What Is Zen? examines Zen's religious roots, its influence on Eastern and Western culture, its transcendent moments, and the methods of Zen meditation that are currently practiced.
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Introduction and Synopsis of Zen,
By
This review is from: What Is Zen? (Paperback)
This book is another in a series of great books that are compilations of lectures of the late Alan Watts by his son Mark. It is an excellent introduction to Zen, and it is also a very good synopsis for those who have studied Zen in detail for many years. With his typical genius for getting to the heart of the matter, Dr. Watts describes exactly what is the essence of Zen in the first chapter. Later on he even gives a tip for understanding the sometimes puzzling behavior of that unique species of human beings, the Zen master. Watts stresses the need for us to set up an environment where we can stop thinking or talking to ourselves, which is meditation, and he clearly describes a good technique for doing this. The state of mind that is a result of this suspension of thought is not a blank mind, but rather a mind that is deeply aware of the world as it is. Finally, Watts sums it all up by showing us how the Zen mind is not only a mind that can most effectively deal with those infamous Zen koans, but also with all of life's situations. I recommend this book to the beginner as well as the seasoned veteran of Zen studies. It is short, to the point, and a brilliant expression of the essence of Zen.
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Introduction and Synopsis of Zen,
By
This review is from: What Is Zen? (Paperback)
This book is another in a series of great books that are compilations of lectures of the late Alan Watts by his son Mark. It is an excellent introduction to Zen, and it is also a very good synopsis for those who have studied Zen in detail for many years. With his typical genius for getting to the heart of the matter, Dr. Watts describes exactly what is the essence of Zen in the first chapter. Later on he even gives a tip for understanding the sometimes puzzling behavior of that unique species of human beings, the Zen master. Watts stresses the need for us to set up an environment where we can stop thinking or talking to ourselves, which is meditation, and he clearly describes a good technique for doing this. The state of mind that is a result of this suspension of thought is not a blank mind, but rather a mind that is deeply aware of the world as it is. Finally, Watts sums it all up by showing us how the Zen mind is not only a mind that can most effectively deal with those infamous Zen koans, but also with all of life's situations. I recommend this book to the beginner as well as the seasoned veteran of Zen studies. It is short, to the point, and a brilliant expression of the essence of Zen.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
What is Zen,
By
This review is from: What Is Zen? (Paperback)
A remarkable book in description and clarity for the western reader. Once this has
been read you'll only wish to read more.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
Yet Zen has nothing to say about what that energy is, and of course this gives the impression in the minds of Westerners that it is a kind of "blind energy." Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Zen Mind, Zen Reconsidered, Simple Way New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Yet Zen has nothing to say about what that energy is, and of course this gives the impression in the minds of Westerners that it is a kind of "blind energy." Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Zen Mind, Zen Reconsidered, Simple Way New!
Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 5
books:
20
books
cite this book:
See all 20 books citing this book
- The Book: On the Taboo Against Knowing Who You Are by Alan Watts in Back Matter
- The Way of Zen by Alan W. Watts in Front Matter
- Outlines of Mahayana Buddhism by Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki in Front Matter
- Mahayana Buddhism: A Brief Outline by Beatrice Lane Suzuki in Front Matter
- The Spirit of Zen: A Way of Life, Work, and Art in the Far East by Alan W. Watts in Front Matter
- Still the Mind: An Introduction to Meditation by Alan Watts in Front Matter (1), and Front Matter (2)
- Touching the Wall - Entering the Steam by Karen J. Kobrin Cohen on page 25, and Back Matter
- Zen to Go: Bite-Sized Bits of Wisdom by Jon Winokur in Back Matter
- Confessions of a Raving, Unconfined Nut: Misadventures in Counter-Culture by Paul Krassner on page 40
- Asian Religions in America: A Documentary History by Thomas A. Tweed on page 191
See all 20 books citing this book
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