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Seung Sahn
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The Whole World is a Single Flower: 365 Kong-ans for Everyday Life with Questions and Commentary Paperback – January 1, 1992

by Seung Sahn (Author), Stephen Mitchell (Foreword)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings
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Includes koans from Chinese and Korean Zen, Lao-tzu, and the Christian tradition.
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  1. Print length
    244 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Tuttle Pub
  4. Publication date
    January 1, 1992
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0804834563
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0804834568
  8. See all details
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Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tuttle Pub; Original edition (January 1, 1992)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 244 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0804834563
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0804834568
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12.8 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 29 ratings

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Seung Sahn

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Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
29 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Roman
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2017
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Brisbane Observer
5.0 out of 5 stars Only buy it!
Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2008
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"
7 people found this helpful
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Juri Christensen
5.0 out of 5 stars Simply simple. Razpr sharp.
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2010
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.
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Present Moment
2.0 out of 5 stars Not Without a Zen Teacher
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2010
Verified Purchase
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.
One person found this helpful
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Mr. Hang Ruan
5.0 out of 5 stars must-have for those working with koans
Reviewed in the United States on July 28, 2005
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.
3 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars compilation by a contemporary Zen Master
Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2005
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.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

jimmy
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 24, 2015
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A great book.
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