THE GARDEN OF FLOWERS AND WEEDS

A notated explication of an ancient Zen Buddhist text.

Debut author Sullivan explains that the work at hand is a translation of “a thousand-year-old collection of stories, commentaries, and poetry from the classical age of Zen in China.” There are 100 “cases” contained within, and each is accompanied by an in-depth examination. We’re warned outright that the actions here may often seem bizarre. This proves to be true immediately. The first case, “The Emperor Asks Bodhidharma,” is no more than a page long. Emperor Wu of Liang is puzzled by an encounter with a famous monk named Bodhidharma. What is it supposed to mean? The author points out that, as with many of the stories to follow, it may “seem appealing but resist[s] understanding.” Other entries include everything from someone being hit with meditation cushions to a master dancing while holding a rice bucket. A question is posed: “What is Buddha?” The response is “Three pounds of flax.” The author draws on years of his experiences with Zen Buddhism (such as attempting to understand his sometimes-perplexing Zen Master Yangil Sunim) to provide context. Yet, clear-cut answers aren’t the point: “Something wonderful can happen if you have given up on understanding anything.” Of course, this approach doesn’t lend itself to easy comprehension. Paradoxes abound. Obscure (to the layman) Buddhist figures (e.g., Jetsun Milarepa) are discussed. Yet the work stands out with the personal nature of the commentaries. The author shares the cases’ common interpretations along with his own. Many insights have grown from Sullivan’s years of grappling with such material, and he notes, “subtle feelings reveal illumination.” Though these illuminations may be difficult to see initially, the reader is left with an understanding of an ageless, beguiling collection.  

An intriguing, challenging crash course in Zen Buddhism.