Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen

By Richard Shrobe

"Don't-know mind" is our enlightened mind before ideas, opinions, or concepts arise to create suffering. Practicing with don't-know mind has long been a central concern of Korean Zen. Here, an... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1590301102
• ISBN13: 9781590301104
• Release Date: May 2004
• Publisher: Shambhala
• Length: 170 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Great book as Issa said

Issa was one of the haiku greats as well as a reviewer. This is a nice concise book. I vastly prefer the first although I don't understand reviewer "Issa"'s remark: ..."Open Mouth Already A Mistake," which I must admit to happily avoiding for years because I took its title to heart. You could have tried to read it without moving your lips. ;-)

a fresh and illuminating book

Whether you practice zen meditation or not, this book offers a fresh and illuminating look on the somewhat mysterious practice of zen kongans, different from the customary heavyly-academic overly-intellectual 'white man' analysis .

Very clear introduction to Korean Zen

I don't know about the last review -- I know what s/he intends to mean, but to a beginner s/he maybe makes it sound like this is a practice about blindly following a kind of cult leader. "Close your eyes; don't look behind the curtain, this teaching is above your judgment." Maybe not so helpful. As a teacher in a slightly different lineage of Korean Zen, I'm very happy to recommend this book to new practitioners in search of a clear, concise introduction. Although, of course, the cushion and your own life are best, if you feel you need a book, I'd also recommend Richard Shrobe's first one (written as Zen Master Wu Kwang), "Open Mouth Already A Mistake," which I must admit to happily avoiding for years because I took its title to heart. Ultimately because no good, no bad, "Don't Know Mind" is a damn good little book.

Rating this book-already a mistake!

When reading this book, just read it! Do not make good and bad judgement about its teaching. It's always direct, clear and complete! I just bow to Zen Master Wu Kuang!