Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn

Book Description

“Somebody comes into the Zen center with a lighted cigarette, walks up to the Buddha statue, blows smoke in its face, and drops ashes on its lap. You are standing there. What can you do?” This is a problem that Zen Master Seung Sahn is fond of posing to his American students who attend his Zen centers. Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a delightful, irreverent, and often hilariously funny living record of the dialogue between Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn and his American students. Consisting of dialogues, stories, formal Zen interviews, Dharma speeches, and letters using the Zen Master’s actual words in spontaneous, living interaction with his students, this book is a fresh presentation of the Zen teaching method of “instant dialogue” between Master and student which, through the use of astonishment and paradox, leads to an understanding of ultimate reality.

Customer Reviews:

Most Entertaining Book on Buddhism.......2007-09-19

This the most entertaining book on Buddhism I have every read. I found myself laughing quite a bit and breezed through the entire books with little effort.

This book does not espouse the conventional methods on obtain enlightenment instead takes a uniquely different approach. I highly recommend anyone interested in the subject to read this book, especially if previous attempts were stifled by weighty material.

Whatever the case I'm positive most people can get something from this book especially since it is couched in such an amusing way.

The dog runs after the bone.... (A good book on your spiritual journey).......2007-06-16

"When you hear the wooden chicken crow in the evening, you will know the country where your mind was born. Outside my house, in the garden, the willow is green, the flower is red."

The dog runs after the bone.. KATZ!!!

(you will understand the above and really love the book if you are ready of abstract or theoretical stuff in spirituality).

Fantastic Companion.......2006-10-16

I have owned numerous copies of this book; lent them out never to see them again. With most books, I don't bother to repurchase them, however I find myself wanting to pick this book up every couple of months to read either a random story or spend a couple hours with it from cover to cover.

If you are looking for a dissertation on zen or buddhism, this might be a bit of a ho-hum read (as other reviewers have asserted, over and over again) but if you can gain insight from the interactions of others... then Dropping Ashes on the Buddha has you covered.

Worth reading again.......2005-09-11

Often humorous, wonderful book taken from Korean Zen Master Seung's talks, letters and interviews with students. This is a book you can pick up time and again. I first read it 20 years ago and always enjoy opening it. Stephen Mitchell, now married to Byron Katie, was an early (as Americans go) student of Seung Sahn's and has gone on to a career of writing and translating many spiritual books.

Zen for the west of us........2005-07-29

This book is on Korean Zen master Seung Sahn and his lecures, letters and general dialogue with students and sometimes others.

I wish there were more lectures and less student/teacher dialogue. Out of the hundred pieces or sections in this book, the majority are students having thier understanding tested by Seung Sahn. A lot of this didnt need to be published! It's comes off more as entertainment than anything else a lot of the time. Is there any use in hearing about a student tryin to feign understanding by hitting the floor over and over and saying "the sky is blue, the grass is green" to any question they are asked?
I'm not saying these kinda interactions are unnecesary, its just that writing about them and putting them in a book can kinda turn Zen into a toy. Something to be played with.

The lectures and stories on the other hand contained many wonderful moments. I have to admit some of the letters and dialogue was fantastic too, there was just too many ho-hum sections of it. There were many great stories I had never heard of before. Probably due to the fact that works on Korean Zen arent very abundant. This book seemed more along the lines of Tibetan Buddhism thant Zen come to think of it. More of a mythical, romance kinda approach and feel to it (like the story Of Sahn's life, as well as some of the previous masters of his lineage). It also contains a lot of kong-an talk/instruction with students wich were some of the better moments of the interactions for me. Again a lot of brilliant passages but I think a lot of ho-hum moments that could have been left out. I appreciate koans and kong-ans more than ever though. Theres some great ones here!

The whole keep "dont know mind" is at times overused. I think its better to use different terms for it at different times. Theres a lot of value in using multiple terms so as to avoid any unnecesary attachment. From the teacher as well as the student. I think in this way, this book comes off as being a little to "western friendly" at times. Quite a few things that one could very easily attach too and carry around with pride.

All in all this is a very good book (great? maybe...) but with the plethora of great Buddhism books out there this isnt, to me, a must have. I'm not saying it's a waste of money by any means. This would be a valuable addition to your collection or a great book to check out from the library.

Book Description

This enchanting Christmas classic returns for a new holiday season, combining historical fact with glorious legend as St. Nicholas himself reveals the definitive story of Santa Claus.

With seven centuries of holiday magic all rolled into twenty-four chapters-one for each cold December night leading up to Christmas-The Autobiography of Santa Claus is a great gift for the whole family!

Customer Reviews:

The Magic of Santa Claus Revealed .......2007-08-27

This AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SANTA CLAUS, like the technologically-pioneering film FORREST GUMP, achieves the fanciful illusion of allowing our legendary hero to interact with some of the more outstanding names in world history. During a career of gift-giving that spans centuries, Santa not only meets, but adopts as helpers such extraordinary historical personalities as: Attila the Hun, St. Francis of Assisi, Leonardo da Vinci, Charles Dickens, Teddy Roosevelt, Amelia Earhart, and Benjamin Franklin.

The magic begins in the year 280 A.D., in a country called Lycia (modern-day Turkey) where a child is born to an elderly couple who never expected to have one. Readers follow the child Nicholas from orphan-hood, to the high office of a church bishop, to his miraculous rebirth as the very spirit of Christmas giving itself. Many of the finer moments in Jeff Guinn's book come during Santa's encounters with and his recruitment of historical figures. Among the first is King Arthur, whose "kingship," says Santa, was more legend than fact, presenting Arthur here more as a humble war chief than anything resembling royalty. Santa's knack for debunking one myth while extending his own is a feature that allows readers to suspend disbelief and revel in the enchantment of this autobiography. Even such hilarious scenes as Teddy Roosevelt pleading with Santa to let him join his band of craftsmen and gift-givers becomes believable.

This enthralling blend of fact and fiction is an obvious fun read for the Christmas holidays but also an enjoyable one for any other time of the year.

by Author-Poet Aberjhani
author of The Wisdom Of W.E.B. Du Bois (Wisdom Library)
and Encyclopedia of the Harlem Renaissance (Facts on File Library of American History)

I believe..........2007-01-20

This is a wonderful story to explain the origins of Saint Nicholas. It makes a believer of even the most skeptical among us.

Get into the spirit!.......2007-01-18

Will get you into the spirit! Very informative and inspirational.

I believe it all!.......2007-01-12

Exceptionally well-written and fascinating to read. It was great to have so many historical figures tied in and have things finally "explained". Loved it!

The Autobiography of Santa Claus.......2007-01-11

My 8 year old daughter and I are reading this book now and love it. She's at the cusp of not believing in Santa Claus and it is renewing our faith in the magic! We are both learning a great deal about history as well.

Average customer rating:

My Visit With Santa Claus
Delightful and Beautiful

Santa Claus: A Biography
Gerry Bowler
Manufacturer: McClelland & Stewart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0771016689
Release Date: 2007-11-13

Book Description

An entertaining, often surprising look at the life of the world’s most influential fictional character.

He is the embodiment of charity and generosity, a creation of mythology, a tool of clever capitalists. The very idea of him is enduring and powerful.

Santa Claus was born in early-nineteenth-century America, but his family tree goes back seven hundred years to Saint Nicholas, patron saint of children. Intervening generations were shaggy and strange — whip-wielding menaces to naughty boys and girls. Yet as the raucous, outdoor, alcohol-fuelled holiday gave way to a more domestic, sentimental model, a new kind of gift-bringer was called for — a loveable elf, still judgmental but far less threatening.

In this engaging social and cultural history, Gerry Bowler examines the place of Santa Claus in history, literature, advertising, and art. He traces his metamorphosis from a beardless youth into a red-suited peddler. He reveals the lesser-known aspects of the gift-bringer’s life — Santa’s involvement with social and political causes of all stripes (he enlisted on the Union side in the American Civil War), his starring role in the movies and as adman for gun-makers and insurance companies. And he demolishes the myths surrounding Santa Claus and Coca-Cola.

Santa Claus: A Biography will stand as the classic work on the long-lived and multifarious Mr. Claus.

From the Hardcover edition.

Customer Reviews:

My Visit With Santa Claus.......2006-03-10

Gives Merry Christmas a new meaning. The evolution and
combining of religious and pagan customs that produced
this jolly old elf are an enlightening rebirth for Santa.

Delightful and Beautiful.......2006-01-06

From Santa's origins, through his evolution across the ages to his existence today - it's all here. This book has got to contain everything that anyone would ever want to know about Santa Claus: his "birth"; his depiction in different countries in different times; his "activities" during wars; his appearance in various ads, in movies, in literature and in song; as well as his perception by children and their parents alike. This is a wonderfully charming book. It is well written and although it is a serious biography, it is peppered with occasional humor as well as descriptions of heart-warming incidents. I recommend this book to everyone: those interested in history and culture, those who would like to believe again and those who still do.

Santa My Life & Times: An Illustrated Autobiography

Average customer rating:

MMMM Santa goodness
Beautiful!
multicultural Santa rocks
sienkwiecz is the best artist of our time
A New Family Tradition

Santa My Life & Times: An Illustrated Autobiography
Martin I. Green
Manufacturer: Avon Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 0380975599

Book Description

The man, the myth, the legend: Santa Claus. The story behind Santa Claus has always obscured the truth about the real man who lies behind the beard. This is his revealing story, presented for the first time: from his early teenage years when he walked into a forest and was discovered by elves, to his first moments with the future Mrs. Claus, to today--when Santa brings his message of hope, joy and lvoe to the lives of people around the world. The spectacular full-color artwork is by award-winning artist Bill Sienkiewicz, a favorite among fans of graphic art.

Customer Reviews:

MMMM Santa goodness.......2002-01-04

Oh man, My daddy got me this book two years ago and for the longest time I was like "Yeah, right Santa Claus, pffft . . ." and I threw the book in my closet. Then this christmas I was sick with the flu and I found it again. Having nothing else to do I began to read it and was sucked into the vast imagery and delicate artwork found within it's pages. It's many fanciful scenes involving the growth of Santa and his escapades in the mushroom forest and various other psychotropic locales dovetailed nicely with the effects of my cold medecine. An awesome tale of the jolly fat man if there ever was one . . . .

Beautiful!.......2001-12-02

The author made it sound so real.It made me beleive again.Its a great book for the whole family(especially those that are young and young at heart!)

multicultural Santa rocks.......1999-12-06

I am adult who still longs to believe in the myth of Santa Claus: that a jolly old man is still roaming the earth in his airborne carriage delivering happiness to all of the good Christian boys and girls out there. But as a buddhist, I have always stood outside this tradition and wondered if his life was relevant to my own Chinese background. But with this book the universality of santa's benevolence is brought home to all. May all the faiths buy this book for the Holiday season and the Chinese New Year!

sienkwiecz is the best artist of our time.......1999-09-15

I have been following the stunning art of Sienkwiecz since I was a 13 year old, when he was illustrating for Marvel Comics. Imagine my surprise when I saw this, with such detailed artwork. I have a feeling that years for now, this will be considered one of his major pieces of art. Not to mention that it has the origin of Santa Claus as well!

A New Family Tradition.......1999-01-16

I read "Santa, My Life and Times" with my two boys, ages 4 and 6, over the week prior to Christmas. We took advantage of its longer format to spread it out over several nights, one or two chapters at a time. While I was at first worried that the youngsters' short attention spans would wane, the story, writing and illustrations are so rich that their interest only grew with each night's installment, dovetailing perfectly with their mounting anticipation of the holiday. I wish there were more longer-form children's books out there that offered such depth of experience for my whole family. We'll be reading it again next year, for sure!

Wonderworker: The True Story of How Saint Nicholas Became Santa Claus

Average customer rating:

Forget the Grinch

Wonderworker: The True Story of How Saint Nicholas Became Santa Claus
Vincent A. Yzermans
Manufacturer: ACTA Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Religious | Leaders & Notable People | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0879462787

Book Description

Discover the magic inherent in the true story of a man who overcame relative obscurity in a small Mediterranean city and became a cultural icon the world over. In Wonderworker: The True Story of How St. Nicholas Became Santa Claus, Msgr. Vincent Yzermans writes a book for his grandnephew that explains the evolution of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus.

Nicholas quickly made a name for himself with his eloquence, intelligence and generosity. Recognized as a miracle worker during his lifetime, he became known for helping children in need, mothers in labor, and sailors as they traversed the Mediterranean. The modern incarnation of Santa Claus, however, became popularized in the mid-19th century through a poem by Clement Clark Moore called "A Visit from St. Nicholas"-better known as "The Night Before Christmas"-in the Frank Church editorial, "Yes, Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus," and in the artwork of Thomas Nast and Haddon Sundblom.

This book will appeal to children from the age of nine to ninety-nine. Anyone who celebrates Christmas-regardless of whether or not they still believe in the existence of a Santa Claus who brings gifts to children around the world-will welcome this informative and eloquent explanation of the true story behind how a humble bishop from Asia became "jolly old St. Nick."

Customer Reviews:

Forget the Grinch.......2004-10-11

Written for a three-year-old grandnephew to read when he is 13 o4 14, this large format paperback is clearly more than the story of the morphing of St. Nicholas into Santa Claus. Yes, that's the theme, and it is told well, but the author necessarily includes a great deal of cultural and church history. Black and white drawings and color reproductions of medieval art are commingled with replicas of soft drink ads featuring Santa. The writing reminds me of maybe a 12th grade religion text, which I wouldn't have appreciated so much in high school. Or it might be similar to something from a Lives of the Saints, though none of those held my interest like The Wonderworker. Put this one on your bookshelf next to Night before Christmas and begin a new tradition.

Average customer rating:

excellent and stirring
Beautiful book and story!
The History of Bishop Nicholas, now Saint Nicholas and how he became Santa Claus

The Legend of Saint Nicholas

Manufacturer: Margaret K. McElderry
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Ages 4-8 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

ASIN: 0689846819

Book Description

From his very first day of life, when he rises from his bath to pray to God, it is clear that Nicholas is a miraculous child with a spiritual destiny. As he grows he is deeply saddened by the sickness, suffering, and death that he witnesses every day. Looking to use his special gifts to affect change in the often desperate world around him, Nicholas dedicates his life to worshiping the Lord and helping those in need. Through his good works, Nicholas becomes the youngest man to ever become a bishop and the patron saint of seafarers, children, and prisoners. He performs more than twenty miracles, including bringing those wrongly killed back to life and going to people in need as an apparition, providing solace and inspiration.

In The Legend of Saint Nicholas, Demi describes pivotal events in the history and life of the saint, weaving a rich tapestry of luminous imagery into the story of his connection with Christmas and our modern-day Santa Claus. Demi's gilded artwork brings Nicholas to life in a way sure to mesmerize readers new to the story of this fascinating and important historical figure.

Customer Reviews:

excellent and stirring.......2007-08-17

This Book is inviting and beautiful. Demi's artwork is so well done and inspirational. In some ways the pictures tell the story and the words just carry it along. Charlotte Demi Hunt tells this story with reverence and some humor along the way. Look at her inventive end papers and you will see Santa's from around the world. Little details like Nicholas's donkey, a red stocking, darling dutch children holding wooden shoes offer a light humor to a very straight forward telling of the life of Saint Nicholas and how he became Santa Claus. Yet Demi never goes above childrens heads. Her writing is simple and straight forward and the stories of Nicholas's compassion and faith capture your heart. The best is that of the nobleman and his three daughters and how Nicholas saved the girls from slavery with a gift of gold in a stocking. The whole book is a delight and perfect for reading to children.

Beautiful book and story!.......2006-01-17

We got this book for our son's first Christmas and we love the richness of the story and the wonderful pictures. We look forward to reading it every Christmass season!

The History of Bishop Nicholas, now Saint Nicholas and how he became Santa Claus.......2005-12-13

Sometimes the best way to be more specific about a story beyond saying that it is "wonderful with beautiful pictures" is to quote what it says on the jacket cover that I can confirm from having read the book. I believe that this statement is very accurate - I couldn't have said it better myself: "In THE LEGEND OF SAINT NICHOLAS, Demi describes pivotal events in the history and life of the saint, weaving a rich tapestry of luminous imagery into the story of his connection with Christmas and our modern day Santa Claus. Demi's gilded artwork brings Nicholas to life in a way sure to mesmerize readers new to the story of this fascinating and important historical figure." I am not new to his story. I first learned about Saint Nicholas when I was a 5 year old child in Germany. I continue to celebrate Saint Nicholas day on his feast day, December 6 with whoever is near me. In the process I have explained again and again who he was and continue to have the highest respect for this historical figure, hoping that I can show some of his love for others. One thing that I realized in reading this book is that he was a bishop in the area of what is now part of what is considered to be that of the Orthodox or Eastern Catholic tradition rather than the Roman Catholic tradition. This is realized from the first time that you look at the cover of the book through the first couple of pages that show artwork of Orthodox orthodox churches and continued in "Middle East" scenery and Orthodox artwork. These pictures are present on every page of the book. As Bishop Nicholas lived in what is now Turkey this is most appropriate. A fun addition to this book is that the inside of the front and back covers have pictures of Saint Nicholas or Santa Claus as they are appropriately shown in costumes of various cultures throughout the world - Russian, Chinese, Egyptian, Native American, Mexican, German, Irish etc.. One can spend quite a while just looking at these pages they are so fascinating.

The Autobiography of Santa Claus (Audiofy Digital Audiobook Chips)

Average customer rating:

The Autobiography of Santa Claus (Audiofy Digital Audiobook Chips)

Manufacturer: Audiofy/Listen & Live
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards
ASIN: 1600833454

Product Description

This Audiofy audiobook chip packs John H. Mayer's full 9 hour reading of "The Autobiography of Santa Claus" on a tiny memory card. A single Audiofy audiobook chip, hardly larger than a stamp, holds a complete digital audiobook, and saves the last listening position automatically, unlike CDs. With an SD memory card slot or low-cost adapter - like those for digital cameras - this Audiofy audiobook chip can be played on Microsoft Windows and Apple Macintosh desktop computers or laptops (Microsoft Windows XP/2000/Me/98, or Apple Mac OS X 10.3.9 and above) or transferred to Apple iPod media players. Audiobook chips also move seamlessly to most Palm OS and Pocket PC handheld PDAs with SD expansion slots, as well as Treo and Windows Mobile "smartphones" (Palm OS 5.2 or Windows Mobile 2002 and above)... "You're right to believe in me," Saint Nicolas assures us. Old St. Nick, Santa Claus himself, reveals the definitive story, through seventeen centuries of Christmas lore, of how he came to be known as the all-knowing, all gift-giving man from the North Pole! Listen as this enchanting holiday treasure recalls Santas quest for universal gift-giving, spreading his message of kindness to countless others so they, too, could share his belief in the goodness of giving! Children, parents and entire families will delight in each entertaining chapter of this holiday classicone for each cold December night leading up to Christmas!

The Autobiography of Santa Claus (It's Better to Give)

Average customer rating:

The Autobiography of Santa Claus (It's Better to Give)

Manufacturer: The Summit Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000BWMYFG

Average customer rating:

The Autobiography of Santa Claus, It's Better to Give
Jeff Guinn
Manufacturer: The Summit Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000JWE2QM

Average customer rating:

The Autobiography of Santa Claus, Its Better to Give

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Audio Cassette

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

General | Books on Cassette | Audiobooks | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000BZWFHK

Average customer rating:

A GREAT BOOK BY A GREAT LADY
A very fine and entertaining autobiography
Excellent from cover to cover!

I FLUNKED SANTA CLAUS
Joyce Holsclaw
Manufacturer: Elderberry Press (OR)
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Educators | Professionals & Academics | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Women | Specific Groups | Biographies & Memoirs | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Feminist before there were feminists, single parent before the term was coined, teacher with uncompromising standards when times demanded laxity, Joyce Holsclaw is all these and more. Inspired by her grandson's queries about life in the "good old days", here with humor and irony she recounts four score years of experience and wisdom only hard times, war, divorce, love and seventy-nine years can teach. Readers for whom depression and world war are more than words will recognize in these stories both timeless truth and their own lives. For the young, I Flunked Santa Claus offers a view into the world from which theirs has sprung. So great is the contrast, they may well doubt the parentage. But regardless of age or politics, these simple, yet eloquent stories will leave no reader unmoved.

Customer Reviews:

A GREAT BOOK BY A GREAT LADY.......2003-07-05

This book made me never want to put it down. If you are over 50 you'll love every word of it. It will make you both laugh and cry. That's how true it is.

A very fine and entertaining autobiography.......2003-04-14

I Flunked Santa Claus was written by Joyce Holsclaw, an 80-year-old woman who was an early feminist, a single parent, and a demanding teacher. With humor and irony Joyce engagingly recounts over seventy years of her experiences, blending a zany sense of humor with insights into the social and political events of her times. A very fine and entertaining autobiography.

Excellent from cover to cover!.......2003-03-06

This book was absolutley amazing from one cover to the other. It's the real account of one womans life through the depression, world war II, and teaching in our problematic public high school system. I strongly recommend this novel for anyone who's seeking to understand this womans era and generation!

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books