Zen life, Ueno park, Tokyo.
Perhaps a chance meeting with the ghost of Yamaoka Tesshu….
Warm and sticky darkness chases the moon up high. A man plays zen flute on a straw of grass. Everything leading up to this. Again.
© 2010 horimatsu
Zen life, Ueno park, Tokyo.
Perhaps a chance meeting with the ghost of Yamaoka Tesshu….
Warm and sticky darkness chases the moon up high. A man plays zen flute on a straw of grass. Everything leading up to this. Again.
5 Comments
Hi, is there any book out there, you recommend to get in touch with zen?
Is it generally possible to get in touch with zen by reading a book?
I´m very interested in zen but i think there are also a lot of misinterpretations.
p.s.: you´re tattooing is amazing!
Thanks for Your kind words regarding my attempts at Irezumi. I will return to the subject of your question in a separate post in the near future.
Thanks for Your kind words regarding my attempts at Irezumi. I will return to the subject of your question in a separate post in the near future.
Hi, is there any book out there, you recommend to get in touch with zen?
Is it generally possible to get in touch with zen by reading a book?
I´m very interested in zen but i think there are also a lot of misinterpretations.
p.s.: you´re tattooing is amazing!
I am sorry for the veeeerrrryyy late reply on this, Amy. Things have been hectic lately.
Getting in touch with Zen through books is a possibility to explore. Most westerners wants to know a little about it before actually try to sit in meditation or find a local Zen center. I think I posted a list here on the blog earlier. Go look for it in Archives.
Missinterpretaions on Zen are very common these days. Everything sells with the word Zen glued to it (Zen coaching, Zen cooking etc), but the real thing is quite unsellable. Also, do keep in mind that there are a number of Zen sects out there and they are all valid in a way (Soto, Rinzai etc), but every sect does not fit every individual.
Also, listen to, or read Allan Watts. It’s a good philosphical aproach and starting point, even though I personally regard Zen as religion, not philosophy. Google and you will find Mr Allan Watts!
Dogen, Joshu and Hakuin can be a tad over the top in the beginning, but Roshi Philip Kapleu and Phillipe Coupey’s writings are of great value to the beginning westerner.