Questions to a Zen Master: Political and Spiritual Answers from the Great Japanese Master

by Taisen Deshimaru

Book Overview

"True religion," the great Japanese teacher Taisen Deshimaru wrote, "is not esoteric or mystical, it is not an exercise in well-being or gymnastics. True religion is the highest Way, the absolute Way: zazen."

Here, Deshimaru, the author of True Zen, offers practical suggestions for developing unitary mind-body consciousness through the principles of zazen (translated literally as "seated meditation"). Advice is given on posture, breathing,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0140193421
• ISBN13: 9780140193428
• Release Date: October 1991
• Publisher: Penguin Books
• Length: 160 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.1" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Great little book

I found this to be a great book to add to my collection. I reference it almost as much as my Suzuki books. I happen to be within the same lineage and have not discovered any cult like activities that another reviewer mentioned. Being a scientist and an agnostic, I am very skeptical and do not like to drink the cool aid. I have not found anything cultish or sickening about this book or the group. I'll be the first to inform you if I do.

The way is in sitting.

Miyamoto Musashi said that the "way is in training". Deshimaru roshi probably would have said that the "way is in sitting." I have found that sometimes, the greatest books are some of the smallest and this book is no exception. I read this book in a matter of hours but the concepts, ideas and insights have stayed with me for years and years. I have reread this book probably at least twenty or more times. Each time I think I understand a little more but still feel like there's more there. The book itself is an edited mondo (question and answer session) between Deshimaru roshi and his students. The subjects are varied, but always there is the basic emphasis on zazen (sitting) and not letting the mind overcomplicate what is simple, natural and automatic. In this increasingly complicated world, I find a great deal of meaning and significance to the whole idea of "letting go" of thinking and rediscovering our original nature underneath the mind and letting it arise . A truly "Mondo" mondo :)

Excellent

This was one of my first "real" Zen books. Much of what I had read up to this point was western philosophical discussion on Zen. This was one of my first exposures to subjective Zen.Taisen is really cool. Funny & smart.He's agnostic, for example when asked about the existence of a metaphysical realm he says that although he's had metaphysical experiences, nothing can be confirmed or denied so it's best to remain silent. He's got an excellent grounding in science but is a student of Dogen so his agnosticism is shot through with mysticism. He's into opening up, becoming receptive and often comes back to a attitude of; "Try to look at the tree instead of talking about it. An when you look at it try to not see your notions of the tree. Go beyond that."He always comes back to the actual practice of Zazen over thinking about Zen. Without the experience of Zazen notions of Zen are empty.

A touching explanation of Zen stripped of scholarism

QUESTIONS TO A ZEN MASTER is a book of questions and answers with Taisen Deshimaru, a Zen monk who left Japan for France in the 1960s and taught there until his death in 1981. Taisen Deshimaru was a Zen master, yes, but he was also a simple, ordinary man. And it is this viewpoint that so enriches his explanation of Zen Buddhism.QUESTIONS TO A ZEN MASTER, unlike the works of, say, D.T. Suzuki, is not a "scholarly" work. Deshimaru-roshi explains Zen in a very clear, pedestrian manner, and abstains from fancy language or dizzying metaphysical concepts. He speaks of Zen as something relating to the most basic of everyday actions, even eating and sleeping, making love and defecating. Deshimaru-roshi tries to say (and succeeds wonderfully) that Zen is not some obtuse, mind-boggling philosophy but the here-and-now, this breath.Although scholarly works on Zen Buddhism have their place, Deshimaru-roshi's heartfelt clarifications are worth reading. An added bonus with this book is a short Q & A with Deshimaru-roshi by several Christian monks. Although brief, the sections does provoke quite some thought even from this Christian reviewer.QUESTIONS TO A ZEN MASTER is worth getting from anyone interested in Zen.

Excellent peek into the thought processes of a Zen Master

As someone who has had a continuing interest in Zen, reading Master Deshimaru's lively and spirited answers to typical (and not so typical) questions regarding Zen and his take on the subject. Highly recommended