Taisen Deshimaru Libri

In queste storie Zen, raccolte e narrate dal maestro Taìsen Destrimani (alcune di esse risalgono a duemilaseicento anni fa), la straordinaria carica di umorismo e la potenza dello spirito fecondo dello Zen trovano una perfetta esemplificazione. Perché, senza dubbio, ciascuna di esse ci apre una porta e racconta un modo di vedere la realtà. La storia e la leggenda qui sfociano in una verità profonda e racchiudono un significato eterno. Dice un proverbio Zen che, quando ci viene indicata la luna, dobbiamo guardare quest'ultima e non il dito che ce la mostra: ecco un buon metodo da seguire anche nella lettura di questo libro.

At last: a book on the martial arts from a true Zen master. Taisen Deshimaru was born in Japan of an old samurai family, and he recieved from the Great Master Kodo Sawaki the Transmission of Mind to Mind when Sawaki died. In 1967, Deshimaru-Roshi went to France and taught as a missionary general of the Sato Zen School until his death in 1982. In Europe he learned how to make Oriental concepts understandable to the Western mind. One of the results of that experience was this book: a series of lessons, question-and-answer sessions, and koans (riddles or anecdotes that point out general principles) that provide practical wisdom for all students of the martial arts--kendo, aikido, iai-do, jodo, or archery--as well as for the general reader interested in Zen.

An enlightening account of a session held in France under the guidance of the renowned Japanese Zen Master, Taisen Deshimaru (1914-1982). This book answers pressing questions and provides vital instruction and inspiration for both beginner or long-time Zen practitioners and those using meditation as part of their spiritual path.

At last: a book on the martial arts from a true Zen master. Taisen Deshimaru was born in Japan of an old samurai family, and he recieved from the Great Master Kodo Sawaki the Transmission of Mind to Mind when Sawaki died. In 1967, Deshimaru-Roshi went to France and taught as a missionary general of the Sato Zen School until his death in 1982. In Europe he learned how to make Oriental concepts understandable to the Western mind. One of the results of that experience was this book: a series of lessons, question-and-answer sessions, and koans (riddles or anecdotes that point out general principles) that provide practical wisdom for all students of the martial arts--kendo, aikido, iai-do, jodo, or archery--as well as for the general reader interested in Zen.

A story of bravery and false starts, this autobiography candidly recounts the author's journey from a mischievous Japanese boy to a world-renowned Zen Sensei. Unlike many memoirs by Zen students and teachers, Taisen Deshimaru’s narrative is particularly engaging. Reflecting on his early life in Japan from the perspective of a Zen teacher in Paris, he shares misadventures ranging from defacing a painting of Bodhidharma as a child to wielding the “Zen stick” against a young monk during a retreat. His student years are filled with tales of alcohol and women, alongside his wartime experiences in Malaysia, where he sympathized with the underground freedom movement. This first English-language translation offers a clear and honest account of Deshimaru’s life, which has influenced many through his teachings, especially regarding Zen and martial arts. The memoir also highlights the impact of his teacher, Kodo Sawaki, detailing their lifelong friendship and Deshimaru’s monastic ordination. His influence reaches beyond Zen practitioners to those in martial arts, as he reflects on his early training. Additionally, historians may find interest in the supposed “scandals” surrounding Zen masters during the war, as Deshimaru’s subjective viewpoint provides a unique perspective on these complex issues without judgment.

Das Geheimnis des Zen liegt im Zusammenspiel von Konzentration und Beobachtung, zwei Arten von Wachsamkeit. In ihnen löst sich das Bewusstsein vom Grund des Denkens und gewinnt jene Distanz und Überlegenheit, die nötig ist, will man den Kern der Dinge ergründen. So wird im Zen gerade der Alltag zum Exerzierplatz unseres Bewusstseins, eines gereinigten Bewusstseins, das seinen höchsten Ausdruck in unendlicher Weisheit und großem Mitgefühl findet.

Cet ouvrage est le fruit de la pratique de zazen enseignée par Maître Taisen Deshimaru, expérience fondamentale de connaissance de soi, des autres, du monde et du cosmos. Comment vivre ici et maintenant ? Comment observer son karma sur le chemin de la vie à la mort ? Comment se concentrer instant après instant tout au long de la vie quotidienne afin de vivre pleinement le moment présent et ne pas laisser vainement passer le temps ? Observation-concentration, aller de l'un à l'autre, telle est la méthode que nous propose Maître Deshimaru aussi bien à travers la posture de zazen que durant la vie quotidienne. C'est à partir de cette pratique millénaire et au-delà du temps, par l'entraînement du corps, de la respiration et de l'esprit qu'on devient un miroir où tout peut se réfléchir. Cet ouvrage, basé sur les principes de la médecine orientale, nous livre de plus un enseignement fondé sur l'ésotérisme du bouddhisme Mahayana et jamais révélé en Occident.