Roaring Stream (Ecco Companions) (Hardcover)

~ Nelson Foster (Author) "back, upstream, from time to time. It suggests the mystery of its coming down to us-something so yielding, so diffuse, in many respects so vulnerable..." (more)
Key Phrases: one bright pearl, nonsentient beings expound, gozan monasteries, New York, The Blue Cliff Record, Thomas Cleary (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Now, thanks to Zen teacher Foster and Shoemaker, the editor in chief at Counterpoint, the masterpieces of Zen Buddhist writings are available in a single volume. The editors include writings from the Chinese Ch'an Buddhism out of which Zen grew as well as poetry and other writings foundational to the Japanese Zen traditions. The collection gathers voices as diverse as Bodhidharma, the Indian Buddhist monk who brought Buddhism and tea to China, and Basho, the great Japanese Zen haikai poet. Each selection is introduced by a brief essay setting the writers in context. Because of its range and the wealth of its materials, this volume will be the standard introduction to Zen Buddhism for years to come. Highly recommended.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

The Roaring, Stream: A New Zen Reader is a groundbreaking, immensely readable anthology drawn From the vast corpus of Ch'an and Zen Buddhist literature. It offers readers a tour through more than a millennium of writing, presenting one masterpiece after another in chronological progression. "You can dip into the waters of this stream, again and again, at any point Finding refreshment and perspective, " notes Robert Aitken in his introduction. "A year From now you can dip in again and find treasures that were not at all evident the First time." From lectures to letters, brief poems to extended disquisitions, this collection is an ideal point of entry For newcomers to the Zen tradition, and an essential sourcebook For those who are already " on the way." --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 374 pages
• Publisher: Ecco; 1 edition (August 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0880013443
• ISBN-13: 978-0880013444
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.5 x 1.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #493,303 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simple,straight to the point and necessary, June 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Roaring Stream (Ecco Companions) (Paperback)

Stories about zen masters and anecdotals are all very well. However, a view of their original work is needed to provide a well-rounded view of Zen. After searching for a simple book which did not dwell on the esoteric nor the speculative, I find this book very refreshing. Read the works expecting nothing, and their very meaning will jump out and hit you with the power of their simplicity and frankness. At a time when Zen has assumed such a complicated personna, and people are inundated with terminology which drives them away from such a great practice, this book comes across as a place where one can lay down under the shade of a big friendly tree,take the shoes off and wonder at the simple wisdom of the masters.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars the Living Stream, December 15, 2004

By	T. Furneaux (Earth) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the single best collection of Zen writings published in english. This book has a heartbeat; the life of the tradition is felt through the voices of these ancestors. I have loved this book since it first appeared in print. Highly recommended.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Compendium captures the history and spirit of Zen., December 5, 1997

By A Customer

"Zen" ... if there is a more widely-used buzzword, perhaps misused, we don't know it. Much more than just the sound of one hand clapping, Zen is an ancient and venerable system of thought and perception that transcends religious and national boundaries. This exceptional volume unfolds the history of Zen chronologically. And artistically. A major aspect of Zen is poetry, and the translations here are excellent -- often better than other volumes devoted to ancient Eastern poetry. One of our very favorite "finds" of this past year -- or any other year!