Publisher's Synopsis
This is a distinctly western take on the ancient tradition and practice of Zen Buddhism. Drawn from the archives of major Zen centres in America and interviews with some of the most seminal figures of American Zen, including Philip Kapleau, Bernie Glassman and Walter Nowick. ONE BIRD, ONE STONE presents the notable encounters between teachers and students, the moments of insight and wisdom, the quotable quotes and the humour of Zen as it has flowered in America over the last hundred-plus years. Murphy, a Zen student and an accomplished writer, conducted numerous personal interviews and distilling from them 108 pithy stories of foreign and domestic masters in America. Unlike Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, Murphy goes a step further and adds the history behind the tales. The players range from masters Suzuki, Maezumi, Seung Sahn, Robert Aitken and Philip Kapleau to earnest students Gary Snyder, Alan Watts and Philip Whalen. In addition to the big names, Murphy includes the less well known but equally interesting Tsung Tsai, Deh Chun and others. "Sean Murphy's eloquent book is thought-provoking and lovely. This collection of 108 new teaching stories in the American Zen Buddhist tradition is a poetic account of the transplanting of Zen Buddhism to this new Western soil and some of the various ways it has taken root here in the lives of a wide spectrum of teachers and practitioners." - Sharon Salzberg, Author and Co-Founder of The Insight Meditation Center
