Customer Reviews

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

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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.

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 .

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!

Issa was one of the haiku greats as well as a reviewer. This is a nice concise book. I vastly prefer the first although I don't understand reviewer "Issa"'s remark:

..."Open Mouth Already A Mistake," which I must admit to happily avoiding for years because I took its title to heart.

You could have tried to read it without moving your lips. ;-)