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The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics
By Robert Aitken
5/5 (4 ratings)
224 pages
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Description
In Taking the Path of Zen, Robert Aitken provided a concise guide to zazen (Zen meditation) and other aspects of the practice of Zen. In The Mind of Clover he addresses the world beyond the zazen cushions, illuminating issues of appropriate personal and social action through an exploration of the philosophical complexities of Zen ethics.
Aitken's approach is clear and sure as he shows how our minds can be as nurturing as clover, which enriches the soil and benefits the environment as it grows. The opening chapters discuss the Ten Grave Precepts of Zen, which, Aitken points out, are "not commandments etched in stone but expressions of inspiration written in something more fluid than water." Aitken approaches these precepts, the core of Zen ethics, from several perspectives, offering many layers of interpretation. Like ripples in a pond, the circles of his interpretation increasingly widen, and he expands his focus to confront corporate theft and oppression, the role of women in Zen and society, abortion, nuclear war, pollution of the environment, and other concerns.
The Mind of Clover champions the cause of personal responsibility in modern society, encouraging nonviolent activism based on clear convictions. It is a guide that engages, that invites us to realize our own potential for confident and responsible action.
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The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics Paperback – January 1, 1984
by Robert Aitken (Author)
4.6 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
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In Taking the Path of Zen, Robert Aitken provided a concise guide to zazen (Zen meditation) and other aspects of the practice of Zen. In The Mind of Clover he addresses the world beyond the zazen cushions, illuminating issues of appropriate personal and social action through an exploration of the philosophical complexities of Zen ethics.
Aitken's approach is clear and sure as he shows how our minds can be as nurturing as clover, which enriches the soil and benefits the environment as it grows. The opening chapters discuss the Ten Grave Precepts of Zen, which, Aitken points out, are "not commandments etched in stone but expressions of inspiration written in something more fluid than water." Aitken approaches these precepts, the core of Zen ethics, from several perspectives, offering many layers of interpretation. Like ripples in a pond, the circles of his interpretation increasingly widen, and he expands his focus to confront corporate theft and oppression, the role of women in Zen and society, abortion, nuclear war, pollution of the environment, and other concerns.
The Mind of Clover champions the cause of personal responsibility in modern society, encouraging nonviolent activism based on clear convictions. It is a guide that engages, that invites us to realize our own potential for confident and responsible action.
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Review
“As an American who has trained in Zen practice for many years Aitken Roshi has a special understanding of the problems and questions which plague Western students of Zen.” ―Yamada Koun Roshi
About the Author
Robert Aitken (1917-2010) was Roshi of the Diamond Sangha in Honolulu and the author of Taking the Path of Zen and The Mind of Clover. His introduction to Zen came in a Japanese prison camp during World War II, after he was captured as a civilian in Guam. R. H. Blyth, author of Zen in English Literature, was imprisoned in the same camp, and in this unlikely setting Aitken began the first of several important apprenticeships. After the war Aitken returned often to Japan to study. He became friends with D. T. Suzuki, and studied with Nagakawa Soen Roshi and Yasutani Hakuun Roshi. In 1959 Robert Aitken and his wife, Anne, established a Zen organization, the Diamond Sangha. Aitken was given the title "Roshi" and authorized to teach by Yamada Koun Roshi in 1974.
Product details
Publisher : North Point Press; 4th Edition (January 1, 1984)
Language : English
Paperback : 224 pages
ISBN-10 : 0865471584
ISBN-13 : 978-0865471580
Item Weight : 8.8 ounces
Dimensions : 4.93 x 0.66 x 8.09 inchesBest Sellers Rank: #514,379 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)#399 in Religious Ethics (Books)
#411 in Zen Philosophy (Books)
#517 in Zen SpiritualityCustomer Reviews:
4.6 out of 5 stars 60 ratings
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Top reviews from the United States
Konrei
5.0 out of 5 stars "Maka Hannya Haramita Shingyo..."Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2007
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As a Zen practitioner preparing for Jukai I found Aitken-roshi's THE MIND OF CLOVER to be possibly the best book I have read to date on the Ten Grave Precepts.
These Precepts (not to kill, lie, steal, self-aggrandize, defame others, misuse sex, misuse intoxicants, become wrongfully angered, to be generous, and to honor awareness, learning and community) are very similar to the Judeo-Christian Commandments in form. Aitken-roshi shows the reader however that the precepts are not simply ordinances imposed from outside but the very building blocks of personality and social interaction. He illustrates well how the precepts can and must be interpreted not blindly but with full cognizance of circumstance and consequence, both on a personal level and on a global level.
THE MIND OF CLOVER takes what could be a very fuzzy and indeterminate subject and presents it with elegant simplicity. The book has been described quite correctly as a sonata, with each successive chapter building on the ones before it to reach a grand conclusion.
One may disagree with certain of Aitken-roshi's personal observations---at times, his social politics seem reflexively trapped in 1960s amber---but there is no question that THE MIND OF CLOVER transmutes the practice of Zen from "simply sitting" in zazen to an active philosophy of life, allowing the adherent to take the calm, the awareness, and the wisdom found on the zafu and translate it into a way of daily living based on compassion and intimacy with all things.
This book is excellently read in conjunction with Tenshin Reb Anderson's BEING UPRIGHT, a rather more remotely philosophical treatment of the Precepts on a less mundane, more spiritual level.
26 people found this helpful
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Bernard McGovern
5.0 out of 5 stars An Important Book on Buddhist/Zen Precepts and EthicsReviewed in the United States on January 17, 2018
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This is an amazing and accessible book on the Precepts of Buddhist living and learning. The writing is smooth, clean and clear. There is little jargon or extraneous asian words and one does not have to be a Buddhist to understand the principles of upright living - something everyone can relate to
3 people found this helpful
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David Clare
5.0 out of 5 stars InspirationalReviewed in the United States on March 8, 2016
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An easy to read and understand book about the fundamental precepts on Zen Buddhism. I highly recommend this book to anybody wanting to take a first step through the gate to seek enlightenment and tranquility.
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Bryson Keenan
4.0 out of 5 stars A good starting place for those unfamiliar with the subject matter...Reviewed in the United States on October 13, 2014
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Rather than a definitive instructive work on the 'Ten Grave Precepts', these are notes written from the author's viewpoint. A good starting place for those unfamiliar with the subject matter; good also for students of Buddhism trying to gather their own thoughts on the matters at hand. But should be read along with other authors (Tich Nhat Hanh, for example), in order to get other perspectives. As Aitken himself states, the precepts are "not commandments etched in stone, but expressions of inspiration written in something more fluid than water..."
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Larry L Peterson
5.0 out of 5 stars Quite simply one of the best books on American Buddhism from Aitken roshi written after ...Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2015
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Quite simply one of the best books on American Buddhism from Aitken roshi written after spending 40 years on the cushion. Beautifully written in simple language it is revealing for beginning and mature students of Buddhism.
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Namkha
5.0 out of 5 stars ExcellentReviewed in the United States on March 2, 2018
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This was a lovely exploration into Buddhist ethics.
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Joe
5.0 out of 5 stars For your Zen libraryReviewed in the United States on January 14, 2014
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This is an excellent book that I have read numerous times over the years. If you are receiving the Precepts (jukai), this is a must read.
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d-ram
5.0 out of 5 stars Change making practiceReviewed in the United States on February 23, 2013
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Aitken writes in depth from experience with a practical focus on how Zen Buddhism can be practiced in relationship to social change.
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forbushman
5.0 out of 5 stars Accessible ( as far as any zen book is accessible)Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 29, 2021
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Relatively easy read. A little less inscrutable than many other authors on the subject. Makes an effort to relate zen philosophy to some modern (20th century) issues such as ecological damage and cold war.
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Martin
3.0 out of 5 stars DisappointingReviewed in the United Kingdom on June 29, 2017
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The subject matter is well presented but I found the language quite fey at times, and obscure at others. Some of his best writing is very good, clear and inspiring, but too often it seems to drift off into the enigmatic and opaque. Perhaps I simply didn't connect to the wavelength.
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Names don't matter ;-)
5.0 out of 5 stars for a friendReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 16, 2013
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I ordered this book on behalf of a friend who has read it before and said they would highly rec it
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Gabrielle rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism, non-fiction, philosophy, zen, own-a-copy, read-in-2019, reviewed
In “Hardcore Zen”, Brad Warner wrote a chapter about the Precepts and he said: “Real morality is based on seeing how the Universe actually operates and avoiding doing things that make ourselves and others miserable.” While I think this is the best way to summarize Buddhist ethics and morality, this is a topic worth exploring a little deeper.
An excellent follow up to Aitken’s “Taking the Path of Zen” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), which was a great introduction to the practice of zazen, “The Mind of Clover” explore in great depths the Buddhist Precepts, in order to make them as clear as possible, especially for Western students. Aitken devotes one chapter to each Precept, and explores its meaning from different angles, to give the reader the most complete grasp possible of the meaning behind the words. These chapters are followed by essays on ethics, and how they can be applied in Zen students’ everyday life.
Most Western Buddhist student’s frame of reference when it comes to the Precepts is the Christian Commandments, which are usually considered to be pretty rigid rules, and Aitken especially wants to clarify that the Precepts are a much more fluid code of conduct (“guidelines to show you how to proceed”) that should be considered very carefully when one aims to apply Buddhist ethics in their daily life. He is also well aware that Western students have a tendency to feel horribly guilty when they break rules they care about, and he is careful to point out that this attitude is not helpful in the context of Buddhist practice.
I enjoy Aitken’s writing, which is both very firm, but also has plenty of good humour, insight and gentleness. The book is rather short, but it is simply jam-packed with important and wise discussions on a fundamental part of Zen Buddhism. I would tend to agree with Aitken when he writes that “The Buddha Dharma with its integration of wisdom and compassion must be taught in its fullness. Otherwise its part may be poison when misused.” This means that sitting zazen is great, but of you aren’t also trying to use the Precepts as a compass for your actions, what are you even doing?
I really liked how he expands on the various ways of phrasing the Precepts, and the possible translations of the ideograms used in older sources, to lead to a much richer understanding of the reasoning behind the rule. He often brings up mundane examples to demonstrate that there must be a capacity to be flexible with the Precepts: when they are applied too rigidly, or followed too loosely, things tend to go wrong. It is a great way to illustrate the idea of the Middle Way when it comes to living the Precepts.
If Brad Warner is a little too irreverent for you and you are interested in Zen, Aitken’s books are (in my humble opinion) the next best thing, and should be read by all Zen students, especially beginners. Informative, inspiring and important stuff – completely devoid of the fluff and BS that all too often clutters the Buddhist section at the bookstore… (less)
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Jun 27, 2019Saúl Girón rated it it was ok
Definitivamente, un libro complicado. Existen muchas eventuales causas por las que yo no asimile bien este libro. O mi mente no estaba preparada o dispuesta, no es mi momento, mi espíritu y alma están en una etapa de desarrollo muy incipiente, el libro está escrito para budistas ya formados, hay que tener conocimientos previos, o el autor no sabe transmitir lo que desea.
La cosa es que asimilé poco! 😒
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Aug 29, 2009Kasey Jueds rated it it was amazing
Shelves: nonfiction, buddhism
It took me so long to finish this because I read it so slowly... so much to absorb, in the best way. Compassionate, wise, moving, down-to-earth.
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Dec 27, 2020Ryan Spellman rated it really liked it
So much to think about in this book. I really enjoyed going over the precepts one by one with Aitken's commentary. His use of quotes from Bohidharma and Dogen and others was very nice as well. Highly recommended for precept study. (less)
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Dec 03, 2018Annette rated it it was amazing
One of the best books of Zen.
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Jan 20, 2021Peter rated it it was amazing
A very useful and rewarding collection of chapters/essays on Zen Buddhist ethics including taking personal responsibility in society and non violent activism.
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Aug 07, 2019Chris Middleman rated it really liked it
Aitken is dope.
Very rational, down to earth exploration of Buddhist ethics.
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Sep 15, 2014Jan van Leent rated it it was amazing
Shelves: religion, buddhism
“The Mind of Clover – Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics” starts with chapters on the ten precepts for Buddhist.
In the chapter on the second precept "Not Stealing", Robert Aitken cites Unto Tahtinen:
"There are two ways of avoiding war: one way is to satisfy everyone's desire, the other way is to content oneself with the good. The former is not possible due to the limitations of the world and therefore there remains this second alternative of contentment"
And then he cites Mahatma Gandhi:
"In India we have many millions of people who have to be satisfied with only one meal a day. This meal consists of a chapati containing no fat and a pinch of salt. You and I have no right to anything until these millions of people are better fed and clothed. You and I ought to know better and adjust our wants, and even undergo voluntarily starvation in order that they may be nursed, fed and clothed."
So true in our contemporary Western world full of abundance.
This small books continues with essays on the Mind, and Robert Aitken cites from the Diamond Sutra:
“Don’t dwell upon colours to bring forth the Mind, don’t dwell upon phenomena of sound, smell, taste or touch to bring forth the Mind; dwell nowhere and bring forth that Mind”.
So true: Always at home, nowhere lost.
Highly recommended.
(less)
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Mar 06, 2013Vicki Dotson rated it liked it
It providesa good discussion of the Buddhist precepts.
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Jan 10, 2015Mike rated it it was amazing
Just the ticket.
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Jul 18, 2012Manny rated it it was amazing
Very deep. I got a lot out of it, but I knew I'd be re-reading it right after I finishing. I'd recommend this to anyone interested in morality,/ethics, or their place in the world. (less)
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Dec 17, 2012Sophia Dunn rated it it was amazing
Shelves: rinzai-zen
A book to be read over and over; to read in small chunks and spend time reflecting. This book is simply, clearly inspirational. It will encourage and inspire your practice at its core.
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Jan 31, 2017Walter Burton rated it liked it
Good source of how to interpret and apply Buddha's Precept in our daily life.
...more
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Mar 27, 2017Stephen added it
Shelves: spirituality
Still working on it. Started as part of study with Daniel. I have read some of it, but I am not done with it.
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Faces of CompassionClassic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression
An exploration of the imagery and lore of seven important archetypal bodhisattvas of Buddhism.
Faces of CompassionClassic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression
An exploration of the imagery and lore of seven important archetypal bodhisattvas of Buddhism.
Wisdom Publications, 05/12
ISBN: 9781614290148
$18.95 Paperback
===
Faces of Compassion
Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression
By Taigen Dan Leighton
An exploration of the imagery and lore of seven important archetypal bodhisattvas of Buddhism.
Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Link
"Bodhisattvas are beings who are dedicated to the universal awakening or enlightenment of everyone. They exist as guides and providers of succor to suffering beings and offer everyone an approach to meaningful spiritual life," writes Zen priest, leader, and translator Taigen Daniel Leighton. In this edifying and imaginative revised edition of his 1998 classic with a foreword by Joan Halifax, he examines the seven major bodhisattva figures of the Mahayana tradition. There are five cosmic or mythic bodhisattvas — Manjushri (prince of wisdom), Samantabhadra (wisdom), Avalokiteshvara (heart of compassion), Kshitigarbha (earth mother), Maitreya (lovingkindness) — and two historical ones — the Buddha Shakyamuni (who was first Siddhartha Gautama) and Vimalakirti (a layman iconoclastic follower of Skakuyamuni). Leighton keys each of these liberators to the ten transcendent practices called the paramitas in Sanskrit.
Perhaps the most innovative and dramatic aspect of the book is the way the author discusses modern exemplars of the seven bodhisattva archetypes including Bob Dylan, Margaret Mead, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Schweitzer, Toni Morrison, Gary Snyder, and Thich Nhat Hanh. He concludes "The bodhisattvas are not glorified, exotic, unnatural beings but simply our own best qualities in full flower."
This is a watershed Buddhist work on the qualities that make for sainthood in our times. It deserves to be put on the shelf next to Joan Chittister's A Passion for Life: Fragments of the Face of God (1996) and Robert Ellsberg's All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time. (1997)
READ AN EXCERPT ON DEVOTION
Wisdom Publications, 05/12
ISBN: 9781614290148
$18.95 Paperback
Purchase from Powell's Books
RELATED
MAIN PRACTICE
TEACHERS
OTHER PRACTICES
===
Faces of Compassion
Classic Bodhisattva Archetypes and Their Modern Expression
By Taigen Dan Leighton
An exploration of the imagery and lore of seven important archetypal bodhisattvas of Buddhism.
Book Review by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Link
"Bodhisattvas are beings who are dedicated to the universal awakening or enlightenment of everyone. They exist as guides and providers of succor to suffering beings and offer everyone an approach to meaningful spiritual life," writes Zen priest, leader, and translator Taigen Daniel Leighton. In this edifying and imaginative revised edition of his 1998 classic with a foreword by Joan Halifax, he examines the seven major bodhisattva figures of the Mahayana tradition. There are five cosmic or mythic bodhisattvas — Manjushri (prince of wisdom), Samantabhadra (wisdom), Avalokiteshvara (heart of compassion), Kshitigarbha (earth mother), Maitreya (lovingkindness) — and two historical ones — the Buddha Shakyamuni (who was first Siddhartha Gautama) and Vimalakirti (a layman iconoclastic follower of Skakuyamuni). Leighton keys each of these liberators to the ten transcendent practices called the paramitas in Sanskrit.
Perhaps the most innovative and dramatic aspect of the book is the way the author discusses modern exemplars of the seven bodhisattva archetypes including Bob Dylan, Margaret Mead, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Albert Schweitzer, Toni Morrison, Gary Snyder, and Thich Nhat Hanh. He concludes "The bodhisattvas are not glorified, exotic, unnatural beings but simply our own best qualities in full flower."
This is a watershed Buddhist work on the qualities that make for sainthood in our times. It deserves to be put on the shelf next to Joan Chittister's A Passion for Life: Fragments of the Face of God (1996) and Robert Ellsberg's All Saints: Daily Reflections on Saints, Prophets, and Witnesses for Our Time. (1997)
READ AN EXCERPT ON DEVOTION
Wisdom Publications, 05/12
ISBN: 9781614290148
$18.95 Paperback
Purchase from Powell's Books
RELATED
MAIN PRACTICE
TEACHERS
OTHER PRACTICES
