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bigbookslilreads's review against another edition
3.0
I have always enjoyed Alan Watts's lectures, so I was hopeful that this book would be in the same line as these. I was already disappointed to know that he didn't narrate it, but putting that aside, I was also wrong in thinking this was a "beginner's guide to Zen". A lot of background knowledge is provided, which can help one get situated regarding the history of Zen. However, so many terms and concepts are used that it was very difficult for me to follow and understand, and I would think others might feel the same. The book ended up dragging for me for this reason.
I would say someone that already is quite familiar with Buddhist vocabulary at least might enjoy reading this more.
I would say someone that already is quite familiar with Buddhist vocabulary at least might enjoy reading this more.
oskhen's review against another edition
5.0
In the spirit of the book, I'll keep this review brief. An excellent encompassing guide to Zen. I cannot review the book on the aspect of being introductory as I myself was already relatively well-versed before reading. I think the only thing truly worth noting is the awe-inspiring calmness that surrounds me as I'm writing this having just finished the book. The intellectual stuff was great too.
eulaspiegel's review against another edition
4.0
A good introduction to the concepts of Zen history and philosophy, especially for Western readers.
thomasgoddard's review against another edition
4.0
It's hard to imagine a world before New Age spiritualism took hold. At least, in the West. But there was a time.
Today, If you're a young person it appears on your radar as a sort of vague anti-religious (Abrahamic) subcultural aspect. A rite of adolescence.Then it grows in proportion to your wealth. If you're from a family with money, you take a gap year in Thailand and assume that proximity allows for some sort of osmotic process. You convince yourself you've absorbed Zen. Nothing could be further from the truth. Or, if you are from less affluent spheres (me), you pick up books written by Westerners that purport to extol the virtues of Zen and fall long short. You come away with an idea of it being Karmic and cyclical and very much about a journey with no clear destination beyond an awareness of a state of being long abstracted from your lived experience.
That process, and the vapid shallow form of self-help literature, has helped to warp most of the treasure of Eastern thinking. Polluting it into a bastardised mutated form of itself. A sort of anti-zen.
Well, if that frustrates you as much as it does me... Alan Watts is a great place to start... and I do mean start! Because Watts himself is seen, in a lot of circles, as part of that same problem. But I feel that it was not through lack of a concerted effort on his part to translate for us.
I find Watts an incredibly soothing and amusing voice. It almost makes me forget every encounter I’ve had with young people obsessed with Dharma (sans Greg) and Yoga and Crystals and all that stuff.
Of course, no offence meant to those who follow those things. Not in the genuine sense anyway. It is more like the feeling you get when you hear someone obsessed with the ‘wrong’ sort of music, you get me? Like if you’re into pop and they insist on rock music at the engagement party and so you have to just sit there seething in an atmosphere of grumpiness. With no true anger really, just a proximal discomfort you’ll soon get distracted from.
Anyway, Watts... I think there is an ASMR or certainly an electronica genre of music entirely devoted to slapping a soundbite of his teachings into the mix. I used to listen to a lot of his lecturers on an old MP3 player in order to sleep when my anxiety maxed out.
Today there are far better writers on the topic of Zen. Voices that offer a more... intimate first hand experience... but for my money Watts is still a lovely indulgence for the half-hearted monks that most of us are, deep down. He’ll have you giggling and musing in no time. Very much a recommendation.
Today, If you're a young person it appears on your radar as a sort of vague anti-religious (Abrahamic) subcultural aspect. A rite of adolescence.Then it grows in proportion to your wealth. If you're from a family with money, you take a gap year in Thailand and assume that proximity allows for some sort of osmotic process. You convince yourself you've absorbed Zen. Nothing could be further from the truth. Or, if you are from less affluent spheres (me), you pick up books written by Westerners that purport to extol the virtues of Zen and fall long short. You come away with an idea of it being Karmic and cyclical and very much about a journey with no clear destination beyond an awareness of a state of being long abstracted from your lived experience.
That process, and the vapid shallow form of self-help literature, has helped to warp most of the treasure of Eastern thinking. Polluting it into a bastardised mutated form of itself. A sort of anti-zen.
Well, if that frustrates you as much as it does me... Alan Watts is a great place to start... and I do mean start! Because Watts himself is seen, in a lot of circles, as part of that same problem. But I feel that it was not through lack of a concerted effort on his part to translate for us.
I find Watts an incredibly soothing and amusing voice. It almost makes me forget every encounter I’ve had with young people obsessed with Dharma (sans Greg) and Yoga and Crystals and all that stuff.
Of course, no offence meant to those who follow those things. Not in the genuine sense anyway. It is more like the feeling you get when you hear someone obsessed with the ‘wrong’ sort of music, you get me? Like if you’re into pop and they insist on rock music at the engagement party and so you have to just sit there seething in an atmosphere of grumpiness. With no true anger really, just a proximal discomfort you’ll soon get distracted from.
Anyway, Watts... I think there is an ASMR or certainly an electronica genre of music entirely devoted to slapping a soundbite of his teachings into the mix. I used to listen to a lot of his lecturers on an old MP3 player in order to sleep when my anxiety maxed out.
Today there are far better writers on the topic of Zen. Voices that offer a more... intimate first hand experience... but for my money Watts is still a lovely indulgence for the half-hearted monks that most of us are, deep down. He’ll have you giggling and musing in no time. Very much a recommendation.
sashshearman's review against another edition
4.0
Fascinating introduction into Zen Buddhism. Very dense at times and I will have to read the whole thing again, probably a couple of times, and practice often, to even begin to really understand it. His later chapters on Haiku, calligraphy and landscape painting were extremely instructive and acted as a bright lamp, shining light on dark corners impenetrable concepts.
I am now reading Shinzen Young's The Science of Enlightenment. Young was trained in the Japanese Shingon sect of the vajrayana school of Buddhism, which is more descriptive and prescriptive. Young's writing concentrates on meditation process and intersperses theory with practical instruction. If you find Watts book too abstract, you may prefer Young.
I highly recommend Watt's The Way of Zen, an elegant and thoughtful book.
I am now reading Shinzen Young's The Science of Enlightenment. Young was trained in the Japanese Shingon sect of the vajrayana school of Buddhism, which is more descriptive and prescriptive. Young's writing concentrates on meditation process and intersperses theory with practical instruction. If you find Watts book too abstract, you may prefer Young.
I highly recommend Watt's The Way of Zen, an elegant and thoughtful book.
jmatthiass's review against another edition
3.0
Watts was surely wise, but it's hard sometimes to escape the haughty erudition and dry anthropological vibe of The Way of Zen. However, sometimes that intellectual façade falls away and moments of understanding and realization shine through. Those moments kept me going.
Overall: A clearly smart but not altogether spiritual reckoning of the Zen tradition.
Overall: A clearly smart but not altogether spiritual reckoning of the Zen tradition.
mattmclean's review against another edition
informative
reflective
relaxing
3.0
I used to be really into Buddhism, Taoism, and Zen back when I was in college. I have forgotten half of what I have remembered, and am not as interested in this type of subject as I used to be (though there will always be a part of me that loves this shit). So I'm not going to speak on the content of the book. I will just say that I felt the writing and explanations were very week. The section on art was pretty boring and probably not needed for anyone who is into the types of art discussed int he last chapter.
Nonetheless, I will always enjoy an Alan Wats book on spirituality. That is also a fact of the eternal now.
Nonetheless, I will always enjoy an Alan Wats book on spirituality. That is also a fact of the eternal now.
mistercope's review against another edition
5.0
This is both one of the most comprehensive and one of the most mentally-digestible books on Zen Buddhism that I have read. Watts provides the history of Eastern thought in the first half of the book with writing that is engaging and clear. In the second half, Watts describes the application of Zen. It is obvious throughout the work that Watts is aware of his audience and he makes the effort necessary to help the Western reader understand Zen. I was fortunate to pick this up as part of my introduction to Buddhism and I am glad that I have it now because every reading provides fresh insight.