Customer Reviews

One Bird, One Stone: 108 American Zen Stories

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One Bird, One Stone takes on three tasks. It provides an overview of the history of Zen in the United States. It introduces the reader to some of the more influential persons who contributed to the history of Zen in the United States. It offers a large number of anecdotes that together give the reader a feel for what Zen is in its North American incarnation.

This is an easy book to read (or to listen to if you have the audio edition). It is not a cold and abstract exposition of Zen philosophy. Rather, it is warm. It is a sharing of stories about people the author knows and admires.

While I approach meditation/contemplation from within the Christian tradition, it is not difficult to appreciate the compassion and grace to be found in Zen, as presented by this author. It is a good book and is worth reading.

One Bird, One Stone joins my list of favourite Zen books, along with Suzuki's 'Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind' and George Crane's 'Bones of the Master'.

Sean Murphy has written a beautiful, illuminating, funny book that resonates with the power of fresh Zen thinking. He's gathered stories from an impressive range of American Zen teachers, including a few who are famously reticent about giving interviews.

I love the stories about Bernie Glassman (in his red suspenders printed with daisies), Hung Ju's illicit berry pie and the one where Issan Dorsey is on his deathbed. When a friend says he's going to miss him, Issan asks, 'Are you going somewhere?' This is typical of the humour that runs through the book and serves to highlight the teachings.

The book gives some great details about how Beat poets discovered Zen, from Kerouac and Ginsberg to Philip Whalen. There's also a story about Zen's influence on John Cage's compositions.

This is a wonderful, inspiring book for anyone who's interested in Zen's impact on America.

An interesting book for people who like to know more about how Zen came to America, the people who promoted Zen and anecdotes about them, but a disappointing book for those how are looking for a real Zen story collection that gives you something to "chew on". According to the title of the book I expected something different.

Carefully researched, and written in a fresh, engaging style, Murphy's book puts a human face on the American Zen movement. Framed with the author's narrative of his quest for the roots of American Zen, the multi-typeface layout offers the reader the option of random meditative reading. Suitable for experienced Zen practitioners or people like me, heartened by these stories of clarity, compassion, and humor, a quiet respite from our "noisy years."

I very much enjoyed this lovely book with the
remarkably American flavor. Unlike many other zen
storybooks I've read, this one addressed the daily
life, the dharma of the western soul.

In addition to the often piquant tales related by
3 generations of zen students and teachers, we
receive a fascinating history of it's evolution in
the United States. With quotes from such notables
as Alan Watts and Erich Fromm, we also are treated
to source material such as the quotations, "No matter
where you go, there you are," and "Don't just do
something, sit there".

If you enjoy the gentle humor and wisdom of the
masters as I do, you'll find this book to be a real
treat.

I bought this originally as a gift and found it so good I bought another for myself. I also then bought it as a book on tape which is over 7 hours of unedited material.

You won't regret buying this piece of zen history in america.

This CD has changed my outlook on zen. Especially it's place in the west. It goes from story to story of the Zen Monks that have taken the risk to teach to the west.

The next best thing to being here...

Why 108 stories? Well, read "The Mysterious 108" by Justin Stone in CLIMBING THE JOYOUS MOUNTAIN. Murphy's collection seems shallow and sanitized. Try 33 FINGERS by Michael Wenger for some real modern koans & HOW THE SWANS CAME TO THE LAKE for some real stories.