The Finger and the Moon

Jodo's interpretations of the stories and koans of Zen master Ejo Takata

• Offers more than 60 Zen teaching tales, initiatory stories, koans, and haikus for self-realization and spiritual awakening

• Each story or koan is accompanied by the author's lucid and penetrating commentary, blending the same burlesque slapstick and sublime insight that characterize his films

• Explains how one must see beyond the words of the story to grasp the spiritual insights they contain

Before he became the film maker and graphic novel author known throughout the world today, Alejandro Jodorowsky studied with Zen master Ejo Takata in Mexico City. In The Finger and the Moon, Jodorowsky recounts how he became Takata's student and offers his interpretations of the teaching tales, initiatory stories, koans, and enigmatic haikus he learned at the feet of his great and humble teacher. Blending the same burlesque slapstick and sublime insight that characterize his films such as El Topo and The Holy Mountain, each story is accompanied by the author's lucid and penetrating commentary, as well as insights from ancient Zen teachers. Yet their most significant gift to the reader is the sudden shock of realization they impart that can lead to spiritual awakening.

Jodorowsky notes that most people are incapable of self-realization because of their fear of the void within, an emptiness they seek to fill with noise and chatter. He shows that Zen teachings can be compared to a finger pointing at the moon, directing you to awaken to your true nature--the Buddha within. The danger lies in mistaking the pointing finger for the moon, mistaking the words for the essential enlightenment, which can only be grasped once words have been surpassed. Unlike most tales, these stories are intended to evoke silent illumination--as true awakening and self-realization cannot occur until the mind has been stilled.

Autorentext

Alejandro Jodorowsky is a playwright, filmmaker, composer, mime, psychotherapist, and author of many books on spirituality and tarot, and over thirty comic books and graphic novels. He has directed several films, including The Rainbow Thief and the cult classics El Topo and The Holy Mountain. He lives in France. In 2019, Alejandro Jodorowsky was cited as one of the "100 Most Spiritually Influential Living People in the World" according to Watkins Mind Body Spirit magazine.

Inhalt

PROLOGUE

Experience with Ejo Takata (Mexico, 1961)

The Essential Sound of Emptiness

ZEN AND JAPANESE STORIES

Swallowing the Serpent

The Two Cat Doors

The Fool and the Theologian

Crossing the River

Eyes Wide Open

The Monks and the Rabbits

Miracle and Faith

The Zen Garden

Attention

Ignorance and Enlightenment

The Interview

Hell and Paradise

Pay Attention

An Impassive Old Man

The Test of the Jar

The Head of the Dog

The Learning Process

KOANS

Regarding Koan Masters and Disciples

The Wooden Buddha in the Temple Fire

Water

What Is Buddha?

Back to the World

Infinity

Is Buddha in the Dog?

Seizing the Sky

The Master's Bones

The Master's Death

Two Monks and a Nightingale

The White Stone

The Heart of the Tree

The Visit of Master Tanka

Mokugen's Smile

Submit!

Open Hand, Closed Hand

Cutting Off Buddha's Neck

A Million Things

The One-Pound Shirt

Break the Shape

Where Are You?

Becoming One with the Path

The Dog's Nature

Nansen's Arrow

Joshu and the Birds

The Monk, the Bridge, and the River

The Spirit at the Center

Falling into the Well

The Sleeping Attendant

Constant Inconstancy

The Thousand Hands of the Buddha of Compassion

The Master's Heart

Ten Thousand

Stronger than Buddha

Interior and Exterior

The Best Piece of Meat

The Three Worlds

What Has Become of the Old Masters?

A Definition of Zen

Facing Disaster

Tchao-Tcheu Tests an Old Woman

The Mocking Gloss of Wu-Men

Arakuine's Tears

Enlightenment

The Candle

The Master's Gratitude

HAIKUS

GLOSSARY

INDEX