THE RAZORBLADE OF ZEN
By
Taiun Michael Elliston Roshi
I’ve just received my copy of my teacher’s new book and a worthy companion to this first book, The Original Frontier.
On April 4, 2023, I will provide my review of the The Razorblade of Zen in my Dharma Notes for our Tuesday night, in-person and Zoom, Soto Zen service. Then Hojo Elliston-roshi will talk about his book to our Sangha (all are invited) a couple of weeks or so later. Here is a brief overview of this new work:
The Razorblade of Zen introduces Zen Buddhism and its unique meditation as a non mystical, plain and simple, physical approach to finding sanctuary and self-examination amid the hectic everyday life that people face. Many people still harbor misconceptions about Zen despite the mainstreaming of meditation and the dissemination of Zen publishing. This book clarifies the real Zen and defines its place in our culture as simply and directly as possible, placing the practice of Zen where it belongs in today’s cultural and ideological context: occupying the middle ground between extremes of rationalist science and theistic religion. From this perspective, living with Zen becomes possible without compromising the demands of living in the world today. https://www.amazon.com/Razorblade-Zen-Michael-Elliston/dp/0764365266
The two books by Roshi Elliston will join the two works of his teacher Zengaku Soyu Matsuoka-roshi as mainstays of the legacy of The Silent Thunder Order: Moku-Rai and The Kyosaku.
I recommend each of these books for one's personal library, as copies of The Razorblade of Zen will join copies of the other three books on The Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha bookshelves.
108 Bows.
Unshin Sangaku Dan Joslyn
Founder and Guiding Teacher
The Falmouth Soto Zen Sangha