Customer Reviews

Open Mouth Already a Mistake

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Without going into much detail I can only say that this is a profoundly grounded book on Zen and how practice can inform and help you find your center in the craziness of everyday life. The stories and anecdotes are poignant and personally relevant, even those from two thousand years ago. As a Zen "sitter" and psychotherapist I can attest that this man has experienced something that I would like to partake in. His ordinary truths and practical examples are most helpful for those of us who are also practicing "in the busy marketplace" of life. But I have errored by writing too much already, as the title explains, "Open Mouth, Already a Mistake". Try reading this one. I am not an authority, but it really spoke to something truly profound which is my understanding of the Buddha's central message, "Vow to save all beings from suffering" (including yourself). Yours in the dharma, Just an ordinary guy:).

Wu Kwang is a versatile teacher, not afraid to be scholarly, not afraid to be eloquent, not afraid to be blunt. He uses classic Buddhist and Zen stories when necessary, in addition to contemporary teachings when necessary. Exemplifying the Buddhist teaching ideal of "skillful means," Zen Master Wu Kwang brings both a wide-reaching wealth of knowledge and a strong foundation of practice to his teaching, both of which are evident in this book. It's a good read besides.

Without going into much detail I can only say that this is a profoundly grounded book on Zen and how practice can inform and help you find your center in the craziness of everyday life. The stories and anecdotes are poignant and personally relevant, even those from two thousand years ago. As a Zen "sitter" and psychotherapist I can attest that this man has experienced something that I would like to partake in. His ordinary truths and practical examples are most helpful for those of us who are also practicing "in the busy marketplace" of life. But I have errored by writing too much already, as the title explains, "Open Mouth, Already a Mistake". Try reading this one. I am not an authority, but it really spoke to something truly profound which is my understanding of the Buddha's central message, "Vow to save all beings from suffering" (including yourself). Yours in the dharma, Just an ordinary guy:).

A great book - down to earth and completely unpretentious. Zen is not easy and this book doesn't claim that it is.
How interesting that "zen buddhist" at earthlink
in an earlier review is self-described as a theravadan buddhist. It's a little like a Protestant reviewing a book on Catholicism.
For somebody who claims in another review that Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (a classic by anyone's standards as "degenerate", I give up. Before knocking the book, try to get rid of your "600+" books and give sitting in stillness and silence a chance as this book advises. And to all who highlight untiil their pens run out of ink - it's zen - not an academimc discipline!!!

Without going into much detail I can only say that this is a profoundly grounded book on Zen and how practice can inform and help you find your center in the craziness of everyday life. The stories and anecdotes are poignant and personally relevant, even those from two thousand years ago. As a Zen "sitter" and psychotherapist I can attest that this man has experienced something that I would like to partake in. His ordinary truths and practical examples are most helpful for those of us who are also practicing "in the busy marketplace" of life. But I have errored by writing too much already, as the title explains, "Open Mouth, Already a Mistake". Try reading this one. I am not an authority, but it really spoke to something truly profound which is my understanding of the Buddha's central message, "Vow to save all beings from suffering" (including yourself). Yours in the dharma, Just an ordinary guy:).

Pithy and trite.Another example of wolf in Masters robes Reviewer: zenbuddhist@earthlink.net from kentucky Another trite and pithy book written by one among a plethora of so called transmitted Masters of Seung Sahn Sunim. His masters only understand their dont know chant just as this book is. Sutras from the Nikayas and Agamas of the Buddha himself are supposedly trash compared to reading pithy commentary books such as this one.I got 1/2 of the way through this book before throwing it in the corner. My highlighter pen ran out of ink marking all the boldface contradictions to the Buddhas teachings found in the Tripitika. Seung Sahns plethora of masters get their worthless Inka papers it seems if they can parrot their Master closely enough to hoax him into beleiving they have achieved something. Pat answers to Kong ans are the norm for this lot "only this" and "dont know" among them replace the profound wisdom of the Buddha as outlined in the Nikayas. Another sad book on shikentaza , zafus and koan study as opposed to insight into the nature of Dukkha as the Buddha instructed.