Zen Master Raven: Sayings and Doings of a Wise Bird

by Robert Aitken

In Zen Master Raven, Robert Aitken, one of America's best-known and most-respected Zen masters, presents an introduction to Zen Buddhist teaching through over 100 lessons told through the stories and... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0804834733
• ISBN13: 9780804834735
• Release Date: October 2002
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
• Length: 208 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 7.4"

Customer Reviews

Mother Goose Meets Bodhidharma

Appropriately raw, weird, and compelling, this is the one of the most pure and authentic texts to emerge from the nascent Zen tradition of the West. On the other hand, it may be complete nonsense. Either way, this stays in the book pile next to my bed for a few years at least.

Beyond the beyond

How to comment on a book of Koans? For me it seems this book contains the essence of Aitken Roshi's teachings. This is not a soft Zen book, musing about the Zen-of-whatever. It is something quite different, a work book pointing "beyond the beyond". The little drops in my eyes bow to Raven and Porcupine and thank them, with a smile, for sharing the punch line.

Best, bester, besterest.

This book is a delight. ... Finest value for my dollar of any purchase I can recall making. I am now on my fourth reading, and see no reason to stop. Aitken Roshi has given us a compendium of dozens of original American koans--or as the animals say, "turning points." Raven hears the story of Shakyamuni's realization when looking up to see the morning star from beneath the Bodhi tree. Raven somehow feels something is missing. What?

Unique!

I appreciate Robert Aitken much more after reading this unique little creation of his. And I think you will, too, if you have some familiarity of Zen practice. The book consists of connected succinct stories that refreshingly present key realizations in Zen Buddhism -- without the usual old Chinese or Japanese monks.

Provocative and Enlightening

If you are interested in Zen - This book is excellent.If you are not interested in Zen - This book is hilarious.If you want to confuse you philosophy professor - This book is perfect.If you are stoned outta your phreakin mind - This book makes PERFECT sense.