Sermons of a Buddhist Abbot


Read by LibriVox Volunteers

(4.2 stars; 40 reviews)

Look! it's the science of sitting, No! it's the science of meditating, No! it's Zen. If you wanted to know anything regarding Zen Buddhism and you did not have the opportunity then here is your chance to listen to the wisdom of a Zen Buddhist Abbot who toured the United States in 1905-6 and most of the sections in this book were lectures that were given to the American Audience, which is why this work is nicknamed as "Zen for Americans."

"The Zen that can be explained is not the Zen" said the second patriarch to Bodhi Dharma but this book tries to explain the basic principles that can help you get started on the journey of experiencing Zen. Some of the essays in this book were used as a reference by Leo Tolstoy in one of his works. (Summary by sidhu177) (5 hr 11 min)

Chapters

Translator's Preface 5:13 Read by Jendia
The Sutra of Forty-two Chapters 20:53 Read by Jendia
The God-Conception of Buddhism 21:15 Read by Mike Pelton
Assertions and Denials 22:42 Read by Jacki Horn
Immortality 17:33 Read by csheeler
Buddhist Faith 12:45 Read by William Gavula
Buddhist Ethics 18:39 Read by William Gavula
What Is Buddhism? 19:37 Read by William Gavula
The Middle Way 19:03 Read by Mike Pelton
The Wheel of the Good Law 13:29 Read by Jacki Horn
The Phenomenal and the Supraphenomenal 13:10 Read by Jacki Horn
Reply to a Christian Critic 6:57 Read by Jacki Horn
Ignorance and Enlightenment 8:43 Read by Jacki Horn
Spiritual Enlightenment 19:00 Read by Jacki Horn
Pratice of Dhyana 19:09 Read by Jacki Horn
Kwannon Bosatz 14:26 Read by Jacki Horn
Buddhism and Oriental Culture 15:28 Read by Jacki Horn
The Story of Deer Park 5:14 Read by Jacki Horn
The Story of Gem-Hunting 3:02 Read by Jacki Horn
The Sacrifice for a Stanza 5:27 Read by Jacki Horn
Buddhist View of War 6:17 Read by Jacki Horn
At the Battle of Nan-Shan Hill 8:44 Read by Jacki Horn
An Address Delivered at a Service Held in Memory of Those Who Died in the Russo… 15:12 Read by Jacki Horn

Reviews

thx readers, love librivox


(5 stars)

Jendia, imho you should give that a re read. You sound happy and fun which is great! but doesn't really match the content. Happy bouncy would be great on a Grimm short story.

great attempt to describe what can't be described


(5 stars)

nice addition to any library, Buddhist or not. many thanks to the readers, including jenida, all who do a fine job.

enjoyed the info


(5 stars)

I enjoyed the information. thank you to all readers.


(4 stars)

Refreshing. Haven't heard some of these since college (1979)


(5 stars)

Good material, most of the readers are excellent.


(2 stars)

not a very interesting book imo

A good introduction to Zen metaphysics


(5 stars)

Please have someone re-read the first two chapters


(3 stars)

Jendia, who read the first 2 chapters, obviously doesn’t take this subject seriously. She is hard to understand, and seems to be mocking the subject with her reading style. The other readers are much better.