One Arrow, One Life-Zen, Archery, Enlightenment

by Kenneth Kushner

2000

Library's review

from cover

'The arrow may not hit, but it does not miss.'

One Arrow, One Life is a classic treatise on kyudo, the art of traditional Japanese archery, and its relation to the ideals and practice of Zen Buddhism. With a solid introduction to the form and practice of Zen meditation, as well as a
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thorough description of the Eight Stages of Kyudo, One Arrow, One Life captures the subtleties of the complementary nature of thought and action, movement and stillness. Demonstrating the importance of bringing movement, posture and breath into harmony. One Arrow, One Life interweaves Zen philosophy with daily experince and techniques, teachers, and the dojo, to give a name and face to kyudo. Beginning with its discussion of the breathing, posture, and concentration that is fundamental to both disciplines, then quickly moving on to the subtleties of advanced practice, Ken Kushner ties everything together into a personal testimony of the pervasiveness of Zen in everyday life. Jackson Morisawa's line drawings bring the art of kyudo to life. For those interested in zen and moving meditation, kyudo practitioners of all levels, as well as students of the Way of martial arts, this volume is an indispensable guidebook.

Kenneth Kushenr was born in 1949 in Chigaco. This book was written in 1983, four after the author began his 20 years of training under Tanouye Tenshin Rotaishi. Ordained as a priest in 1993 under the name of Setsuzan Gishin, Kushner Roshi was also awarded the title of Renshi or Teaching Master in C hozen-ji Ryu Kyudo. He finished his koan training in the Chokzen-ji line of Rinzai Zen in 1998 and received inka, the stamp that certifies a Zen teacher. Kushner Roshi is currently a professor in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine.

Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduciton: Entering the Way
1 Techniques and Principles
2 Breathing, Posture, and concentration
3 Mushin
4 Koan Zen
5 The Naturally Correct Way
6 Zanshin
7 Pain
8 Kiai
9 The Journey West
Notes
Glossary
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ISBN

804832463

Publication

Tuttle Publishing Boston Rutland, Vermont Tokyo
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