Silence and Noise: Growing Up Zen in America

By Ivan Richmond

Book Overview

A fresh new voice in American Buddhism -- a twenty-nine-year-old raised among Buddhists in California -- offers wisdom for both longtime practitioners and a new generation of students in this fascinating memoir of his Zen upbringing.
Over half a century ago, when the first Zen Masters came to America, eager young students in search of enlightenment flocked to hear their teachings. Many, like Ivan Richmond's parents, became Buddhist teachers themselves while raising their children at monasteries and retreat centers. Growing up in the seventies in the deliberate silence of a Buddhist community, young Ivan knew only the hippies and redwoods of Northern California. When his family left in 1983, he became an immigrant in his own country, suddenly entering a mainstream society that was full of paradox and pop culture, uncertainty and noise. This is the story of his struggle to find peace amidst the chaos.
Whether dispensing kernels of Buddhist insight taught to him as a child or reflecting on the merits of rock concerts, Richmond narrates his emergence from seclusion with a sensitivity that is often touching, frequently funny, and always honest. The story of the powerfully resonant journey of this foot soldier in the front lines of American Buddhism is an essential read for anyone interested in the current state of Zen in America.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0743417550
• ISBN13: 9780743417556
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Atria Books
• Length: 186 Pages
• Weight: 0.41 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.4" x 8.2"

Customer Reviews

Finding His Bearings via the Middle Way

This is the story of a young man raised in the quiet reflection of a Zen monastery, but thrown suddenly into the noise, confusion, and chaos of mainstream America. The author paints a vivid picture of his struggle to adjust to a kaleidoscopic, loud, and sometimes rude new culture. He examines differences in assumptions, values, and customs, and explores the meanings in those differences. He also describes how, in the end, his Buddhist upbringing helped him come to terms with the changes. This book is clearly and vibrantly written, and very enjoyable. It's also an eye-opener. I loved it.

No stone unturned

I loved this book. If you want to understand what zen isabout, this is the book. Who better to enlighten us thansomeone born into a zen family? I felt the author was too hard on himself. I hope he's readingthis. He's is ok. But I get the impression he thinks thereis something wrong with being different. I think many enlightened people feel this way because those seeking "enlightenment" generally aren't showy people; soyou don't often meet them. Ivan you are not alone. I understand your message. And I'm closer than you think. Just stay on the path. The truth willset you free.Lovely book and looking forward to many more to come

A very human struggle

This very readable, human book takes you into the world and mind of someone who has led an unusual life and destroys the myth that all Americans are somehow "coming from the same place" and can use the same experiences and references. Wrong! And this author is only one of many.Mr. Richmond serves as a translator, so to speak, a bridge between divergent world views and his descriptions of trying to understand "Pop Culture" ( and sometimes getting it wrong) are fascinating. He writes with humanity and humor, never taking the stand that his upbringing and ideals are "better" just because they are different. This is a white, middle class individual who speaks English, one can only guess at how hard American culture ( and the idea we are a "Christian Nation") is for some people coming from "outside" to grasp. I read it in one or two sittings, I found it touching and eye opening, with a refreshing simplicity.The message I got: No world view, or lifestyle, is ever perfect. There is good and bad in all lifestyles and religions, and a compassionate person needs to see that we are *not* all alike, not all coming from a common reference. As we stretch toward empathy, our spirit grows. Mr. Richmond's struggle to unite "silence" with "noise" has given him a unique perspective, one I really enjoyed sharing.

A bridge between two worlds

This very readable, human book takes you into the world and mind of someone who has led an unusual life and destroys the myth that all Americans are somehow "coming from the same place" and can use the same experiences and references. Wrong! And this author is only one of many.Mr. Richmond serves as a translator, so to speak, a bridge between divergent world views and his descriptions of trying to understand "pop culture" ( and sometimes getting it wrong) are fascinating. He writes with humanity and humor, never taking the stand that his upbringing and ideals are "better" just because they are different. This is a white, middle class individual who speaks English, one can only guess at how hard American culture ( and the idea we are a "Christian Nation") is for some people coming from "outside" to grasp. I read it in one or two sittings, I found it touching and eye opening, with a refreshing simplicity.The message I got: No world view, or lifestyle, is ever perfect. There is good and bad in all lifestyles and religions, and a compassionate person needs to see that we are *not* all alike, not all coming from a common reference. Much damage has been done by this view. As we stretch toward empathy, our spirit grows and we as a society grow. Mr. Richmond's struggle to unite "silence" with "noise" has given him a unique perspective, one I really enjoyed sharing.