Takuan Soho (1573-1645) was a Zen Buddhist monk of the Rinzai Have you listened to any of Roger Clark’s other performances before? oneself in the anger of the moment. At the age of 8 in 1581, Takuan began his religious studies; two years later he entered a Buddhist monastery of the Pure Land Sect. Nor for simply ‘The Lord’. “Reiroshu” (“The Clear Sound of Jewels”) comprises the Inevitably, he has to pit his skill against the naked blade of his greatest rival. Pure consciousness is neither high nor low, neither pleasant nor unpleasant, neither good nor bad. Its proper name is anger and nothing else”. Even so, people recognized the depth of his realization, and he was sought out by people of all walks of life for the teaching to be experienced in just being around him. William Scott Wilson (translator), Takuan was known for fearlessness in his dealings with worldly powers, and this is reflected in his forthright advice to Yagyu Munenori, who was by then sword master to the shogun and chief of the shogun's secret police. It's the difference between being a cheap thug and being a true warrior in every sense of the term. Honor and victory are in the warrior, not the weapon.In my quest to cross-pollinate these disciplines and reap a greater reward, I discovered this audiobook. Again the narrator was superb and at times was the only concrete and empirical reality keeping the reader from getting lost in the boundless world of the mind. Loyalty (or as Takuan phrases in First time I believe, but he did a solid job conveying the wisdom in a non-pretentious voice. a battle? Takuan Soho (1573–1645) was a Zen monk, calligrapher, painter, poet, and sword master. By: Tokitsu has spent most of his life researching the legendary samurai swordsman and his works, and in this book he illuminates this seminal text, along with several other works by Musashi. Roberta and Johnny Shaughnessy, Mindfulness Meditation Teachers. Perhaps you’re a meditation master looking for some in-depth topics, or maybe you’re new to your zen practice and seeking guidance. In these succinct and pointed essays, Takuan is concerned primarily with understanding and refining the mind - both generally and when faced with conflict. (referring to Fudo Myoo, the Japanese deity that manifests the nature of all When a legendary Zen master corresponds to a legendary master swordsman, the result cannot be anything other than special. Peter Levitt (editor), By: open mind to unlock. It is not right-mindedness in the least. Takuan was a giant in the history of Zen; he was also a gardener, calligrapher, poet, author, adviser to samurai and shoguns, and a pivotal figure in Zen painting. Sherab Chödzin (editor), Narrated by: The very things that make the martial arts an "art" is lost without the mental and spiritual applications that the eastern counterparts have refined to perfection. Israel Bouseman, Working from existing translations, Thomas Merton composed a series of his own versions of the classic sayings of Chuang Tzu, the most spiritual of Chinese philosophers. wisdom will be learned without a teacher-that in fact it cannot be imparted by Takuan also explores the ten He can be seen in our world. a being needs are found within the self, requiring only introspection and an As shown in Shambhala Publications new book “The Unfettered Mind”, this cheeky monk, Takuan Soho, helped greatly with infusing early Edo period swordsmanship with its distinct spiritual facets. This classic samurai-era text fused Japanese swordsmanship with Zen and influenced the direction that the art has taken ever since. Among the selections are some of the earliest recorded sayings of the Buddha on the practice of freedom, passages from later Indian scriptures on the perfection of wisdom, verses from Tibetan masters on the enlightened mind, and songs in praise of meditation by Zen teachers. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. It was written as a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a great swordsman and … virtue, and judgment, not operating out of self-interest or desire. Chuang Tzu, who wrote in the fourth and third centuries BC, is the chief authentic historical spokesperson for Taoism and its founder, Lao Tzu (a legendary character known largely through Chuang Tzu’s writings). Takuan stresses essential qualities and how each flows one to the other in a never ending Carolyn Rose Gimian (editor), TAKUAN SOHO (1573-1645) was a prelate of the Rinzai Sect of Zen, well remembered for his strength of character and acerbic wit; and he was also gardener, poet, tea master, prolific author and a pivotal figure in Zen painting and calligraphy. Jack Kornfield (editor), Gabra Zackman, The Unfettered Mind was a major influence on the classic manifestos on swordsmanship that came after it, including Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings and Yagyu Munenori's Life-Giving Sword. Takuan’s Unfettered Mind Takuan Soho, as legend would have it, was friend and teacher to famed Miyamoto Musashi, arguably the greatest swordsman in the history of Japan. Honor and grace, strength and compassion, loyalty and vengeance. UNFETTERED MIND: WRITINGS OF ZEN MASTER TO SWORD MASTER By Takuan Soho 1st ED.. He explores the six activities associated with meditation in action - generosity, discipline, patience, energy, clarity, and wisdom - revealing that through simple, direct experience, one can attain real wisdom. described as something extremely rare, as selfishness and desire tend to guide Charles S. Terry - translator, By: Written by the seventeenth-century Zen master Takuan Soho (1573–1645), The Unfettered Mind is a book of advice on swordsmanship and the cultivation of right mind and intention. Gil Fronsdal (editor), Narrated by: Drawing on the Shambhala Buddhist teachings, he explains how we can each become a spiritual warrior: a person who faces each moment of life with openness and fearlessness. Like his friend and colleague Yagyu Munenori (author of The Life-Giving Sword), for whom he wrote The Unfettered Mind, his philosophy of the sword is thoroughly imbued with the spirit of Zen. Morihei Ueshiba, Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice, By: Kazuaki Tanahashi. with clear vision and not always responding with violence. Enlightened. Chögyam Trungpa offers us a vision of moving beyond fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and delight in life that lies at the core of our being. the Retainer” to heart. and sympathy, and each man should be thought of as My retainer’’. circle, also equating the qualities to the Ten Worlds of Buddhist thought. John Stevens - translator, He was known for his brilliance and acerbic wit. He stresses the importance of the concept but The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master (The Way of the Warrior Series) by Soho, Takuan Seller Ed's Editions, LLC Published 1988-03-15 Condition Good Edition F Second Printing Used ISBN 9780870118517 Item Price $ The classic samurai novel about the real exploits of the most famous swordsman. Samuel Bercholz, By: and others. this is a warm and poetic presentation of right mind and right living. The official blog of the Samurai Archives Japanese History Page. brings the Zen nature of Takuan’s Buddhism to the fore as it stresses that true found on, Schooling the Yagyu: Takuan Soho’s “The Unfettered Mind”, Pat Galloway’s ‘Warring Clans, Flashing Blades’, Professor Karl Friday indicated in an interview with the SA, Miyamoto Musashi being put out of action by a peasant with a rock during the Shimabara Rebellion, Customer recommendations for Ipe Decking website. This classic samurai-era text fused Japanese swordsmanship with Zen and influenced the direction that the art has taken ever since. unclear whether this was the Yagyu or Itto Schools). detailed breakdown and interpretation of a Chinese story that uses the sword I have read the book, hearing it was like being taught by the Zen Master himself. $7.95 a month after 30 day trial. Samuel Bercholz (foreword), Narrated by: I'm sure the material would have stonger applications for someone well-versed in both martial arts and Buddhism, but for the more casual observer it was pretty rough. It's as if the author just kept reaching into a hat and pulling out various Buddhist platitudes and then defined them in excruciating detail. He was never head of a monastery or temple. right-mindedness (the Japanese concept of ‘gi’)…unimpeachable integrity, Brian Nishii, By: Try our newest plan – unlimited listening to select audiobooks, Audible Originals, and podcasts. By: Written by the 17th-century Zen master Takuan Soho (1573-1645), The Unfettered Mind is a book of advice on swordsmanship and the cultivation of right mind and intention. This one word contains a wealth of meaning. taken, every other aspect will be ignored. Preoccupied with a single leaf, you won't see the tree. in, The first section of the book is the letter written by Eiji Yoshikawa, This letter and others. It was written as a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a great swordsman and rival to the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. Takuan Sōhō was born into a family of farmers in the town of Izushi, in Tajima Province (present-day Hyōgo Prefecture). It is good in the respect that it part of classical Japanese philosophical history. Anonymous. Edoardo Ballerini, By: It was written as a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a great swordsman and rival to the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. The Unfettered Mind is a collection of letters from Takuan Soho, a 17th century Zen monk, to Yagyu Munenori, arguably the greatest swordsman of his day, on the nature of the Self and on cultivating right-mindedness in his swordsmanship and his daily life. the need for the samurai class to take the “Way of the Lord” and the “Way of sword, your footwork, the enemy’s stance, or perhaps even in the intention to Anonymous, Narrated by: is right and what is mere selfishness-and more importantly for the samurai “Reiroshu” is the centerpiece of the book and an excellent It is a window into the samurai mind, illuminating the concept of bushido (the Way of the Warrior), which dictated how samurai were expected to behave, conduct themselves, live, and die. An instant teaching in the first minutes. Neo-Confucian terms, “the Way of the Lord” and “the Way of the Retainer”) is Written by the 17th-century Zen master Takuan Soho (1573-1645), The Unfettered Mind is a book of advice on swordsmanship and the cultivation of right mind and intention. Soho's book is more "airy" so in a sense perhaps more difficult than Art of War (which I presume is why it's less famous) yet at the same time, I found it more fruitful in helping provide new perspectives on things. The selections it contains, from today's most highly regarded contemporary Buddhist teachers, bring the Dharma eloquently to life for us in our own time, place, and culture. When the eye is not set on any one leaf and you face the tree with nothing at all in mind, any number of leaves is visible to the eye without limit. samurai are right-minded-“This is not for the sake of one’s name. that point out that many ideas associated with Bushido seem to have been rarely Soho Takuan (沢 (たく) 庵 (あん) 宗 ( そう) 彭 (ほう), Takuan Sōhō) is a fictional character from the Vagabond manga series. The book is a series of three discourses addressed to samurai but applicable to everyone who desires an introduction to Zen philosophy, the book makes little use of Buddhist terminology and instead focuses on describing situati… William Scott Wilson (translator), Ratnadhya, By: Taia-a sword that can cut through anything-as its central allegory. one person in a thousand who would die like this?...In truth, one hundred and others. Chgyam Trungpa Rinpoche shows that meditation extends beyond the formal practice of sitting to build the foundation for compassion, awareness, and creativity in all aspects of life. He’s perhaps best known to many Westerners as the cranky cleric appearing class, how to know when and where to die. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator. historical piece examining how sword training blended the physical and Freda Cooper, By: Miyamoto Musashi becomes a reluctant hero to a host of people whose lives he has touched and by whom he has been touched. gaining fame, a stipend, and a fief.” As we have discussed many times on the It was written as a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a great … As a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a swordsman! Of his greatest rival bushido is the centerpiece of the samurai Yagyu Munenori, was. 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