The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans [Paperback]

Nyogen Senzaki (Author), Genro (Commentary), Nyogen (Commentary)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 2000

Koans are the intellectually unsolvable problem-riddles at the core of the Rinzai tradition of Zen Buddhism, perhaps the most well-known one being "what is the sound of one hand clapping." Though widely recognized, most koan remain narrowly understood. In this new edition of The Iron Flute, one hundred of the most challenging and enlightening koan from the Chinese Chan (Zen) patriarchs of the Tang and Sung dynasties are presented, along with commentary from the great Zen masters Genro, Fugai, and Nyogen, and an in-depth biography of author Nyogen Senzaki (1876-1958), a pioneer in bringing Zen Buddhism to the West. The Iron Flute stands alone as the definitive work on koan-an essential pathway to the tenets and practice of Zen Buddhism. AUTHOR BIOS: Nyogen Senzaki was raised in Tendai Buddhist monastery and ordained as a Zen monk after attending Tokyo Imperial University, where he was a student of the great Zen master Soen Shoku. He moved to the U.S. in 1905 and lived in Los Angeles until his death in 1958. Ruth Strout McCandless was a student of Senzaki and his collaborator in translating a series of Buddhist texts over many years. She and Senzaki also co-authored Buddhism and Zen.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nyogen Senzaki was one of the first Zen masters to come to the United States from Japan. He has authored the Zen classics Like a Dream, Like a Fantasy, Buddhism and Zen (co-authored with Ruth McCandless), and the bestselling Zen Flesh, Zen Bones.

Ruth Strout McCandless was a student of Senzaki and his collaborator in translating a series of Buddhist texts over many years.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From AudioFile

The deepest knowledge in a spiritual tradition can be found in its stories, and in Buddhism these stories are the ancient Koans, used by Zen Monks for centuries to stimulate enlightenment. This collection of Koans was compiled by eighteenth-century Japanese Zen master Genro, who, along with his disciple, Fugai , and a living Zen master, Nyogen Senzaki, comments on each Koan. The lessons are timeless, thought provoking, and utterly satisfying to hear, especially as condensed here and read with so much compassion and authority by McLeod. Listening repeatedly makes them sound even richer and more connected to the heart of what spiritual seekers want. A treasure, deeply soothing to the ear as well as the soul. T.W. © AudioFile 2003, Portland, Maine-- Copyright © AudioFile, Portland, Maine --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 168 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080483248X
• ISBN-13: 978-0804832489
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,032,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Iron Flute is without Sentiment., February 16, 2005

By 

Butch (From the American Heartland.) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans (Paperback)

Zen Koans serve as a metaphor for principles of reality that go beyond the private opinion of one person. Koans are not solipsistic puzzles. They are public cases, reality is whole. Koans are a type of irrational alarm clock used to wake us from our rational minds. To wake us from duality to nonduality so that we are present and accounted for.

It is better to realize the meaning of a Koan than to interpret it. Interpretation is a rational function. One must learn to turn the light around, to make the inside the outside, to make the two one. Realization is a wholistic function that includes the rational as well as the irrational aspects of our being. Koans are more intuitive than intellectual. Pure intellection has a tendency to see things as distinct pairs of inimical opposites. Good versus evil. Intuition knows things don't exist separately from each other, that seeming opposites are the polar expression of an underlying unity. Though a rope has two ends it is one rope. The heart that unites is superior to the mind that divides.

What is the sound of one hand clapping? What is the sound of nonduality? In silence one may hear the clear tone of enlightenment.

Thou essence art that essence.

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 100 koans and many blows from the masters, March 10, 2004

By 

Gary Sprandel (Frankfort, Kentucky) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans (Paperback)

This collection of 100 Koans, was first compiled by Genro in the 18th century, and then is commented on by his disciple Fugai, and then by the Japanese Zen Master Senzaki who first brought Zen to America in the 20th century.

The koans are remarkable, not puzzles ... not paradoxes ... but what? And having written this, I am worthy of a blow, and perhaps you the reader of this review another blow, for there are many blows from the master to the student here. So don't place to much credence on the words, which are just the shadows. The interweaving of the 3 commentaries, can be humorous, for example Fugai entreats his master Genro "Stop! Stop! Don't try to pull an unwilling cat over the carpet.". Senzaki's commentary places the koan in context.

There is also some poetry from Genro, that comments on the Koan -- for example "A cloud rests at the mouth of the cave
Doing nothing all day.
The moonlight penetrates the waves through the night,
But leaves no trace in e water."

Nyogen says "American Zen is running sideways writing books, lecturing, referring to theology, psychology, and what not". So don't get wrapped up in reviewing it, and don't let this donkey bring it down.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A fantastic basic guide to understanding Zen Koans. If you are a student of Zen, you need this book., October 30, 2009

By 

Joseph J. Truncale "warriorwriter" (Vernon Hills, Il) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Iron Flute: 100 Zen Koans (Paperback)

As a life time student of the martial arts and Asian philosophies, I found this book very interesting and educational. In both the Soto Zen school and the Rinzai Zen school Koans are sometimes used as a learning tool for stuents. If you are a student of Zen or just someone who is interested in one of the ways Zen masters attempt to teach their students, this book is for you. In spite of all the talk about how true Zen Koans are not supposed to be mystical pizzles, you will find without the explanations given in this book, most people may become confused and lose their way.

To those who believe "Satori" (enlightenment) can come suddenly in an instant, this book may help to guide you along the path. Who knows? After reading one of these Koans, you may see the light guiding you to Satori.

Rating: 5 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: Season of the Warrior: a poetic tribute to warriors).