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Only Don't Know: Selected Teaching Letters of Zen Master Seung Sahn

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I read this book right after 'The Compass of Zen', which are written by the same author, Korean Zen Master, Seung Sahn Sunim and the same editor, Hyon Gak Sunim, who is one of his American students. Another book, 'Dropping Ashes on the Buddha' and this 'Only Don't Know' used the same style of many corespondences between the master and his students. You might taste how other people had faced with the confusion and the attraction in the paradoxical 'gong-ans'questions in Zen Buddhism. I was also very confused about the paradoxical gong-an questions and the unclear answers at 'The Compass of Zen' like other people who wrote many letters in the book. I often felt the pradoxical questions sounded funny, but something like words play. However, when I finished reading this book, I could slightly understand why the pradoxical questions are necessary and what the main purposes are? Zen practice seems to be one of the tools to "wake up" from the ignorance of self, and then to see the self as an universal existence. To reach the point,the beginners seem to train their minds detaching from the "forms and names" that they have learned, but attaining the clear minds, "like mirrors", to be able to see the unverse as it is."form is form, emptiness is emptiness". It is still paradoxical, but it is still attract. I you are interested in Zen Buddhism, you must read it.

He isn't the first Zen teacher to offer his teaching via letters. (The teaching letters of Ta-Hui come to mind...) But has there ever been a more prolific correspondent? Until recent years, Zen Master Seung Sahn would answer every letter students or perfect strangers sent him, and bundles of letters would chase him from city to city as he flew around America in the seventies and eighties, teaching wherever the airlines would take him.

As far as Zen books go, it's good teaching with very little obscure dharma language. His talent was talking about Zen in a way non-scholarly Americans could understand and apply to their own lives. It's a lively collection of letters from a wide spectrum of students: from the sincere to the smart-aleck to the earnest and to the clueless. The teacher meets them all on their level, sometimes with very long letters including stories and koans.

Due to his concentrated, concise teaching style, the reader may find the letters repetitive. (When asked why he says the same thing over and over again, he has replied, "Did you hear it?") Some of the student letters may wear out their welcome, but they belong with the responses. Bear with it: there is good teaching throughout.

When asked about books that have influenced my life, Only Don't Know is at the top of the list. The writing is simple and direct on matters of love, happiness, and suffering.

The book was recommended to me by a colleague in the world of finance. The man seemed genuinely moved in relaying the positive impact the book had on him, including his relationships with his wife and children. Still questioning how the writings of a Korean Zen master had any relevance to my own life, I looked it upon Amazon and found the reviews were positive, so decided to give it a try.

The book is a collection of letters to and from Seung Sahn. Some are from Zen practitioners, others are not. Some are serious, some are funny. "I am a teacher and these kids are driving me crazy..."

What is particularly striking is how consistent Seung Sahn is in his responses. This is a man who clearly found his purpose or his calling. That alone makes the book worth a read. But there is more being offered. In each of the letters you will hear a little piece of yourself asking a question. And more often than not Seung Sahn's response provides practical advice on a way to find a positive relationship to the issue in question.

Admittedly, the advice is based on Zen practice, but it is not dogmatic, being more humanistic in nature. And if you can't separate the idea of the advice being based on the Zen tradition, then you can co-opt it to your own brand of religion or spiritual belief. The advice has value whatever your faith.

A few themes from the book for flavor:

1. Only Don't Know - Originally, there is not good and bad. But if you make good and bad in your mind, they you have good and bad... Before checking (filtering based on your biases and prejudices) is called go-straight mind - there is no problem. After checking, then feelings, I-my-me, and problems appear. A clear mind has no I-my-me.... If you keep clear mind, you will get happiness everywhere.

2. Love - If you cut off all thinking and keep this in mind: "How can I help?" the correct action will appear... That is great love.

3. Wisdom - Good and bad are our true teachers. If something has no opposite, then it has no meaning, no truth... Wisdom and practice are like two wheels of one cart.

***

Inspired by Only Don't Know, I went on to read others by Seung Sahn, but cannot give them the same recommendation. The Compass of Zen is a dense guide to Buddhism and Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a lesser work of teachings and letters. This is the one to read.

Hope this review helps you.

This is an important book to own if you are curious about zen practice and teaching. I've bought and given away many copies of this wonderful book to people who've had questions about finding a source of peace and happiness in their lives. Zen Master Seung Sahn had a wonderful common-sense approach to practice and his students were so fortunate to have these letters from him. I have enjoyed this book for years and turn to it whenever I lose my way.

All the books documenting the dialoges between Soensa-nim Seung Sahn and his students are masterpieces, because the words on the pages, just 30 centimeters from your eyes are themselves a living transmission of Truth, just waiting to be seen - through. "Only don't know" is no exception, it is wonderful. Love it, buy it. Juri.

To be perfectly honest, I liked this book better than "Dropping Ashes on the Buddha". Seung Sahn really comes through in this book. You would think that a book of letters wouldn't be that interesting but quite the contrary. Seung Sahn talks to many different people from all parts of the globe concerning a variety of interesting topics. He touches on many important facts regarding ZEN, Buddhism and life's everyday challenges, questions etc. It's fascinating how these little stories tie into the big picture of what we call LIFE. Every chapter stands on its own and adds something very special to the entirety of this publication. I would still recommend reading `Dropping Ashes'. I have also purchased "Wanting Enlightenment Is a Big Mistake" which will be read shortly; review to follow...

Please Note: all material is very understandable (well at least for the subject of ZEN anyway. Naturally I'm not getting into the debate of how ZEN can't be explained and so forth. Bottom line - the material and the way it's presented is very simplified and highly appreciated for its clarity and fluidity).

Anyone who reads my reviews knows I like to add a personal touch! So, with that said, one of my personal notes that I wrote after a chapter goes as follow: You must completely rid yourself of all ideas, thoughts, attachments, and situations. Clear out all things and JUST BE. If you keep correct mind - then you can do anything. Most importantly, you need to believe in you. Believe that you are all you need to be successful in whatever you do. When you are doing something - DO IT !!! If you truly ARE your activity 100%, naturally your chances of success are much higher. You can succeed at anything however; you must be clear like space and become one with what you're doing - moment to moment...

There are books that you read one time and then pass it down to a friend. Then, once in a while, there's a book that comes along like this. I would like to say thank you for everyone who was involved in bringing this wonderful collection of letters to light. It will indubitably be reread again in the future...

"Dropping Ashes on the Buddha" was a much better book in my opinion and explained his teachings better. Still, the book is not bad and was fun to read