From: 75742@novell1.rz.fht-mannheim.de (Marc Wachowitz) Subject: Zen (long) Date: 17 Feb 92 18:43:07 GMT This is a list of some books in found interesting in relation to Zen practice, eastern-type philosophies etc. Abbreviations: A = Author (sometimes mainly collector/translator) ET = title of the English language edition EP = publisher of the English language edition GT = title of the German language edition GP = publisher of the German language edition Since I have lent some books to friends, or just borrowed some from the local library some time ago, the information isn't always complete. If you need more information on a particular item, don't hesitate to contact me. The little notes I've added are only meant as short hints about the style/ intention of the books, in my impression, and should not be taken as general characterization. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Zenkei Shibayama ET: A Flower Does Not Talk GT: Eine Blume lehrt ohne Worte - Zen in Gleichnis und Bild GP: O.W.Barth Shows the beauty which is often forgotten over ideas of training. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Charlotte Joko Beck ET: Everyday Zen EP: Harper & Row, New York GT: Zen im Alltag GP: Knaur, Muenchen A guide to Zen as a way to handle one's everyday life problems. Almost no traditional elements, besides a few stories. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Shunryu Suzuki ET: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind EP: John, Weatherhill, Inc., New York/Tokyo GT: Zen-Geist, Anfaenger-Geist GP: Theseus, Zuerich Practice and practical philosophy of Soto-Zen. Beautyful. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Robert Aitken ET: Taking the Path of Zen EP: North Point Press, San Francisco GT: Zen als Lebenspraxis GP: Diederichs, Muenchen Introduction for novices. Elements of tradition, but not strengthened. Good hints about the concrete problems of sitting (psychic and physical). Commentary on the "Mu"-koan. History of his own development. A: Robert Aitken ET: The Mind of Clover EP: North Point Press, Berkeley GT: Ethik des Zen GP: Diederichs, Muenchen Application of traditional rules for everyday life. Compassion together with humour and lightness. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Eugen Herrigel GT: Der Zen-Weg GP: O.W.Barth Philosophically oriented; maybe not appropriate as introduction. I don't know if an English translation exists at all. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Jiddu Krishnamurti ET: Freedom from the Known GT: Einbruch in die Freiheit GP: Ullstein, Frankfurt/M - Berlin Teachings of the "pathless path" summarized. Religious life without religion. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Paul Reps, Nyogen Senzaki ET: Zen Flesh, Zen Bones EP: Arkana GT: Ohne Worte, Ohne Schweigen GP: O.W.Barth (?) Collection of 101 Zen stories; Mumonkan (without commentary; a few translations appear to be problematic); 10 ox-herding pictures with terse notes; many methods of centering (from an ancient indian texts). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: K^oun Yamada ET: Gateless Gate. Newly translated with commentary by Zen master K^oun Yamada GT: Mumonkan: Zen-Meister Mumons Koan-Sammlung / neu uebertragen und kommentiert von K^oun Yamada GP: Koesel The famous koan collection of Wu-men, with K^oun Yamada's "simple" (in a positive sense) teishos. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Wilhelm Gundert GT: Bi-Y"an-Lu - Niederschrift von der Smaragdenen Felswand; Bd. 1-3 GP: Carl Hanser, Muenchen This was the first translation of the Bi-Y"an-Lu (Hekiganroku) into a western language, with excellent comments by the translator. These koans show the beautyful poetry and humour which is sometimes lost in the Mumonkan. A gem (but look inside :-). Volumes 1 and 2 contain examples 1-50. The 3rd volume is currently not available but is said to be reprinted; it goes until example 63. (Examples 64-100 not included, due to the death of the translator.) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Alan Watts ET: The Way of Zen GT: Zen - Tradition und lebendiger Weg Overview over development of Mahayana Buddhism, Taoism and Zen. Good introduction into notions of eastern philosophy. Many quotations of various sources. Sometimes supposed to be "beat-zen" (not my opinion; anyway I'm doubtful about the usefulness of those divisions). A: Alan Watts ET: Tao, The Watercourse Way GT: Der Lauf des Wassers GP: suhrkamp Introduction into "philosophic" Taoism. Attempts to provide the reader with a "feeling", instead of a formal, historic treatment. A: Alan Watts ET: The Meaning of Happyness GT: Die sanfte Befreiung Relations between (mainly) eastern religion/philosophy and modern psychology. A: Alan Watts ET: In My Own Way GT: Zeit zu leben GP: Heyne His autobiography. Not directly a book about "eastern" religion/philosophy etc.; this time he attempts to express his "message" by showing stations of his path. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Janwillem van de Wetering ET: The Empty Mirror EP: Routledge & Kegan Paul, London GT: Der leere Spiegel GP: Rowohlt, Hamburg His experience as a novice in a Japanese Zen monastery, where he "gave up" and left after 18 month. A: Janwillem van de Wetering ET: A Glimpse of Nothingness EP: Houghton Mifflin Company, Boston GT: Ein Blick ins Nichts GP: Rowohlt, Hamburg He tried it again many years later, in a small camp in America. Humorous, but still serious. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Stephan Schuhmacher GT: Han Shan - 150 Gedichte vom Kalten Berg GP: Diederichs, Koeln Poems of a centered excentric who went into the mountains. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A: Suichi Kato, Eva Thom GT: Ikkyu S^ojun - Im Garten der schoenen Shin; Die laesterlichen Gedichte des Zen-Meisters "Verrueckte Wolke" GP: Diederichs, Muenchen Poems of "Crazy Cloud", who fought against established formal traditions in Zen. Much may be rumors, still provoking and amusing. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------