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  • Sky Above, Great Wind

  • The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan
  • By: Kazuaki Tanahashi
  • Narrated by: Brian Nishii
  • Length: 2 hrs and 19 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (107 ratings)
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Sky Above, Great Wind cover art

Sky Above, Great Wind

By: Kazuaki Tanahashi
Narrated by: Brian Nishii
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Summary

Ryokan (1758-1831) is, along with Dogen and Hakuin, one of the three giants of Zen in Japan. But unlike his two renowned colleagues, Ryokan was a societal dropout, living mostly as a hermit and a beggar. He was never head of a monastery or temple. He liked playing with children. He had no dharma heir. Even so, people recognized the depth of his realization, and he was sought out by people of all walks of life for the teaching to be experienced in just being around him. His poetry and art were wildly popular even in his lifetime. He is now regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Edo Period, along with Basho, Buson, and Issa. He was also a master artist-calligrapher with a very distinctive style, due mostly to his unique and irrepressible spirit, but also because he was so poor he didn't usually have materials: His distinctive thin line was due to the fact that he often used twigs rather than the brushes he couldn't afford. He was said to practice his brushwork with his fingers in the air when he didn't have any paper. There are hilarious stories about how people tried to trick him into doing art for them, and about how he frustrated their attempts. As an old man, he fell in love with a young Zen nun who also became his student. His affection for her colors the mature poems of his late period. This collection contains more than 140 of Ryokan's poems, with selections of his art, and of the very funny anecdotes about him.

©2012 Kazuaki Tanahashi (P)2014 Audible Inc.

What listeners say about Sky Above, Great Wind

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  • Overall
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

More a book for reading than listening to.

What disappointed you about Sky Above, Great Wind?

A goo dportion of the book was describing Ryokan's calligraphy. Clearly, the points made were lost when you cannot see the text in front of you. A bit like commentating on a kite flying competition over the radio. The voice artist did his best, but it was pretty tedious

What was most disappointing about Kazuaki Tanahashi’s story?

I was expecting lots of Ryokan's poetry. There was some, sure, but much of the book was about his calligraphy or a sketchy biography of his life.

What aspect of Brian Nishii’s performance might you have changed?

He did a good job with limited material

What reaction did this book spark in you? Anger, sadness, disappointment?

It was alright, but I was expecting more. Disappointment, I suppose, as I am such a fan of Ryokan's work.

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5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

Nice listen

I really enjoyed this - very relaxed tales and poems of a zen master, lovely little book in the plus catalogue.

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1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

awful

most boring book ever, I couldn't finish it! Read at your peril. Good luck.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Pretty good

OK I'm a fan of Brian Nishii as a reader so I tried this book.
I know a little of Zen and learnt some more listening to this book. A few bits made me smile, the humour of one monk was similar to mine.
And some stuff I didn't know about the lifestyle and history of the monks.

I've listened to it once, will happily listen to it again sometime. Interesting and informative.


Plus Brian Nishii does present material well.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

spirotual

very well performed.Gteat spiritual storiesqkes you feel very calm wnile listening to this audiobook
Fascinating.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars
  • LC
  • 09-10-21

Refreshing and interesting

I enjoyed this book. It’s something different than most other books I have been reading and I found it quite refreshing for that reason, and also very interesting to learn about this person’s life and hear his poetry.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    3 out of 5 stars

Eccentric humility

A portal into the often absurd and curious behaviors of a Zen expressionist through his poetry and anecdotes.

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  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Would be better on paper

I loved the narrator but this book would be better read than listened to. Especially the chapter on calligraphy.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

A Bright Moon Rising,...

The timeless humility of monasticism, discipline, insight and boundless compassion. A profound life of pursuing the Dao and rejecting the selfish and greedy habits of the everyday world. This book is a masterpiece of simplicity that demonstrates that right before (and behind) our senses, another world is possible - and yet it is exactly the 'same' material world interpreted differently. Although everything is in flux it is awareness that brings the stability of insight into the realms of immediate perception, behaviour and interaction.

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Beautiful

a beautiful book
well attirent
interesting helpful observations

the work and life of a great Zen master
is inspirational

the narrator is truly excellent

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