One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryokan Paperback – April 11, 2006

Zen Master Ryokan!Like a fool, like a dunceBody and mind completely dropped off! This is another great translation of Ryokan by John Stevens. So many in their reviews have shown their respect and love for Ryokan who "is replete with MUSHIN, the mind without calculation or pretense, and MUJO, the sense of impermanence of all things". Ryokan (1758? -1831) was a Japanese poet, Zen buddhist and one of the greatest calligraphers of all time in East Asia. In his early twenties he became the disciple of top Soto Zen Roshi Kokusen and trained diligently as a Zen monk. When Kokusen died in 1791, Ryokan left on a long pilgrimage, wandering all over Japan. In his early 40s he drifted back to his native place and spent the rest of his life in mountain hermitages. Near the end of his life he fell in love with a beautiful young nun Teishin who was by his side when he died at age 73. His hermitage Gogo-an on Mount Kigami still stands.One Robe, One Bowl contains translation of his 100 chinese and 103 Japanese poems(101 Waka and 2 Haiku). Many of his poems are without titles and doesn't give us a reference to the time and place they were written. Ryokan frequently broke the rules of poetry composition. His poems are simple, direct and very poignant. His poetry is about love of nature, local children, rice wine and living a simple life. His beloved Teishin compiled the first edition of Ryokan's poems, titled Hachisu no Tsuyu ("Dew drops on a Lotus Leaf") four years after his death, which has also been brilliantly translated by John Stevens.Both these books are a must read. Ryokan's poems refresh you, make you look around and under your feet. You notice everything from sun to clouds, birds and insects, trees, wind and rain, and his great love - Moon. I highly recommend reading them in a natural spot, where there are trees, flowers, flowing water and birds. You will find yourself drifting in and out of his poems and nature and back. Almost surreal.Once you have read them again and again, add to your collection Ryokan's favorite poet, the Chinese sage Han Shan (Cold Mountain), also available on Amazon.

I'm embarrassed to confess I don't like most poetry. But in an oft-quoted line, Ryokan tells us, "My poems are not poems." Perhaps that's why I'm entranced by the verses of this hermit-poet who lived in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries.Translator John Stevens assures us in his charming introduction that he hasn't adulterated Ryokan's verse with any poetic expressions or courtly refinements. Certainly these verses seem pure and fresh to my ear.In these unpretentious poems Ryokan invites us to relive a moment with him. He chronicles himself unable to sleep in his mountain hut, listening to the sound of the freezing rain; reading the poems of the ancients while the snow falls thick and fast outside his door; receiving a visit from a friend and joyfully taking out ink and brush; picking spring vegetables with the local kids.Although Ryokan does occasionally allude to a sutra or toss off some gem of wisdom, the Zen of his poetry has more to do with the immediacy of his everyday experience. When he's having fun, he's having fun. "I have entrusted myself to sake and flowers," he frankly admits. When he's lonely, he says so. After all, it's the human condition. Ryokan is fully awake to every nuance of nature, including human nature.This little book offers a selection of Ryokan's Chinese style poems and his Japanese waka and haiku. It does not include the love poems exchanged between the aging Ryokan and the young nun Teishin, but you can find these in another little book entitled Between the Floating Mist. I'd recommend getting both collections for a rich experience of Ryokan.

I love the humanity and emotions of this collection. It is so well translated and interpreted. I feel as the ugh I am there with Ryokan. As if we are friends.

I bought this book because I was giving a talk on Ryokan and his poetry. It was wonderful to be able to share his poems with others and to have this treasure of a book for myself as well. His poetry is so simple and yet so profound and has universal appeal whether or not one has a background in Zen.

Affordable and a great read! It doesn't take long to get through, but I found it beautifully simple and even hilarious. This is a great introduction to Zen poetry and I highly recommend it.

This is a fantastic book of Ryokan poems that is hard to put down. These poems have a feeling to them of coming from a true Master of the Buddha's teachings. The translator helps by staying away from analyis and interpretation and lets Ryokan speak for himself to us through the words. You feel his joy and his sadness as well as his love of solitary forest life and meditation. There is nothing but a wonderful little book of Ryokan translations that lovers of Zen or Zen poetry will turn to again and again.

I love Ryokan. His poems go into the essence of Zen. Highly recommend this book along with Ikkyu Sojun Crow with no mouth. How do you get beyond words and concepts. Which are not the essence of Zen, however, if they make you cry, or laugh, or feel a deep connection. Then the meaning has been understood. That's why poetry and music is the best way to understand Zen

Having practiced Zen Buddhism for a few years I found this book to be a very refreshing option amongst the hundreds of other Zen books out there. I expected a lot from this book knowing of Ryokan's reputation as one of the most respected Zen poets. What I have with this book is pure Zen, instant Zen. Simple and short verses that contain everything. They transport you to the Japan of years gone by. You can actually smell the cherry blossom ! Having read other Buddhist poets works I found I could connect easier to Ryokan because of his simplicity, humour and his sheer love of nature. If you love short poems try this book. If you practice Zen you should most definately own this book. I feel that the elegant simplicity of Ryokan's art may be lost on some not in those catagories however.

If you're in sympathy with Buddhist, Taoist or Zen teachings, you will probably love this book of timeless poems!

I absolutely love this book of poetry.The introduction contains a short biography of Ryokan. It presents his life story and offers humorous and insightful anecdotes. The remainder of the book is Ryokan's poetry. His poetry is simple and unpretentious, beautifully honest and organic. It will appeal to anyone who is interested in Buddhism or mindfulness. Poetry writers will be inspired after reading Ryokan's work. For anyone who loves traditional haiku poetry, there are plenty included.This is a solid investment for one's library!

I first picked up this book because my yoga teacher occasionally finishes the class reading from it.It's a collection of Haiku and other short poems by Ryokan. There is a foreword that explains who Ryokan was, however you can read this for yourself.The poems are peaceful and entertaining. Sometimes sad, but often humourous. Mostly reflections of his solitary life, with many reflections on life in general.I read from this book now and again, picking poems at random...I find poems I really like, only to lose them! Discovering them again later :-)This is a book of Zen poetry, so many poems refer to this way of life, begging, living alone, nature, the seasons etc.It's cool.I like the book very much.