Customer Reviews

To Meet the Real Dragon

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I felt moved after reading this book to add to the positive reviews that it has received. Having assembled a nice little library of books on Buddhism over the years certainly doesn't make me an expert but it does put me in a position to share my reaction to this book and why it stands out from many others I have read. I have never come across a presentation of Buddhism as clear and useful as the one contained within this book. This is a book that presents Buddhism in a logical, systematic way and I find myself returning to it again and again.
Gudo Nishijima is a Zen master who has held a full time job in a Japanese company for many years. This fact impresses me in that I am able to relate to him better than other teachers who have spent the majority of their time in cloistered monastic environs. Not meant as a knock on monastic Buddhism which has its role to play for sure, but it is refreshing to know that this teacher knows what it's like to grind it out in the modern rat race with the rest of us. He also has an impressive knowledge of western philosophy and history that he uses to great effect to clarify the presentation of Buddhism here. His appreciation for science is very refreshing as well.
This is not a book that I would recommend to someone who is looking for an orthodox academic presentation of Buddhism that might be used as a textbook for a class, that would be "What the Buddha Taught" by Walpola Rahula. This book deconstructs Buddhism down to its essence and presents it logically without all the obscurity and "long windedness" found in many other books. This is one you can really take something from, it has inspired me to stop just reading about Zen and actually start practicing on daily basis.

What a revolutionary way to establish the difference between an intellectual search for the truth and real Buddhism. I have recommended this book to the rest of my Sangha since it clearly makes the point to drop thinking and ideallizing and finally take action. Practicing Zazen is action. Be a warrior, be brave enough to meet the true dragon. The Dragon legend will be the inspiration you need for your practice. Just as the Buddha Gautama, Bodhidharma and Master Dogen did, sit facing a wall and practice Zazen!
Gassho.

Most of the time Nishijima seems so simple that it is too easy. Only in it's simplicity does it become complex. Do not deify false idols, go out and meet the real dragons in your life and your life gets infinitely better. Practice, learn, then practice some more