Zen flesh, Zen bones

by Paul Reps

Paper Book, 1971

Status

Available

Call number

294.3/927

Publication

Harmondsworth : Penguin, 1971.

Description

When Zen Flesh, Zen Bones was published in 1957 it became an instant sensation with an entire generation of readers who were just beginning to experiment with Zen. Over the years it has inspired leading American Zen teachers, students, and practitioners. Its popularity is as high today as ever. Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a book that offers a collection of accessible, primary Zen sources so that readers can struggle over the meaning of Zen for themselves. It includes 101 Zen Stories, a collection of tales that recount actual experiences of Chinese and Japanese Zen teachers over a period of more than five centuries; The Gateless Gate, the famous thirteenth-century collection of Zen koans; Ten Bulls, a twelfth century commentary on the stages of awareness leading to enlightenment; and Centering, a 4,000 year-old teaching from India that some consider to be the roots of Zen.… (more)

User reviews

LibraryThing member antiquary
Very stimulating collection of Zen stories which may mock
anything including other Zen traditions Some tales are interesting as stories as well as for their religious content.
LibraryThing member Arctic-Stranger
Three Zen Buddhists call into a bar....no, not those kinds of stories, but these are tales of wisdom and sometimes stupidity, but only the wisest of stupidities.

Perhaps if you wanted to "Learn" zen this is the best way...you can only do it by these stories, not by theory.
LibraryThing member Black_samvara
Charming and as deep as you want it to be.
LibraryThing member gmicksmith
p. 18, #14

Muddy Road

This is an interesting tale about monks and females and how to treat them; it is one of my favorite tales and one I remember to relate as the occasion arises.
LibraryThing member dbsovereign
"'You live, move, and have your being in the sea. The sea is within you and without you, and you are made of sea, and you will end in sea."
LibraryThing member James_Patrick_Joyce
I remember being quite inspired by this book, but details are sketchy. I'll have to give it a re-read, at some point.
LibraryThing member mykl-s
A hodge-podge of gems, each one worth reading slowly, mulling over.

Language

Original publication date

1957

Physical description

165 p.; 18 cm

ISBN

9780140212839

Other editions

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