The Way of Zen
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- Create Date：2021-07-20 08:53:43
- Update Date：2025-09-06
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- Author：Alan W. Watts
- ISBN：0375705104
- Environment：PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle
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Summary
In his definitive introduction to Zen Buddhism， Alan Watts explains the principles and practices of this ancient religion to Western readers。 With a rare combination of freshness and lucidity， he delves into the origins and history of Zen to explain what it means for the world today with incredible clarity。 Watts saw Zen as “one of the most precious gifts of Asia to the world，” and in The Way of Zen he gives this gift to readers everywhere。
Reviews
Diane Henry
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Slightly less baffling than Zen Mind， Beginner’s Mind with some sections that I felt like I mostly understood
Lemlem Bardoquillo
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Nothing but how the way of Zen strikes the light of your life！
Zach
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This is an erudite exploration of Zen that is as glorious as everything else I've read by Alan Watts。 There is enough historical， social， and cultural context to allow readers to find their own way in - without being mere imitations。 A few favorite quotes。 Awakening is not truly attained unless it also implies the life of the Bodhisattva， the manifestation of the "marvelous use" of the Void for the benefit of all sentient beings。Zen is not merely a cult of impulsive action。 The point of mo chih This is an erudite exploration of Zen that is as glorious as everything else I've read by Alan Watts。 There is enough historical， social， and cultural context to allow readers to find their own way in - without being mere imitations。 A few favorite quotes。 Awakening is not truly attained unless it also implies the life of the Bodhisattva， the manifestation of the "marvelous use" of the Void for the benefit of all sentient beings。Zen is not merely a cult of impulsive action。 The point of mo chih ch'u is not to eliminate reflective thought， but to eliminate "blocking" in both action and thought， so that the response of the mind is always like a ball in a mountain stream - "one thought after another without hesitation。" 。。。more
Anthony Beckman
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A great introduction to zen text。 A resource for those new to zen。
Nina
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Might be a 4 star haven't fully decided yet。 3。5？Interesting summary of Taoist， Buddhist and Zen ideas and history。 Must've been an amazing resource back in 1957。 Might be a 4 star haven't fully decided yet。 3。5？Interesting summary of Taoist， Buddhist and Zen ideas and history。 Must've been an amazing resource back in 1957。 。。。more
Jon Robnett
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I love Alan Watts speeches。 I've listened to hundreds。 Not so much the book。 Its slow I love Alan Watts speeches。 I've listened to hundreds。 Not so much the book。 Its slow 。。。more
Robert
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Makes my brain hurt but the trudge is definitely worth it。 I think
Carrinicole
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The best description of Zen Buddhism’s origins， principles， and practice for western culture。 The simple yet engaging way that Watts writes makes you feel like he’s having a conversation with you。 There’s some humor， honesty， and lots of metaphors to help grasp concepts that seem difficult to grasp。 A top book on my list now。
Charlie Wilson
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His YouTube talks have a lot more wit and personality。 This book has a lot of in-depth analysis of some pretty abstract ideas that can be pretty hard to get through。 He definitely knows his stuff though。
PhysicalMountain
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Cut a tree five hundred miles away from you。 Cut it right now！！
Ben
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audiobook
Flowers4Algernon
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The blurb introducing this book mentions lucidity and incredible clarity。 Well， I found it completely baffling and didn’t understand around 90% of it。 The only saving grace was the last chapter on Zen in the arts - although to be honest I don’t know why this was specifically included as it seemed out of place - which I found quite interesting。 However， this is not an easy or accessible introduction to Zen。
Thomas Vriens
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Absolutely incredible book， a great insight into both the foundations and origins of Buddhism， and a brief but very clear introduction to the practices of Zen Buddhism。 Very much recommend this for those who are interested in eastern philosophy/religion。
MrClee
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„Röviden tehát a májá doktrínája először is arra mutat rá， hogy a tudat képtelen megragadni a valóságos világot a szavak és fogalmak hálójában， másodszor pedig， hogy maguk a formák is， amelyeket a gondolkodás definiálni próbál， változékony természetűek A tények és események világa mindenestül náma， azaz absztrakt név， és rúpa， azaz változékony forma。 Elillan mind a filozófiai elemzés， mind az élvhajhász megragadás kísérlete elől， ahogy a víz is kifolyik az ökölbe szorított kézből。 Még a Brahman， „Röviden tehát a májá doktrínája először is arra mutat rá， hogy a tudat képtelen megragadni a valóságos világot a szavak és fogalmak hálójában， másodszor pedig， hogy maguk a formák is， amelyeket a gondolkodás definiálni próbál， változékony természetűek A tények és események világa mindenestül náma， azaz absztrakt név， és rúpa， azaz változékony forma。 Elillan mind a filozófiai elemzés， mind az élvhajhász megragadás kísérlete elől， ahogy a víz is kifolyik az ökölbe szorított kézből。 Még a Brahman， a változékonyság mögött meghúzódó örök valóság， és az Atman， az emberi tudatot meghatározó isteni háttér gondolata is csalóka， hiszen， fogalom lévén， maga is éppen úgy képtelen a valóság megragadására， akár a többi。A buddhizmus pontosan ebben – a világ tökéletes illékonyságának felismerésében – gyökerezik。 Ez az a különleges hangsúlyváltás， amely a leginkább megkülönbözteti Buddha tanait az upanisadok tanításától， ez az India életében és műveltségében különállóan fellépő buddhizmus elterjedésének valódi létalapja。”Ha választani lehetne， akkor utólag mindenképp ezzel a könyvvel szerettem volna kezdeni ismerkedésemet a buddhizmussal。 Jó néhány könyvet olvastam már a buddhizmus， azon belül is a zen buddhizmus történelmével， de sokkal célravezetőbb az az irányvonal， amely mentén Alan Watts megközelítette a témát és igyekezett átadni ismereteit a zenről。Még akkor is， ha egy zen mester vélhetően a könyv nem-megírásával tanított volna minket， tanítványokat。„A nirvána az életforma， ami akkor jelenik meg， amikor befejeződik az életbe való kapaszkodás。 A nirvána szükségképpen definiálhatatlan， hiszen minden definíció kapaszkodás。 A nirvána a tudat „önmagát meg nem ragadó”， természetes állapota – itt persze a tudat jelentése sem adható meg pontosan， hiszen amit nem ragadunk meg， arról konvencionális értelemben nem is tudunk。 Még közérthetőbb， szó szerinti felfogásban a nirvána valamely lény kilépése az újjászületések körforgásából， ám nem a megsemmisülésbe， hanem egy minden definíció elől elillanó mérhetetlen és határtalan állapotba。”„A buddhizmus az idő folyását gyakran hasonlítja a hullámok látszólagos mozgásához。 Noha a víz valójában csak föl-le mozog， ezáltal mégis olyan illúzió keletkezik， mintha egy „darabja” végigfutna a felszínen。 Ugyanilyen illúzió az állandó „én”， amely az egymást követő tapasztalatokon végigvonul és összekapcsolja őket: így lesz az ifjúból felnőtt， ősz öregember， majd végül halott。”„Az ember keres， kutat és nem talál。 Egyszer aztán feladja a keresést， és akkor magától megérkezik a válasz。” 。。。more
Pro Mukherjee
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“The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao” - this makes writing a book about it （or commenting on such a book） quite tricky。I have heard the expression - there are three stages of learning。 In the first stage， when you look at a tree， you see a tree。 In the second， when you look at a tree you dont see a tree。 And in the third and final stage， when you look at a tree， you see a tree once again。I think the appeal of this book would be for those in stages 1 and 3。 As someone in stage 2， th “The Tao that can be spoken is not the eternal Tao” - this makes writing a book about it （or commenting on such a book） quite tricky。I have heard the expression - there are three stages of learning。 In the first stage， when you look at a tree， you see a tree。 In the second， when you look at a tree you dont see a tree。 And in the third and final stage， when you look at a tree， you see a tree once again。I think the appeal of this book would be for those in stages 1 and 3。 As someone in stage 2， the book didn’t quite help me deepen my understanding or practice。 That said， there are a lot of resources one can explore in the Way of Zen。 。。。more
Mike
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This book did not provide me with an "understanding" of Zen， per se - if that is even possible - but it did cause me to re-think the way I "think" about things as a "westerner。"I'm fascinated by the limitations we live and operate under - for example， words and customs。 Ever ask someone who has eaten frog legs what they taste like？ They all say "chicken" and the conversation usually ends there。 Well， what does chicken taste like？ In fact， we cannot describe what chicken tastes like without using This book did not provide me with an "understanding" of Zen， per se - if that is even possible - but it did cause me to re-think the way I "think" about things as a "westerner。"I'm fascinated by the limitations we live and operate under - for example， words and customs。 Ever ask someone who has eaten frog legs what they taste like？ They all say "chicken" and the conversation usually ends there。 Well， what does chicken taste like？ In fact， we cannot describe what chicken tastes like without using other adjectives。。。。and so on and so on。 How can a frog taste like a chicken？ How do you describe the taste of a raspberry to someone who has never tasted one？ You know the experience yourself but you cannot describe it。。。。。what a limitation！！ This is why the Buddha emphasized the importance of experiential wisdom。 Experience life and don't worry about placing limitations on it because when you do， you've diminished the experience。 For me， this is the beauty - and brilliance - of Alan Watts via "The Way of Zen。" 。。。more
Ryan Murray
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It's very much an academic book。 Be great if I was studying for a standardized test on Zen。 It's very much an academic book。 Be great if I was studying for a standardized test on Zen。 。。。more
Sean Paterson
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Moments of insight but sections of excessive detail for the budding monk。
Mihkel Ummelas
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Understood very little。Stopped trying to。Perhaps I mastered it。
Alisa Wilhelm
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Pausing @ 25%
Talon
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Watts gives an in-depth look into the history behind zen and how different religions and teachers interpret zen。 Definitely opened my eyes to a world that I had no prior knowledge of。
Laura
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Really great。
Elizabeth Knappert
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still one of the best books available
Жор
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Втората половина， където Уотс разказва за практическата част на дзен， е много по-силна от първата。
Stefan
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Sitting quietly， doing nothing。 That is the way of zen。
Michael Nelson
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Great book with lots of historical background information on the roots of Zen。
Matthew Blake
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Alan Watts seminal work is possibly the greatest piece of non fiction I have ever read。 Superficially it is a somewhat brief but condensed account of the evolution of Zen Buddhism and explanations of the various artistic and cultural practices which underlie the wu-hsin， wu-wei philosophy， however it is more of a kind of plea to the blind stubbornness of the western mind and is remarkable in its ability to uncover the most obvious and elemental western truths as nothing more than the absurd delu Alan Watts seminal work is possibly the greatest piece of non fiction I have ever read。 Superficially it is a somewhat brief but condensed account of the evolution of Zen Buddhism and explanations of the various artistic and cultural practices which underlie the wu-hsin， wu-wei philosophy， however it is more of a kind of plea to the blind stubbornness of the western mind and is remarkable in its ability to uncover the most obvious and elemental western truths as nothing more than the absurd delusions they are。 In particular， the realisation that the spontaneity （the Tao） that underlies all universal processes and gives such joyousness and effortlessness to life has been practically outlawed by Western society was profoundly bittersweet for me and left me feeling so disconnected from the world in which I thought I existed， however the implications this realisation has for ones approach to living is absolutely shattering。 Once you realise that all you have to do to tap into the universal energy is to stop trying， stop seeking whatever it is you think you want， there can be no going back。 There is a reason it’s called a ‘way of liberation’。There is not another book I know of to present the Zen way of thinking in such a digestible format for those who did not grow up in the east。 It is filled with the classic Alan Watts wry sense of humour， and always remains light and unserious， in spite of， or more accurately precisely because of the topic at hand。 A genuine masterpiece。 。。。more
Grant Jossi
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One of the best books I've ever read。 Opens by arguing that western philosophical traditions can make it difficult to grasp Zen and Buddhism in general for Westerners， and then spends the rest of its pages attempting to impart that understanding anyway， all while outlining a general history of Zen。 I would recommend this to anyone and everyone。 One of the best books I've ever read。 Opens by arguing that western philosophical traditions can make it difficult to grasp Zen and Buddhism in general for Westerners， and then spends the rest of its pages attempting to impart that understanding anyway， all while outlining a general history of Zen。 I would recommend this to anyone and everyone。 。。。more
Micaiah Christopher
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"Escape from these concerns is as natural and necessary as sleep， and they feel neither compunction nor awkwardness in belonging for a while to the Taoist world of carefree hermits， wandering through the mountains like wind-blown clouds， with nothing to do but cultivate a row of vegetables， gaze at the drifting mist， and listen to the waterfalls"。I have some interest and cursory knowledge in Stoic thought and picked up the 'Way of Zen" as I have heard that there is quite a bit of overlap in the "Escape from these concerns is as natural and necessary as sleep， and they feel neither compunction nor awkwardness in belonging for a while to the Taoist world of carefree hermits， wandering through the mountains like wind-blown clouds， with nothing to do but cultivate a row of vegetables， gaze at the drifting mist， and listen to the waterfalls"。I have some interest and cursory knowledge in Stoic thought and picked up the 'Way of Zen" as I have heard that there is quite a bit of overlap in the ideas between these Western and Eastern schools of thought。 I've also tried to listen to Alan Watts's lectures but always felt as though I took little to nothing away from them。 I was hoping that in reading， I might appreciate his work more。I appreciated the opening of the book in which Watts emphasizes the differences in the presuppositions of Western and Eastern thought。He spends time explaining Taoism and the development of Buddhism and then Zen itself which is a development of both。 The last chapter deals with Zen's influence on the arts， in painting， rock gardens， and tea。There are quite a few terms and names to keep track of， and I admit I wasn't always the most attentive。 As an introduction to Zen， I think this books serves its purpose， and， at least to this layman， Watts seems very knowledgeable about the topics he is writing about。I admit， that I may have to read it again and perhaps less distractedly。 Zen seems to me both wise and ridiculous - especially in some of the antics of the Zen masters。 Overall， I think I "get it" but it may well be that I do not "get it" at all。 Again， however， I think this book serves as a good introduction and I may need to read more to get a fuller picture。 。。。more
Fariborz
，
My hart
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Way of Zen
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Way of Zen&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Way of Zen&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0