Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn by Stephen Mitchell is an inspiring and enlightening book about a teacher and his students. Zen Master Seung Sahn, born in 1927, is widely considered an important figure in modern Zen Buddhism. He was the 78th Patriarch of the Chogye Order of Korean Buddhism, founder of the Kwan Um School of Zen and the founder of the Providence Zen Center in Rhode Island.Zen Master Seung Sahn was also a professor of philosophy at several American universities, including Dartmouth College. He was a prolific author, writing more than sixty books during his lifetime.
In this book, Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., presents an intimate and inspiring portrait of Zen Master Seung Sahn and the teachings he shared with the many students and spiritual seekers who sought him out during his lifetime. As Schlesinger notes in the introduction, Master Seung Sahn “was at once a scholar, a teacher, and a man who enjoyed each moment of his life with unequaled enthusiasm and joy.” Schlesinger dives into the teachings and philosophy of Zen Master Seung Sahn, using anecdotes, stories and quotes from those who knew him to illustrate and expand on those teachings.
The core theme of Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is that of spiritual awakening. Zen Master Seung Sahn often stressed the importance of finding one's true self, which was seen as the key to enlightenment. Master Seung Sahn explained that this awakening could be achieved through a daily practice of chanting, meditation, and self-reflection. One of the most important teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn was the idea of “dropping ashes on the Buddha.” This is a metaphor for being mindful of the present moment and being fully present in the place and moment where one finds oneself.
Zen Master Seung Sahn was also known for his insistence on a strict adherence to the precepts of Zen Buddhism. He taught his students to practice zazen, a form of meditation that has no end goal and involves simply sitting, breathing, and observing the mind. Zen Master Seung Sahn also emphasized the importance of viewing others with compassion and wisdom, in order to be in alignment with the precepts of Buddhism.
The teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn are presented in Dropping Ashes on the Buddha from multiple angles. The book moves from stories and anecdotes to quotes, to conversations, to personal reflections and observations, to teachings and admonitions, to philosophical musings, to koans. As Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., notes in the introduction, “by the time one finishes the book, it is almost as if, mentally and spiritually, one had been standing next to [Zen Master Seung Sahn] during his entire life.”
Ultimately, the book leaves readers with an understanding of the simplicity and profundity of Zen Master Seung Sahn's teachings. He showed that true spiritual awakening can only be achieved by finding one's true self and living in a mindful present. He also stressed the importance of living in accordance with the principles of Buddhism, and of refraining from allowing one's ego or other concerns to control life. Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in learning more about Zen Buddhism and the teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn.
