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3.76 AVERAGE
3.76 AVERAGE
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
It was alright but more repetitive and less insightful than other similar writings like Hagakure.
I gained a better understanding of the concepts of Zen as espoused by Monk Takuan because I recently read Old Path White Clouds, a biography of the Buddha. While Zen in itself can seem a little daunting to comprehend upfront, having some perspective on its background is really helpful.
Overall, this is a wonderful book full of short essays in the form of letters which present Buddhist values as perceived in the Zen tradition. Despite the added flourish of Mahayana Buddhism (of which Zen is a part), the basic message remains the same: be present, be aware.
I was introduced to Monk Takuan in an altogether different format through the wonderful manga series called Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue. I'm glad I landed here.
Overall, this is a wonderful book full of short essays in the form of letters which present Buddhist values as perceived in the Zen tradition. Despite the added flourish of Mahayana Buddhism (of which Zen is a part), the basic message remains the same: be present, be aware.
I was introduced to Monk Takuan in an altogether different format through the wonderful manga series called Vagabond by Takehiko Inoue. I'm glad I landed here.
challenging
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
One of those situations where I understand the impulse to call a text “deceptively simple,” but that in itself would be deceptive.
Despite its standing as a historic text, there just isn’t much here aside from the kind of internet stoicism and broad moral prescriptivism that appeals to would-be “poet warriors.”
In reality, if you have to have a book mysticize the need to be good, you’re probably already in trouble. Furthermore, this text feels ethically irresponsible—rather than calling readers to move gently through the friction of the world, the author seems to insist that it is possible to avoid or resist this friction entirely.
The freedom to do so is contingent on your social power, so I would argue that doing so merely stratifies social classes and all the baggage that come with them.
Despite its standing as a historic text, there just isn’t much here aside from the kind of internet stoicism and broad moral prescriptivism that appeals to would-be “poet warriors.”
In reality, if you have to have a book mysticize the need to be good, you’re probably already in trouble. Furthermore, this text feels ethically irresponsible—rather than calling readers to move gently through the friction of the world, the author seems to insist that it is possible to avoid or resist this friction entirely.
The freedom to do so is contingent on your social power, so I would argue that doing so merely stratifies social classes and all the baggage that come with them.
challenging
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
medium-paced