Customer Reviews

The Whole World is a Single Flower: 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life with Questions and Commentary

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Wow, I can't believe that no one has ever reviewed this book; the reviews must have been lost in cyberspace. What can I say about a book that I refer to everyday since its release in 2000? I am deeply indebted to Zen Master Seung Sahn (Sŭngsan) for his life long commitment to spreading the Dharma, I miss his physical presence deeply. This collection of Kongans (Japanese: Koans) is a gift that has allowed me to slowly come to terms with my own delusions. My teacher, Zen Master Robert Moore, as with many of the other dharma heirs of Zen Master Seung Sahn, uses this collection to teach their Zen students. Contained in its pages are many interesting kongans that have come from everyday life, and as a living, breathing document, it allows us a glimpse of our own true nature.
To some it may be just a collection of Zen stories; however, the questions following each of the stories become foundational to understanding your true self. If you haven't read `The Whole World is a Single Flower,' order it today and you won't be sorry. Even if you have never practiced Korean Chogye Zen Buddhism, you may find that these new kongans can challenge even a seasoned student of Zen Buddhism. It is with humbleness and gratitude that I highly recommend this book.

Zen Master Seung Sanh iterally materialized in front of me at Walden Pond one day in 1988 and my life hasn't been the same since. All of his students bear the imprint of his strong teaching. His emphasis on maintaining absolute openness to life as it is, his willingness to challenge us at our most stuck places, and his compassion and love were all inspiring. These things all shine in this book.

This koan collection brings together many traditions: Seung Sanh was not shy about bringing in the basic teachings of Taoism and Christianity into his Zen Buddhist world, and we all benefit from that ecumenical spirit.

Take these koans as daily questions. Try living your day with the koan in the back of your mind, try looking at everything you do, all of your thoughts, through the lens of that koan. You may find your eyes will open and you'll see things differently. I was never good at koan practice with Seung Sanh. But I still use this book. If you buy it, it's likely you will, too.

This collection does not take the place of the more traditional koan collections from China and Japan (The Blue Cliff Record, the MuMunKan, etc.); it should be viewed as a supplement.

I also strongly recommend Sengh Sanh's "Compass of Zen" as one of the most provocative presentations of Buddhist cosmology and practice.

As Seung Sanh would say, "Only do it!" And he said that long before Nike coined its slogan!

Andrew Weiss, author
"Beginning Mindfulness"

This is a great collection of koans, but after reading the book, I realized I would need a Zen teacher to really learn how to attain enlightenment via koans.

I jused to sit Zen with the Kwan Um Zen school in Herfølge, Denmark. In that connection one of my Sangha brothers gifted me with "The Whole World is a Single Flower". Even though it has now been some years since we have been together in the Sangha I still take the volume down from my bookshelf once in a while - and always with a feeling of expecting to meet a very old friend. Love, Juri.

after you leave a retreat, you may not remember the koan that a zen master asked you. at least not in complete detail. this book contains many koans that are used in koan (kong-an) practice. if you're stuck on a koan and can't seem to remember exactly how it was phrased, you can refer to this book.

Compiled by a great contemporary Zen Master with Westerners in mind. If you're interested in kong-ans (aka koans), this is as [in]comprehensible as it should get.