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Being Upright: Zen Meditation and the Bodhisattva Precepts
Being Upright takes us beyond the conventional interpretation of ethical precepts to the ultimate meaning that informs them. Reb Anderson first introduces us to the fundamental ideas of Zen Buddhist practice. Who was Shakyamuni Buddha and what was his central teaching? What does it mean to be a bodhisattva and take the bodhisattva vow? Why should we confess and acknowledge our ancient twisted karma? What is the significance of taking refuge in Buddha, dharma, and sangha? The author explores the ten basic precepts, including not killing, not stealing, not lying, not misusing sexuality, and not using intoxicants. A gifted storyteller, Anderson takes us to the heart of situations, where moral judgments are not easy and we do not have all the answers. With wisdom and compassion, he teaches us how to confront the emotional and ethical turmoil of our lives.
256 pages, Hardcover
First published September 1, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
September 16, 2020
“My intention here is to approach the precepts not as rules to be worried about, but as ways to realize Buddha’s enlightenment and compassion.”
The basic practice of Zen Buddhism is shikantasa meditation, which translates roughly as “just sitting”. It’s a great practice, that is both extremely simple, yet deeply profound, and often much harder than most people expect (Ever had a minor meltdown while just sitting there, staring down a wall? It happens…). The only caveat to this practice is that you have to know WHY you’re “just sitting”, and to understand that, you need to study some Buddhist philosophy and understand the precepts.
Anderson was a pupil of Suzuki Roshi, founder of the famous San Francisco Zen Center. Basing himself on a six-hundred year old text called “The Essence of Zen Precepts”, he explores the ethical and moral rules of Buddhism with a very clear understanding that living a compassionate life can be quite a challenge in the ethically imperfect world we live in.
Just like in “The Mind of Clover” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), there is one section dedicated to each precept. But I found the former more readable: Anderson uses a lot of abstract language and sometimes gets a little lost in his own wordiness (another reviewer used the words “Zen obscurantism”, and I couldn’t have phrased it better). A few of the anecdotes also gave me pause: while discussing Buddhist ethics is absolutely necessary for practice, his gift with rhetoric makes it sound like he uses his interpretation of the Precepts to justify some weird behaviors of past and present Zen teachers, which I am not comfortable with. The way Zen teachers worked with their students in 16th century Japan cannot be used as an example for a modern audience; the behavioral rules of that specific time and place do not apply to here and now, and I think that more contemporary examples would have been more appropriate.
The information in this book is interesting and relevant, if occasionally redundant – so I am still giving it 4 stars. I would recommend Zen students check it out if they are curious, but it’s a bit long and dragging for what it is. I think that Anderson is simply used to discussing these things with monks, and that his discourse is more tailored to that audience than to lay practitioners. I get that Anderson studied with very traditional, old school Zen teachers, and that certainly has had an influence on his views, which is not a bad thing but it makes this book less approachable than other Zen books.
“Whenever we deny our basic connection with other beings, the bodhisattva precepts are broken.”
The basic practice of Zen Buddhism is shikantasa meditation, which translates roughly as “just sitting”. It’s a great practice, that is both extremely simple, yet deeply profound, and often much harder than most people expect (Ever had a minor meltdown while just sitting there, staring down a wall? It happens…). The only caveat to this practice is that you have to know WHY you’re “just sitting”, and to understand that, you need to study some Buddhist philosophy and understand the precepts.
Anderson was a pupil of Suzuki Roshi, founder of the famous San Francisco Zen Center. Basing himself on a six-hundred year old text called “The Essence of Zen Precepts”, he explores the ethical and moral rules of Buddhism with a very clear understanding that living a compassionate life can be quite a challenge in the ethically imperfect world we live in.
Just like in “The Mind of Clover” (https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...), there is one section dedicated to each precept. But I found the former more readable: Anderson uses a lot of abstract language and sometimes gets a little lost in his own wordiness (another reviewer used the words “Zen obscurantism”, and I couldn’t have phrased it better). A few of the anecdotes also gave me pause: while discussing Buddhist ethics is absolutely necessary for practice, his gift with rhetoric makes it sound like he uses his interpretation of the Precepts to justify some weird behaviors of past and present Zen teachers, which I am not comfortable with. The way Zen teachers worked with their students in 16th century Japan cannot be used as an example for a modern audience; the behavioral rules of that specific time and place do not apply to here and now, and I think that more contemporary examples would have been more appropriate.
The information in this book is interesting and relevant, if occasionally redundant – so I am still giving it 4 stars. I would recommend Zen students check it out if they are curious, but it’s a bit long and dragging for what it is. I think that Anderson is simply used to discussing these things with monks, and that his discourse is more tailored to that audience than to lay practitioners. I get that Anderson studied with very traditional, old school Zen teachers, and that certainly has had an influence on his views, which is not a bad thing but it makes this book less approachable than other Zen books.
“Whenever we deny our basic connection with other beings, the bodhisattva precepts are broken.”
February 22, 2008
I just participated in a 3 day meditation retreat and had the opportunity to talk with him about his book.
I found Being Upright to be a very insightful look into the Bodhisattva vows that serve as the ethical underpinning of Zen Buddhism. I would say that the book probably is of most interest to those who are actually considering taking these vows, as I am. Each Chapter breaks down both the conventional and ultimate meaning of such vows such as, "Do not kill", and "Embrace and sustain all beings".
What is fascinating is that in our post-modern culture we want so quickly to dismiss these precepts, much as I initially wanted to dismiss this book. Yet, with careful attention we can see that these 16 guidelines for living offer insights into all the little ways that we create suffering for ourselves and others - often through a sheer lack of attention and sheer strength of habit.
So if you are considering the precepts or want to learn more about them, I think this is a "good read", but the substance of it lies under the surface of the page.
I found Being Upright to be a very insightful look into the Bodhisattva vows that serve as the ethical underpinning of Zen Buddhism. I would say that the book probably is of most interest to those who are actually considering taking these vows, as I am. Each Chapter breaks down both the conventional and ultimate meaning of such vows such as, "Do not kill", and "Embrace and sustain all beings".
What is fascinating is that in our post-modern culture we want so quickly to dismiss these precepts, much as I initially wanted to dismiss this book. Yet, with careful attention we can see that these 16 guidelines for living offer insights into all the little ways that we create suffering for ourselves and others - often through a sheer lack of attention and sheer strength of habit.
So if you are considering the precepts or want to learn more about them, I think this is a "good read", but the substance of it lies under the surface of the page.
March 18, 2023
“Perhaps the most difficult thing is just to be ourselves. In order to do this simple thing, we must renounce choosing and simple become the one who is chosen.”
“The entire universe echoes and resonates with every one of our actions.”
“All things are so deeply connected that at the precise moment when you are just yourself, the entire universe is just itself.”
[Quotes]
“The entire universe echoes and resonates with every one of our actions.”
“All things are so deeply connected that at the precise moment when you are just yourself, the entire universe is just itself.”
[Quotes]
August 28, 2011
An essential text for anyone following the path of jukai, aka. the taking of the precepts.
November 8, 2023
I'm blessed to have this book in front of me constantly while I am preparing to receive the lay ordination (Jukai) precepts. Roshi Anderson is a true teacher and his words are both uplifting and practical. The clarity he provides is truly welcome. Anyone wishing to know what Jukai represents must read this book.
February 15, 2011
This was a great, albeit sometimes quirky, book. Perhaps quirky is the wrong word - in hearing Anderson's description of picking up a gun in the park off a corpse, keeping it for a lengthy time, flashing it at a later point.... it's one of those idiosyncratic moments where I honestly can't say how I'd act (the whole series of events is fairly rare), yet also can't fully relate too because I'm not sure that what Reb, being fully Reb, chose to do is what I would do. And that's okay, and *definitely* doesn't detract from it, but adds some interesting flavor to it. I'm reading up in advance of taking the precepts myself, right now, and loved that this book was organized along the words and order of the jukai ceremony. I came to zen from a fairly atheistic, material view and felt the meditation was doing something good for my mind. I'm at a point now where... well... I wouldn't edit or change any of that, though I feel I've learned a great deal of the weight and power of ethical training in the tradition, and how integral living an ethical life is to the Bodhisattva ideal. If you like this, check out Mind of Clover, as well.
August 9, 2011
The anecdotes were good. The point of the chapters could have been made in a single paragraph, and there was a lot of abstract concepts and wordiness going on. I did get something out of it, though.
July 21, 2023
Not sure how practical this book is really. It's interesting in some ways but I found the book pretty dry. It definitely made me reconsider the precepts though.
November 6, 2024
The method of which zen meditation and buddhism should be practiced
March 16, 2017
A good companion to Robert Aitken's The Mind of Clover, covering similar territory of the bodhisattva precepts. I preferred Reb Anderson's writing style, but found it helpful to read both books and consider them essential reading.
March 26, 2010
Reb Anderson's commentary on the Bodhisattva Precepts creatively follows the structure of the Bodhisattva Initiation Ceremony. He writes, "When you practice the precepts, meditation comes alive. This integration of precept practice and meditation practice, whether on your cushion, at the workplace, or in a relationship, is what I mean by 'being upright.'"
While much of what he says is clear, and often beautiful, he cannot help himself from falling into zen obscurantism at times. Also, some sectarian blustering weakens his stance at times. His open honesty, including some self-revealing foibles, makes this a truly human offering. If one ever needed proof that 'Dharma Transmission' is NOT some kind of certification of enlightenment that so many western students assume it to be, just read about his experience of threatening a thief with a gun he took off a suicide he found in a park! It reads like a twisted Coen brothers narrative!
While much of what he says is clear, and often beautiful, he cannot help himself from falling into zen obscurantism at times. Also, some sectarian blustering weakens his stance at times. His open honesty, including some self-revealing foibles, makes this a truly human offering. If one ever needed proof that 'Dharma Transmission' is NOT some kind of certification of enlightenment that so many western students assume it to be, just read about his experience of threatening a thief with a gun he took off a suicide he found in a park! It reads like a twisted Coen brothers narrative!
January 27, 2011
This book was OK, wasn't fantastic though. Most of the koans/stories represented in the book I've read in the past. The premise of this book was great - that is, the overview of the precepts. My main issue with the book was that it was incredibly redundant. Some redundancy is OK, but this book was entirely too long given what was covered. One really nice thing that I did like about this book was the fact that it covered a lot about the SFZC- as well as some of the politics that happened there. I wasn't super aware of them before the book. I feel the book is worth the read, but it's entirely too long.
April 2, 2012
I really can't recommend this book enough. It has the best explanation of the Bodhisattva Precepts from a Zen perspective that I have read or heard in dharma talks.
If you are interested in understanding the Zen view on the precepts check this one out.
If you are interested in understanding the Zen view on the precepts check this one out.
November 29, 2015
I read this book while studying the Buddhist precepts (kind of like the Christian 10 commandments, but also different). The reading provided support for my studies and insight into each of the precepts. I would recommend this book to anyone who is interested in learning about the precepts of Zen.
September 28, 2010
This offers an in-depth look at the great bodhisattva precepts, not just by the vows alone, but how to effectually enact them in all aspects of life.
January 15, 2015
Much more approachable than "Warm Smiles..." for the uninitiated. I feel that I have learned more because of the organization and (maybe) tight editing and have a more "concrete" notion of Zen...
September 20, 2022
An interesting and accessible introduction to precept practice for Zen students.
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews