An Introduction to Zen Training: Sanzen Nyomon [Hardcover]

OMORI Sogen (Author), Dogen Hosokawa (Translator), Roy Yoshimoto (Translator), Trevor Leggett (Introduction)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0710305346 | ISBN-13: 978-0710305343 | Publication Date: May 15, 1996 | Edition: 1st English ed

When Buddha Said that We suffer because of our attachments, he was describing the condition in which we view the world from the perspective of our ego, that part of us that sags fundamentally we are each individual, apart from all that surrounds us. Buddhism in general is a religion that leads to a deeper perspective, that all existence is part of the Whole. While many people find that a meaningful belief, Zen Buddhism takes a slightly different position: don't believe a lofty religious ideal. All of you - flesh and blood, thoughts and emotions - can experience the Whole directly at all times and under all conditions. The process by which this experience unfolds is called Zen training. Introduction to Zen Training is a translation of a text by one of the foremost Japanese Zen teachers of the 20th century, providing an overall view of the nature of this training. Omori Sogen Rotaishi's approach to this training was unique. Having trained rigorously from his youth in Zen, swordsmanship and calligraphy, he became a sword teacher and ultimately advisor to the Japanese Cabinet prior to World War II. Following the war, he became a priest and continued his work as a teacher and court magistrate. His approach to Zen was very direct and physical as befits a martial artist, but he was also known for his compassion. This text was written to both provide a solid introduction to the physical nature of training - how one's breath, pain, posture, drowsiness, state of mind, and physiology all take part- as well as the context in which it takes on meaning. In the first two chapters, he discusses the rationale for zazen, the form of meditation that is the foundation of Zen training. Although seemingly a simple activity, zazen is not just "quiet sitting", and it is valuable to see it so thoroughly defined. The next chapter provides solid instruction in how to sit zazen, how to adjust the breathing, the posture, the state of mind. But this is just a starting point. Introduction to Zen Training is one of the few books to then go on to discuss many of the questions that naturally arise as one begins to train, ranging from how long you should sit at a time to how to maintain concentration when not sitting. As a martial artist, Omori Rotaishi was uniquely able to illustrate his points by drawing upon the vigorous tradition of Zen and the martial arts that flourished during the samurai era. But his scholarship in both Chinese and Japanese Zen is no less informed and he is able to bring alive many of the traditional teaching stories as well. The book ends with commentaries on two Zen texts that help to place all of the instruction into context. Hakuin, the reknown Zen Master of 18th century Japan, wrote the text Zazen Wasan (A Song of Zazen) to make zazen understandable in everyday terms to the common people of his era. Omori Rotaishi takes the same text and makes in meaningful to our era. He finishes by using the traditional Ten Ox-herding Pictures to once again show the rigor and physicality of Zen training. Translation of the text was done by Boy Yoshimato and Hosokawa Dogen Roshi. Yoshimoto was a Ph.D. candidate in Japanese literature at Columbia University and a long-time Zen and sword student at Daihonzan Chozen-ji, the temple founded by Omori Rotaishi in Honolulu, Hawaii. Hosokawa Roshi, dharma successor of Omori Rotaishi, is the Abbot at Daihonzan Chozen-ji. Overall supervision was provided by Tanouye Tenshin Rotaishi, dharma successor of Omori Rotaishi. Tanouye Rotaishi was the first Abbot of Daihonzan Chozen-ji and became Archibishop upon the death of Omori Rotaishi in 1994.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Japanese

About the Author

Omori Sogen (1904—1994) began his formal training in Zen, kenjutsu (traditional swordsmanship), and calligraphy in his early twenties, and was a widely respected sword teacher and advisor to the Japanese Cabinet. After WWII, he entered the priesthood in the Tenryu-ji Rinzai lineage. For the next forty years he continued to teach swordsmanship, calligraphy, and Zen, while also writing twenty books and serving as a court magistrate, eventually becoming President of Hanazono Daigaku, the principle Rinzai university in Japan. He established the International Zen Dojo in Hawaii and founded Daihonzan Chozen-ji in Honolulu—the first headquarters temple in Rinzai Zen established under canon law outside Japan.

Sanzen Nyumon was translated from the Japanese by Hosogawa Dogen Roshi--Abbot of Daihonzan Chozen-ji and a dharma successor of Omori Sogen Rotaishi—and Roy Yoshimoto.

With an introduction by Trevor Leggett, author of A First Zen Reader, Zen and the Ways, and many other books on Zen, Taoism, and Asian philosophy.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 310 pages
• Publisher: Routledge; 1st English ed edition (May 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0710305346
• ISBN-13: 978-0710305343
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #792,082 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen training Tutor, December 3, 2000

By 

M. A. Ramos (Florida USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: An Introduction to Zen Training: Sanzen Nyomon (Hardcover)

Introduction to Zen Training, Sanzen Nyumon is one of the few books to address the many questions that naturally arise as one begins to train. Questions range from the elementary of how long one should sit at a time to the more intensive of how to maintain concentration when not sitting. Omori Rotatishi was best able to convey his points by drawing upon his vigorous training as a martial artist of the samurai era and his scholarship in both Chinese and Japanese bringing to life the many traditional Zen teaching stories.

The book provides an introduction to the physical nature of training, discussing ones state of mind, the physiology, breath, posture, pain, and drowsiness. Training is placed in a context which gives sitting meditation depth and breadth. Sanzen Nyumon discusses the rationale for zazen, the foundation of Zen training. Zazen, while seemingly a simple activity, is not just "quiet sitting" and its value remains in fully understanding the subtleties of the activity. The book also provides instructions on how to sit zazen, and how to adjust one's breath, posture and mental state.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen in the Samurai spirit, February 12, 2003

By 

tony kansarns - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Introduction to Zen Training (Paperback)

This is a no nonense guide to zen training by a very hard man.I say hard-he was perhaps harder on himself than anybody else.Omori Sogen really drives home the amount of effort required to practice zazen.Practising the way Omori Sogen teaches will give real benefit in daily life.As he says if you are no use to society then what use are you?This hard Rinzai training is not suitable for everyone-it requires firm discipline to train in this manner-but its a thing worth doing.In these troubled times this practice can bring peace of mind and make people useful members of society.Its worth reading the biography of Omori Sogen by Hosokawa Dogen[available from Amazon]to get a real feel for the man and his teaching.If you want some touchy-feely type of meditation then dont buy this book.Life is hard and cruel but one can still have peace of mind.It sometimes requires that one is hard to oneself to get it.

5.0 out of 5 stars Rinzai zen for the beginner, March 28, 2011

By 

K. E. Solomon - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: An Introduction to Zen Training (Paperback)

I am reading this book as part of a course of training I'm invoved in and it has been very helpful. I have sat zazen for many years and so the posture and breathing parts weren't as useful. I also feel it's very important to have a good teacher on the path in regard to the actual physical part of sitting. I found the other parts about Buddhism, specifically Rinzai Zen to be very interesting. I liked the metaphors; for example, sitting in a cave when you sit with eyes fully closed. I was raised in a very martial environment as well. I think for some people, who have a more relaxed, "American" attitude, this style may be too strict. But for me it feels right. But find a good teacher; that's the most important thing in Zen.