Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye | 
 enlarge | Author: Brad Warner
Publisher: New World Library
Category: Book
List Price: $14.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  19 reviews
Sales Rank: 112554
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 256
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.6
Dimensions (in): 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.9
ISBN: 1577315596
Dewey Decimal Number: 294.385
EAN: 9781577315599
ASIN: 1577315596
Publication Date: April 13, 2007
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Product Description
In Sit Down and Shut Up, Brad Warner tackles one of the great works of Zen literature, the Shobogenzo by 13th-century Zen master Dogen. Illuminating Dogen’s enigmatic teachings in plain language, Warner intertwines sharp philosophical musings on sex, evil, anger, meditation, enlightenment, death, God, sin, and happiness with an exploration of the power and pain of the punk rock ethos. Riffing on his triumphant return to Ohio for a reunion concert of Akron punk bands, Brad uncovers the real heart of Zen, in teachings and stories with a sharp smack of truth,.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 14 more reviews...
 Lotus Guide Review July 2, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Sit Down and Shut Up: Punk Rock Commentaries on Buddha, God, Truth, Sex, Death, and Dogen's Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye
By Brad Warner
I like what's going on in the world today; we are shaking up old traditions and as you can imagine, a punk rocker would probably shake up Buddhism a bit. It is a great way to introduce a profound teaching to the disgruntled young minds in our society who see no way to connect with tradition. It's also a great way for a Buddhist to check his or her humility and loosen up a little by seeing things with a "beginners mind."Rahasya Poe, Lotus Guide,[...]
 Informative, sagacious, and funny June 16, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
This was an informative and well-written book about Buddhism, specifically focusing on the teachings of Dogen and the form of practice known as Zazen. Right off the bat there are two things I had no clue about! I am not a practicing Buddhist but merely a nascent observer and someone who finds much to like about it. Whether I ever end up literally sitting down and shutting up is a place I haven't really come to but it seems to be a place I grow nearer and nearer to thanks in large part to this book.
All of that aside, this book covers a range of topics that were at times hard for me to wrap my mind around. At other times, author Brad Warner makes remarkably prescient comments about love, desire, God, sex, and the reoccurring concept of enlightenment. Warner makes it quite clear that he stands aside from many of the huckster-types who seek to sell you the quixotic thing called enlightenment for the price of their book. He is stridently pragmatic about such things and for that I was grateful. His no b.s. approach is refreshing and at times quite funny. He tries to explain what at times is nearly inexplicable (even after his attempts!) and I give him high marks for the manner in which he tackles such heady material with a breezy, conversational, and sarcastic punk-folksy writing style that eschews the lofty prose of the so-called enlightened. Warner has the cred to back up his words and I finished this book more informed and infused with a greater sense of understanding, purpose, and calm than when I went in. That's pretty good considering how much I still didn't comprehend even after repeated readings. Imagine what I could come to know down the road with some practice and continued study! In the end, what else do you want out of an experience?
Zen for Nonconformists January 9, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
If you've always had a problem accepting anything on blind faith or are just interested in Buddhism's teachings, this book is a great resource. Mr. Warner is so humble, honest and down-to-earth that he's able to explain some mind-bending Zen concepts for those of us who aren't philosophy majors.
Interested in buddhism? Buy this book. November 19, 2007
2 out of 4 found this review helpful
A take on serious topics from someone who is anything but serious. Great sense of humor, and lots of honesty. Warner has clearly had a very interesting life, and has learned a lot from it. And luckily for us, he decided to share it with us. (and he's a decent writer).
Great book, highly recommended. Of course, if you're into the whole stodgy "religion is defined by X set of rules" junk, this wouldn't be for you. But if you're open minded enough to hear a different viewpoint, you'll get a lot out of Warner's book.
Absolutely Brilliant. This Book is a Clarion Call to Wake Up! November 2, 2007
3 out of 4 found this review helpful
I loved Brad Warner's first book, Hardcore Zen. It was witty, irreverent, engrossing, stirring, and inspirational.
Sit Down and Shut Up is no less so.
There's no need for me to recount the contents of this book. The Amazon product description has, and a few reviewers have, already done that. What I will do is comment on this book's impact on my life.
Sit Down and Shut Up was a pager-turner. I couldn't put it down, and I immediately bought a copy for my Zen teacher. He loved it as well. Ditto for my wife, who read Sit Down and Shut Up in just a couple of days.
Part of the reason why Warner's books resonate so well with me is because my background is similar. I'm a music freak (although I don't appreciate punk rock the way Warner does). I'm also a pop culture aficionado. And I'm a student of Zen. So his references are vivid and meaningful.
In addition, Warner is a good writer. His style is laid back, yet loaded with import. He's not just a social commentator. He claws at the very nature of reality, exposing what's beneath the facade most of us have blindly accepted.
If you're interested in understanding Zen, this is a great place to start. Be forewarned, however: If you are as anti-establishment as Warner is, if you're a bit of a radical by nature, you may find life in a Zen school a bit trying. But for those of you who long for a type of Zen that's free of B.S., just stripped-bare Zen as clear and simple as it could possibly be, this book will quickly become one of your favorites.
I wholeheartedly recommend Sit Down and Shut Up.
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