Zen Teaching, Zen Practice: Philip Kapleau And The Three Pillars Of Zen [Paperback]

Kenneth Kraft (Editor)

Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Weatherhill; First Edition edition (March 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0834804409
• ISBN-13: 978-0834804401
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,004,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Reviewing ourselves, May 8, 2005

By 

Hakuyu "Ikeda" (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Zen Teaching, Zen Practice: Philip Kapleau And The Three Pillars Of Zen (Paperback)

The articles in this book, edited by Kenneth Kraft, were contributed by eleven people who studied and practiced Zen under the aegis of Philip Kalpeau Roshi, whose seminal guide - 'The Three Pillars of Zen' - and personal example, did much to put authentic Zen practice on the map in the West. As such, this text deserved more than the scathing remarks found in the single Amazon.com review to date. It attempts to assess the fruits of Kapleau's teaching and influence. By extension, it serves as comment on the legacy of Kapleau's teachers, Yasutani Roshi and Harada Roshi.

While the collection of essays edited by Ken Kraft can be read as an independent work, the 'retrospective' nature of this material is best digested in light of the aspirations found in Kapleau's seminal work (The Three Pillars of Zen) - which inspired the contributors. The opening article by Albert Stunkard details something of the background to Kapleau's own quest - including their meeting with D.T. Suzuki in post-war Japan. Mostly written in an informal style, all of these summary-essays have something interesting to say. It is salutary to note that one contributor - Rafe Martin, reflected on his concern over the bearing that intensive Zen practice might have upon his children. Happily, if the verdict of a practitioner from the next generation (Josh Schrei, Chapter 5) is anything to go by, the diligence of his parents' generation has commanded respect, rather than contempt. Without making a big deal out of it, Schrei contrasts the spirit motivating his parents' quest, with the 'pop-spirituality' now found in some quarters, promising 'seven easy steps to enlightenment,' financial abundance, or to fulfil the search for ideal soul-mates etc. As against the dubious 'mix -n' -match' approach, for which 'spirituality' is merely an accessory, Schrei notes the 'no-frills' spirit behind Zen and its uncompromising refusal to pander to egotistical whims.

Still, otherwise diligent practitioners - not least Kapleau himself, have had to concede that Zen will undergo certain modifications in the West. The 'vertical' or 'hierarchical' authority structure of traditional Zen temple life seems fated to acquire a more diffused, horizontal dimension. Contributors such as Bodhin Kjolhede, Sunyana Graef and Mitra Bishop, who carry on the mantle of Philip Kapleau, have had to tread the delicate line between innovative 'adaption' and the danger of dissolution. Mitra Bishop asks if American Zen is 'too comfortable'? - citing the rigours she faced, training in Japan. Be that as it may, almost all the second generation Zen teachers in the West are exploring ways to adapt their teaching methods to the needs of their students. If you are interested in Zen as a practice, this book will put certain things in better perspective. It is, above all, an honest book. But to get a feel for the background against which it was written, I strongly recommend taking a careful look at 'The Three Pillars of Zen.' We would all be poorer, spiritually speaking, without the substantial contribution that Philip Kapleau made to the growth of Zen Buddhism in the West. This collection of essays is a fitting tribute to P.K. and his work.

4.0 out of 5 stars View Three Pillars of Zen in Its Context, July 27, 2009

By 

Paul "review king" (I travel) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Zen Teaching, Zen Practice: Philip Kapleau And The Three Pillars Of Zen (Paperback)

"Three Pillars of Zen" has to be viewed in the context of its time -- the period of the "spiritual supermarket," when Werner Erhard's est was first arousing controversy, the Hare Krishna devotees were selling stuff in airports, etc. In the context of the times, the Rochester Zen Center may have been rather sane and sober in comparison. Judging it against the standards and climate of today is not entirely fair. We've had much more experience with Buddhism and with adapting it to American culture. Kapleau's tradition heavily emphasized the kensho experience and so had the Rinzai-zen flavor of rigorous striving. The use of the stick had its rationale in this context, but is a bit archaic. It is more suited to the austere warrior spirit of the traditional Japanese martial arts dojo than it is to modern day urban America or Japan. Kapleau's contribution should be viewed with balance and nuance, drawing lessons for today, while recognizing what was good in the basic impulse

8 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars What's Enlightenment Got To Do With It?, January 9, 2004

By A Customer

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This review is from: Zen Teaching, Zen Practice: Philip Kapleau And The Three Pillars Of Zen (Paperback)

A valuable companion to the 'Three Pillars of Zen', helps
curb one's enthusiasm for the brand of zen that the
Three Pillars arouses.

This book also wont do much to heal the rift between
the zennies and the traditonalist buddhists who
unfortunately see such zen as truly heretical and un-buddhist.

The book shows us behind the scenes of the community that arose in the
wake of Three Pillars, and all the neurotic 'seeking' after
some neurological catharsis / post-traumatic-stress-disorder
experience of 'enlightenment'.

The account by the person
who grew up as a child in this weird environment, watching
all the anxious and serious sleep-deprived
adults hurrying around in silence
and getting beaten by sticks and yelled at until they
broke down or broke through, makes one appreciate the average
Christian sunday-school as an environment for kids.
(Though, the Pentecostals might compete in the yelling
department, not sure about the sticks.)

There was little mention that I could see about the
casualties of this practice, those who must have
suffered actual psychological trauma as a result.
It makes me wonder if the book isn't a little too
sanitized, as far as being a representative
retrospective.

Kapleau's heir, Bodhin's comments
about not getting the point of Suzuki-roshi's Soto Zen are
pretty enlightening as well. As much as the Three Pillars
stimulated my own neurotic 'seeking' after neurological

kundalini mutation some years ago, I can now appreciate
not having been subjected to the practices described in
this book, but instead doing a little gardening,
cleaning the toilets, and getting hit with the stick
only when I asked for it.

I hope to God I never become a zen 'master', or
a yoga 'master', for that matter. The whole cultic
notion of 'masters' is pretty sickening to me now,
and this book just reinforces my opinion.

No wonder Hakuin was beaten with a broom!