| The Unfettered Mind: Writings of the Zen Master to the Sword Master |  | Author: Soho Takuan
Publisher: Kodansha Amer Inc
Category: Book
List Price: $13.95
Buy Used: $9.00
You Save: $4.95 (35%)
Used (11) from $9.00
Avg. Customer Rating:  14 reviews
Sales Rank: 1191553
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1st
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 104
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 7.8 x 5.5 x 0.8
ISBN: 0870117769
Dewey Decimal Number: 294.34
EAN: 9780870117763
ASIN: 0870117769
Publication Date: October 1986
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: Expedited shipping is not available for this item. Items are mailed via USPS media mail within 2 business days and should arrive 4-14 business days later.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
In a life-and-death situation of being sword-tip to sword-tip with the enemy, where should the swordsman put his mind?
This is the first question posed in the first of three essays written by a Zen master for the guidance of samurai swordsmen. Among the other questions that arise are the difference between the right mind and the confused mind, what makes life precious, the nature of right-mindedness, the Buddhist paradigm of form and consciousness, and what distinguishes the True Mind. So succinct are the author's insights that these writings have outlasted the dissolution of the samurai class to come down to the present as sources of guidance and inspiration for captains of business and industry, as well as those devoted to the practice of the martial arts in their modern forms.
The history of the sword in Japan goes back to antiquity. Zen and its meditative practices also have a long history, but it was not until the rule of the Tokugawa shoguns, beginning in the early 1600s, that the techniques of swordsmanship fused with the spirit of Zen. And if one man can be said to have been the prime mover in this phenomenon, it was none other than Takuan Soho, confidant and religious instructor to an emperor, to a great sword master, and to the heads of the most important sword schools of the time.
Takuan's meditations on the sword in the essays presented here are classics of Zen thinking.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 9 more reviews...
 Mind over matter? March 25, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
You might be someone who's down to earth, just like, figuring out how in someone's name some Japanese sword fighter is going to help you out in your daily life. Well, he isn't going to.
What this book does teaches you is to seek within yourself and return to your own core. As I'm not someone who meditates or does much spiritual enlightment, this book still taught me a lot. As for the time of reading it, it takes you back into time and makes you think of certain things you might not have thought about all your life. So, if that's enlightment, count me in.
With only 92 real pages to read, this book still gives much value for its price. Most sentences are compressed with knowledge and sometimes make you read them twice. Hey, that's 184 pages already then!
Are you interested in gaining some spiritual thoughts and maybe some habits as well? Then read this book.
 Takuan Soho's Legacy October 19, 2007
This is a legacy of Takuan Soho, a Zen monk from medieval Japan who live in the same period with Minamoto Mushasi, author of The Book of Five Rings. In this book Takuan Soho was trying to explain the concept of Zen to other sword master, Yagyu Munemori, and of course from the perspective of Buddhism. "A" gook book actualy but it takes a great amount of time to read and understand it.
A spiritual book for the swordsman. October 10, 2007
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I would suggest this book for Kendo and Kenjutsu practitioners for spiritual reasons.
Soho was the spiritual teacher of a famous Swordsman Yagyu Munenori. In Yagyus books his strong Zen background is evident. Soho was not an excellent swordsman himself. However he pioneered the spiritual aspects of chopping someones head off. He was more of a cook than swordsman. As is evident by his now famous pickle.
So buy a jar of Soho pickles to munch on before reading this book.
I like Takuan's Zen... November 4, 2005
7 out of 15 found this review helpful
...I'd like to meet him. But not in a duel. The title of the book is appropriate. Do not park your mind. Zen is a no-parking zone. It is alright to park your tail on a cushion, though. To understand this book, you need to be a bit of a martial artist, and a bit of a zennist to begin with. Not for beginners, or for those who like their gruel thin.
the unfettered pickle October 30, 2005
14 out of 39 found this review helpful
i know this is completely unhelpful and i'm going to be berated for this review, but i think it's funny. in japan there's a kind of pickle named after takuan.
also (on the horrific side of things), the idea of combining buddhism and warrior values is kind of scary to me. really what it leads to is "mindless" killing. ideas along this vein were used during WWII to encourage just that.
hate me if you want.
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