American Koan: Imagining Zen and Self in Autobiographical Literature (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780813952093)

How American Buddhists use Zen riddles to imagine who they are

The koan is one of the most recognizable East Asian spiritual exercises--a thought experiment in the form of a riddle or puzzle that Zen Buddhists employ to become enlightened. Well-known examples include the question "What is the sound of one hand clapping?," "Does a dog have Buddha-nature?," and the injunction "If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him."

In American Koan, Ben Van Overmeire examines the literary function of these ancient dialogues in autobiographies of modern Western writers such as Natalie Goldberg, Peter Matthiessen, Philip Kapleau, Ruth Ozeki, and others. Through his attentive analyses of these authors, Van Overmeire unveils the rich world of American Zen literature and delves into the meaning of success and failure in Zen; how women find a place in this patriarchal tradition; how to combine Zen insight with compassion; and the illusory nature of linear time. Critical yet empathetic, this is a scintillating study of how Americans become Buddhas.

Author: Ben Van Overmeire
ISBN-10: 0813952093
ISBN-13: 9780813952093
Publisher: University of Virginia Press
Language: English
Published: 10/17/2024
Pages: 242
Format: Paperback