Path to Bodhidharma (Tuttle Library of Enlightenment) [Paperback]

Shodo Harada Roshi (Author), Pricilla Daichi Storandt (Translator)

Book Description

Series: Tuttle Library of Enlightenment | Publication Date: July 15, 2000

When studying ancient Eastern philosophies, it is a rare opportunity to learn the art directly from a living master. Shodo Harada Roshi is one such legend-he attained dharma transmission from Yamada Mumon Roshi and went on to become abbot of the Sogen-ji monastery in Okayama, Japan, where he has taught ever since. Now Zen students of all levels can glean from Harada's wisdom in this modern classic of Zen literature. With clear, accessible language, and a special section in which Harada answers real questions from Zen students, The Path to Bodhidharma deserves a place on the bookshelves of all students of Zen, philosophy, and life.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Shodo Harada Roshi was born in 1940 in Japan. He began his Zen training in 1962, and trained under Yamada Mumon Roshi for twenty years, at which time he was given dharma transmission and was made abbot of Sogen-ji monastery in Okayama, Japan. He has been teaching ever since, and is the author of Morning Dewdrops of the Mind: Teachings of a Contemporary Zen Master (North Atlantic Books). Priscilla Daichi Storandt is also the translator of Morning Dewdrops of the Mind: Teachings of a Contemporary Zen Master.

Product Details

• Paperback: 202 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; First Edition edition (July 15, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804832161
• ISBN-13: 978-0804832168
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,187,780 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent, May 3, 2002

By 

Reader (Ny, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Path to Bodhidharma (Tuttle Library of Enlightenment) (Paperback)

bodhidharma is THE icon of zen buddhism, and this provides a clear, unpretentious approach towards him, which can hopefully strike a personal chord of hope and determination instead of just idolatry. when looking for effective zen books (which is like looking for sharp knives), content which emphasizes simplicity in language and directness of thought are always best. this is among them.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If you are going to read at the doorway before walking through, this seems like a good one, January 28, 2009

By 

Steve973 (Ellicott City, MD USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Path to Bodhidharma (Tuttle Library of Enlightenment) (Paperback)

My Zen teacher disapproves of reading books about Zen and Zen practices, but I would imagine that we all do some reading here and there on our journey. Sometimes we are looking for inspiration, or looking for some phrase to turn a light bulb on just a little brighter on something that we don't fully understand yet. So, it seems that there can be some good that comes from reading books about Zen, as long as we don't cling to the words that we have read, and as long as we don't let those words create expectations in our mind.

All that being said, I enjoyed this book. Instead of a bunch of philosophical meanderings, Shodo Hirada Roshi encourages practice. Since Zen is practice-oriented, this is a good thing. I suppose it doesn't hurt that the book was written by a person that many consider to be one of the most respected teachers in Zen Buddhism today. Perhaps it is a little bit like learning rock guitar from Jimi Hendrix, writing from Shakespeare, or martial arts from Bruce Lee. Those are fantastic people from whom to draw inspiration and method, but practice is still every bit as essential.

So, definitely read this book, and be sure to talk it over with your Zen teacher.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Playing with matches, July 12, 2007

By 

Jaime McLeod (Lewiston, ME United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Path to Bodhidharma (Tuttle Library of Enlightenment) (Paperback)

"The Path to Bodhidharma," by Shodo Harada Roshi, is a mind-blowing book on Zen practice I picked up on the advice of three different Buddhist monks - one Rinzai, one Soto, and one Shingon (that sounds like the makings of a "... walked into a bar" joke). Right now, I can't even formulate an intelligible response to this text. All of my reaction so far has been centered squarely in my gut. The closest thing to words I could offer at this point would be something along the lines of "ugh!"

One of the afrementioned monks compared this book to the writings of Dogen. I agree. The sensation of language-defying illumination I've experienced while reading this book, coupled with a sense that I'll have to reread the material many times over to truly understand all of its levels, is something I've often felt while reading Dogen. Harada's writing style is also very similar to Dogen's, relying on a mixture of illustrative classic stories and koans, personal anecdote, and uncompromising exhortation.

Dogen said to practice zazen "as though your hair were on fire." This book is like a lit match. It's not spoon-fed Zen for "I'm OK, you're OK, let's all hug our inner children" Buddhists. It's "Get up off your butt (or, rather, sit down on it) and get down to business, NOW, NOW, NOW! What are you waiting for? Wake up!" Zen.