Sky Above, Great Wind

The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan

By: Kazuaki Tanahashi

Narrated by: Brian Nishii

Ryokan (1758-1831) is, along with Dogen and Hakuin, one of the three giants of Zen in Japan. But unlike his two renowned colleagues, Ryokan was a societal dropout, living mostly as a hermit and a beggar. He was never head of a monastery or temple. He liked playing with children. He had no dharma heir. 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. His poetry and art were wildly popular even in his lifetime. He is now regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Edo Period, along with Basho, Buson, and Issa. He was also a master artist-calligrapher with a very distinctive style, due mostly to his unique and irrepressible spirit, but also because he was so poor he didn't usually have materials: His distinctive thin line was due to the fact that he often used twigs rather than the brushes he couldn't afford. He was said to practice his brushwork with his fingers in the air when he didn't have any paper. There are hilarious stories about how people tried to trick him into doing art for them, and about how he frustrated their attempts. As an old man, he fell in love with a young Zen nun who also became his student. His affection for her colors the mature poems of his late period. This collection contains more than 140 of Ryokan's poems, with selections of his art, and of the very funny anecdotes about him.

©2012 Kazuaki Tanahashi (P)2014 Audible Inc.

Take the Time to Enjoy this.

loved it, easy to finish, free, and introspective to the seeker. Narrator was well spoken.

Wonderful book

If you want Zen explained to you buy books by D.T. Suzuki. If you want to see it through the eyes of someone that lived it, this is the book

Classic Zen poems of Ryokan

Classic Zen poems of Ryokan, expertly translated into English by Tanahasi - full of beauty and pathos.

The Great Fool

Ryokan, "The Great Fool," is, perhaps, the scruffiest of the great Zen Master poets. His writings, and in particular, Kazuaki Tanahashi's translation, convey the experiences of a breathing person, irreverent and humorous while holding deep sorrow, loneliness, and wisdom. He portrays a universe playing tricks on us all.

Brian Nishii is a fantastic narrator. He is clear, has a good sense of timing and his enthusiasm for the reading is evident.

Excellent

Beautifully written and narrated. A window into a past life of peace and wisdom. I am sure that future listens will reap further rewards.
I enjoyed listening to it at 0.85x speed.