“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.
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
25 of 27 people found the following review helpful
By John S. Ryan
Format:Paperback
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.)
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
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.
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.
15 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
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".
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
astonishing book!
One of the best mindfulness/Buddhist based books out there in my experience. It really has the ability to shape your thinking.
Published 1 month ago by Jessica Heering
5.0 out of 5 stars
His first and best - a unique book
Echoing many other reviewers: this book is great. It's funny, it's. serious. It's the voice of a Korean Zen master who has just arrived in the US (written in 1977), just-learned... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Mark Sillman
5.0 out of 5 stars
For Beginners and Not For Beginniers
I read this book many years ago. It was probably the 2nd or 3rd book about Zen I read. Up to that point I had not practiced zazen. Read more
Published 6 months ago by tyson
5.0 out of 5 stars
Glad to have it on Kindle
Dropping was one of my favorite paperback books from a long time ago. I needed space but didn't want to give up the book. What to do? Read more
Published 13 months ago by Bal Simon
5.0 out of 5 stars
I ask you: what is love?
A zen student asked Seung Sahn: 'What is love?', Seung Sahn replied, 'I ask you, what is love?'. 'I dont understand' replied the student. 'You ask me, I ask you, this is love. Read more
Published 14 months ago by nonamespecified
4.0 out of 5 stars
I DON'T KNOW !!!
Very interesting read indeed... I found the intermittent cursing to be quite humorous. It's without a doubt - an entertaining, and mind boggling adventure. Read more
Published 18 months ago by Jim Martin
5.0 out of 5 stars
"If you say yes, I will hit you thirty times. If you say no..."
If you say no, I will hit you thirty times" will repeat often. Here's the type of "dharma combat" as carried out by Sahn. Read more
Published 19 months ago by John L Murphy
5.0 out of 5 stars
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha
Wonderful read...at times hilarious!
I'm almost finished reading, and can't wait to start from the beginning again. Read more
I'm almost finished reading, and can't wait to start from the beginning again. Read more
Published 21 months ago by Sol Yun
3.0 out of 5 stars
The teachings... all the same , all different
One ought to be a student of some time to appreciate the teachings of this book.
I would not call it a beginners book. Read more
I would not call it a beginners book. Read more
Published on April 16, 2011 by Dogen
3.0 out of 5 stars
only keep DON'T KNOW mind
Thirty years ago, I met this Korean guy in a 3-day retreat. I was intimidated because well, that is what you do with a zen master. Read more
Published on July 22, 2010 by D. Townsell
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
17
books
cite this book:
See all 17 books citing this book
- The BOOK OF JOB by Stephen Mitchell in Back Cover
- The Selected Poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke (English and German Edition) by Rainer Maria Rilke in Back Cover
- Tao Te Ching by Stephen Mitchell in Back Cover
- The Gospel According to Jesus: A New Translation and Guide to His Essential Teachings for Believers and Unbelievers by Stephen Mitchell in Back Cover
- The Teaching of Buddha (English and Japanese Edition) by Society for the Promotion of Buddhism on page 171
- The Gospel According to Jesus: A New Translation and Guide to His Essential Teachings for Believers and Unbelievers by Stephen Mitchell in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- The Enlightened Heart: An Anthology of Sacred Poetry by Stephen Mitchell in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
- In Search of Grace: A Journey Across America's Landscape of Faith by Kristin Hahn in Back Matter
- Capacity: History, the World, and the Self in Contemporary Art and Criticism (Critical Voices in Art, Theory, & Culture Series,Vol 1) by Thomas McEvilley in Back Matter
- Thousand Peaks: Korean Zen: Tradition and Teachers by Su-nim Mu Seong in Back Matter
See all 17 books citing this book
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