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Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn
 
 
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Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn (Paperback)

~ Zen Master Seung Sahn (Author) "One day a student from Chicago came to the Providence Zen Center and asked Seung Sahn Soen-sa, "What is Zen?..." (more)
Key Phrases: student hit the floor, dry shit, true emptiness, Zen Master, Seung Sahn Soen-sa, Mang Gong (more...)
4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)

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Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn + The Compass of Zen (Shambhala Dragon Editions) + Only Don't Know: Selected Teaching Letters of Zen Master Seung Sahn
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Editorial Reviews

Product Description

“Somebody comes into the Zen center with a lighted cigarette, walks up to the Buddha statue, blows smoke in its face, and drops ashes on its lap. You are standing there. What can you do?” This is a problem that Zen Master Seung Sahn is fond of posing to his American students who attend his Zen centers. Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a delightful, irreverent, and often hilariously funny living record of the dialogue between Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn and his American students. Consisting of dialogues, stories, formal Zen interviews, Dharma speeches, and letters using the Zen Master’s actual words in spontaneous, living interaction with his students, this book is a fresh presentation of the Zen teaching method of “instant dialogue” between Master and student which, through the use of astonishment and paradox, leads to an understanding of ultimate reality.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 256 pages
  • Publisher: Grove Press; First Evergreen Edition edition (February 18, 1994)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0802130526
  • ISBN-13: 978-0802130525
  • Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (24 customer reviews)
  • Amazon.com Sales Rank: #28,540 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

    Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

    #12 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Zen Philosophy
    #21 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Buddha
    #25 in  Books > Religion & Spirituality > Buddhism > Zen

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Customer Reviews

24 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.8 out of 5 stars (24 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Just keep this don't-know mind, December 21, 2001
This early book of Stephen Mitchell's is still one of his best. Not only that, but in my own opinion (for whatever _that's_ worth) it belongs on a shortlist of genuinely helpful books on Zen -- next to Kapleau's _Three Pillars of Zen_, Reps's _Zen Flesh, Zen Bones_, Suzuki's _Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind_, and a very few others.

Seung Sahn is a hoot, and Mitchell does a wonderful job presenting his teachings (in 99 fairly short sections, mostly taken from Seung Sahn's Dharma talks and personal correspondence). This book will annoy you in all the right places.

For guidance on koans generally, I like Thomas Cleary's _No Barrier_, recently republished as _Unlocking the Zen Koan_.

(And as other readers have noted, you shouldn't buy this book for advice on sitting, because there isn't any in it.)

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13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A "Practical" Zen Bible, November 7, 2003
The first time I read this book I was stunned. I knew, I just knew, that it made sense somehow. But for the life of me, I could not figure out the "leaping logic" of ZMSS. However, I have kept it by my bedside for almost 5 years now, and a couple times a week, I pick it up, open to a story at random and again enjoy the wisdom contained within it. And believe it or not, after many years of this, I find that the stories all fit together.
This book is the perfect companion to "The Compass of Zen". (Also by ZMSS) Instead of theory, it presents various conversations and letters from the 1970's between the Zen master and his students. On more than one occasion I have found myself nodding in agreement with his students as they question and answer. Only to learn a new lesson from the master.
Now that ZMSS is no longer here in the flesh teaching us, this book is even more important, as the Zen master will be beside us always. Teaching, correcting and guiding. A must have for the serious student of Zen.
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11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Interested in Zen? Read this book!!!!, June 14, 1999
By A Customer
After reading this book about a year ago, I finally made the decision to really find out what all this zen stuff was all about. Though as someone "philosophically inclined" it took me some time to wrap my self around his "just don't know" and the like. But never for a moment was I anything but totally engrossed by his presentation. And he's funny too! What more could you want?!? A Stand-up Zen master...exactly what I've been waiting for! For a more complete presentation, check out Seung Sahn's "The Compass of Zen".
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Teachings From a Great Master
Great short teachings, short stories.

But read Master Seung Sahn's "Compass of Zen" first.
Published 11 months ago by MountainEarth

5.0 out of 5 stars The Perfect Next Step On The Path
This book is great! - and is that next step after you're done with "intro" books

I spent so much time reading "intro" books, and they've all been great - and I've... Read more
Published 18 months ago by Buster Paris

4.0 out of 5 stars Most Entertaining Book on Buddhism
This the most entertaining book on Buddhism I have every read. I found myself laughing quite a bit and breezed through the entire books with little effort. Read more
Published on September 18, 2007 by Paul S. Fratianni

5.0 out of 5 stars The dog runs after the bone.... (A good book on your spiritual journey)
"When you hear the wooden chicken crow in the evening, you will know the country where your mind was born. Read more
Published on June 16, 2007 by Arun Jagatheesan

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic Companion
I have owned numerous copies of this book; lent them out never to see them again. With most books, I don't bother to repurchase them, however I find myself wanting to pick this... Read more
Published on October 16, 2006 by L. Meunier

5.0 out of 5 stars Worth reading again
Often humorous, wonderful book taken from Korean Zen Master Seung's talks, letters and interviews with students. This is a book you can pick up time and again. Read more
Published on September 11, 2005 by J. Davis

4.0 out of 5 stars Zen for the west of us.
This book is on Korean Zen master Seung Sahn and his lecures, letters and general dialogue with students and sometimes others. Read more
Published on July 29, 2005 by J. adams

5.0 out of 5 stars Dont-know
This book is an excellent way to learn the highest teachings of Zen. It is a collection of letters, sayings, and speeches by Zen Master Seung Sahn. Read more
Published on January 31, 2005 by Peace unto you

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my favorite modern Zen books
"Dropping Ashes on The Buddha" by Zen Master Seung Sahn is a truly unique gem in the boundless sea of Zen literature. Read more
Published on October 16, 2003 by Damon Navas-Howard

5.0 out of 5 stars Help All Beings
Zen Master Seung Sahn is one of the greatest teachers of Zen to have come to the West to date. Many of his Western students are now Zen Masters teaching throughout the world. Read more
Published on March 9, 2003 by Swing King

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