 | Welcome to Primary Point Press | |
| Welcome to Primary Point Press | |
Primary Point Press is the publishing arm of
the Kwan Um School of Zen.
Books | |
|---|---|
| One Hundred Days of Solitude By Zen Master Bon
Yeon. The Wisdom of Solitude is a book about climbing
wholeheartedly into the moment, and hence into the world as it truly is.
It is the story of a young woman's search for her true self through the
practice of Zen in a cabin in the winter woods of New England. While
there, she strips away every possible distraction and devotes herself
for over three months to practicing Zen eighteen hours a day. She has no
electricity, no visitors, no phone, no car and does not leave the woods
for the duration of her solitary retreat. In the silence and nature a
profound clarity emerges. The book is down-to-earth, humorous, and easy
to follow. In prose as bare as the winter trees, it weaves a story that
revealsthe myriad aspects of spiritual practice. Just when we think our
protagonist is holy, we discover that she longs for nothing more than a
slice of pizza. Just when we think she is suburban and shallow, we see
the strength and the depth of what Zen practice has revealed to her.
This is the story of real practice, as far from a scholarly treatise on
Buddhism as possible, and is filled with wonderful teachings and quotes
from the great Zen practitioners of all time. MORE on One Hundred Days of Solitude. |
| Bone of Space Poems by Zen Master Seung Sahn. This collection captures a master's thoughts during everyday life - while traveling, talking on the phone, attending a friend's funeral. 128 pages. $15.00 (1/2 pound) |
| Chanting Book with English Translations and Temple
Rules The chanting book used in daily meditation practice at our Zen Centers. 64 pages. $15.00 (1/2 pound) |
| The Compass of Zen The essence of Zen Master Seung Sahn's teaching: the main points of Buddhism and Zen, the ten gates and temple rules. New edition published by Shambhala. The Compass of Zen is a simple, clear, and often hilarious
presentation of the essential teachings of the main Buddhist traditions
-- culminating in Zen. In his many years of teaching throughout the
world, Zen Master Seung Sahn has become known for his unique ability to
cut to the heart of Buddhist teaching in a way that is strikingly clear,
without relying upon esoteric or academic language. In this book, based
on his talks, he presents the basic teachings of Buddhism in a way that
is wonderfully rich and accessible for both beginners and long-time
students. |
| Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean
Zen Zen Master Wu Kwang (Richard Shrobe). [From Review in
Publishers Weekly, April 12, 2004]. Richard Shrobe, a therapist who
heads a Korean Zen Buddhist center in New York, guides students lightly
through the history of that branch of Zen. He cites major teachers and
their teachings, including poems, other writings and kong-ans (koans, or
logic-defying riddles), then comments on and interprets them. This
sketch of lineage provides a grounding glimpse of a spiritual tradition
that works by challenging practitioners about their attachments to
whatever grounds them or makes them know with certainty. Zen is that
most slippery body of teachings about human knowing, and Shrobe does a
fine job of unpacking stories and words for meaning without getting lost
in the conceptualization that Zen debunks. Because explanation through
concepts can be misleading in Zen, he "explains" key Korean Zen
teachings through examples and stories from past master practitioners
rather than using abstract ideas. ("Not explaining, not understanding is
the transcendence of ideas, concepts, words and speech.") As is often
the case with Zen teachers, this book is a transcribed series of talks.
Shrobe's words lack the lyrical quality that often graces spare prose of
such Zen masters as Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, but his language possesses the
sharp-edged simple diction characteristic of Zen teaching. ("'Still not
far off'- that is called Zen faith.") The book is short, but will be
particularly helpful for Korean Zen students deepening their practice.
|
 | Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teaching of Zen Master
Seung Sahn Compiled and edited by Stephen Mitchell. A delightful, irreverent and often hilarious record of his interactions with Western students. Excerpt 244 pages. $13.00 (1 pound) ORDER NOW from Amazon This book is also available in Chinese from our Hong Kong Su Bong Zen Monastery. E-mail them here for more information. |
| A Gathering of Spirit: Women Teaching in American
Buddhism Edited by Ellen Sidor. Talks and discussions from three landmark conferences at Providence Zen Center. Third edition, 1992. 156 pages. $11.95 (1/2 pound) |
 | Only Don't Know - Teaching
Letters of Zen Master Seung Sahn Issues of work, relationships and suffering are discussed as they relate to meditation practice. New expanded edition published by Shambhala. $16.95 (1 pound) ORDER NOW from Amazon This book is also available in Chinese from our Hong Kong Su Bong Zen Monastery. E-mail them here for more information. |
| Open Mouth Already a Mistake - Talks by Zen Master Wu
Kwang Teaching of a Zen Master who is also a husband, father, practicing Gestalt therapist and musician. 238 pages. $18.95 (1 pound) |
| Ten Gates: The Kong-an Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn This book presents the system of ten kong-ans that Zen Master Seung Sahn called the “Ten Gates.” These kong-ans represent the basic types one will encounter. Each of the ten gates, or kong-ans, is illuminated by actual interchanges between Zen Master Seung Sahn and his students that show what the practice is all about: it is above all a process of coming to trust one’s own wisdom, and of manifesting that wisdom in every kong-an-like situation life presents us with. 152 pages. $14.95 (1 pound) |
| Wanting Enlightenment is a Big Mistake:
The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn [From Publishers Weekly] The late Korean Zen Buddhist master Seung Sahn, who died in 2004, came from the "kill the Buddha" school of Buddhism that relishes paradox and shrewd foolishness. The playfulness of this teacher's challenges to his pupils is clearly conveyed in this compilation of short exchanges with students. These are dharma (teaching) encounters rather than the lengthier talks found in many teachers' books. When Seung Sahn is not teaching students that one plus two equals zero, he is sharply banging his Zen stick on the floor to remind them to stop thinking, or talking, in order to understand. These short pieces nicely communicate a forceful style, and they are almost philosophical for someone who reiterates the shortcomings of an intellectual understanding of things. "Primary point" is a term the master uses to explain something like an absolute, except that Buddhism constructs no absolutes. Some biographical material, including a letter the Zen Master wrote to former South Korean dictator Gen. Chun Du-Hwan, provides helpful context. Seung Sahn's students in the Kwan Um School will especially prize this collection, and its easy-to-read format should also pique the interest of students of other Zen masters. 208 pages. $15.95 (1 pound) |
| The Whole World is a Single Flower - 365 Kong-ans for
Everyday Life With questions and commentaries by Zen Master Seung Sahn. The first modern kong-an (koan) collection to appear in many years; it draws on Christian, Taoist and Buddhist sources. Compiled and edited by Zen Master Bon Yeon, and Hyon Gak Sunim JDPS. With a foreword by Stephen Mitchell. 267 pages. $22.95 (1 pound) |
| You may also be interested in the titles on the Kwan Um School of Zen's suggested reading list | |
| Perceive World Sound Historic recording with Zen Master Seung Sahn of the morning and evening bell chants and the daily chants done at Kwan Um School Zen Centers. $15.00 (1/2 pound) |
| Chanting
Instructional CD The morning and evening bell chants, daily chants, plus special chanting. $10.00 (1/2 pound) If you're ordering this CD to learn the chants, we suggest that you also order a copy of the chanting book if you don't already have one. |
| Zen Buddhist
Chanting CD Chanting by Korean monk Hae Tong Sunim. Includes Thousand Eyes and Hands Sutra, Kwan Seum Bosal chanting, Sashi Maji chanting, Homage to the Three Jewels, The Four Mantras, and an extended version of Kwan Seum Bosal chanting. $15.00 (1/2 pound) |
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