speech.") As is often the case with Zen teachers, this book is a transcribed series of talks. Shrobe's words lack the lyrical quality that often graces the spare prose of such Zen masters as Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, but his language possesses the sharp-edged simple diction characteristic of Zen teaching. (" 'Still not far off'—that is called Zen faith.") The book is short, but will be particularly helpful for Korean Zen students deepening their practice.
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Review

"Shrobe does a fine job of unpacking stories and words for meaning without getting lost in the conceptualization that Zen debunks."—Publishers Weekly

"Reading Richard Shrobe's Don't-Know Mind is like drinking a glass of cold water when you are thirsty. Clean, clear, and bright like the author himself, it brings fresh life to the teachings of Korean Zen. If you have ever grappled with how to bring the essence of traditional Zen into your everyday life, this is the book for you."—Jane Dobisz, author of The Wisdom of Solitude: A Zen Retreat in the Woods



"Wonderful! Wonderful! But too many words! How do you attain the point of these many words and speech? Go to the kitchen and drink a glass of cold water!"—Zen Master Seung Sahn, author of The Compass of Zen

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Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (May 11, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1590301102
• ISBN-13: 978-1590301104
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.4 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #148,309 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very clear introduction to Korean Zen, November 30, 2004

By 

Issa (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen (Paperback)

I don't know about the last review -- I know what s/he intends to mean, but to a beginner s/he maybe makes it sound like this is a practice about blindly following a kind of cult leader. "Close your eyes; don't look behind the curtain, this teaching is above your judgment." Maybe not so helpful.

As a teacher in a slightly different lineage of Korean Zen, I'm very happy to recommend this book to new practitioners in search of a clear, concise introduction. Although, of course, the cushion and your own life are best, if you feel you need a book, I'd also recommend Richard Shrobe's first one (written as Zen Master Wu Kwang), "Open Mouth Already A Mistake," which I must admit to happily avoiding for years because I took its title to heart.

Ultimately because no good, no bad, "Don't Know Mind" is a damn good little book.

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a fresh and illuminating book, September 28, 2005

By 

V. guelev (boston, ma) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen (Paperback)

Whether you practice zen meditation or not, this book offers a fresh and illuminating look on the somewhat mysterious practice of zen kongans, different from the customary heavyly-academic overly-intellectual 'white man' analysis .

5 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Rating this book-already a mistake!, July 15, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen (Paperback)

When reading this book, just read it! Do not make good and bad judgement about its teaching. It's always direct, clear and complete! I just bow to Zen Master Wu Kuang!