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The Unfettered Mind

Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman

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The Unfettered Mind

By: Takuan Soho, William Scott Wilson - translator
Narrated by: Roger Clark
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About this listen

This classic samurai-era text fused Japanese swordsmanship with Zen and influenced the direction that the art has taken ever since. Written by the 17th-century Zen master Takuan Soho (1573-1645), The Unfettered Mind is a book of advice on swordsmanship and the cultivation of right mind and intention. It was written as a guide for the samurai Yagyu Munenori, who was a great swordsman and rival to the legendary Miyamoto Musashi. Takuan was a giant in the history of Zen; he was also a gardener, calligrapher, poet, author, adviser to samurai and shoguns, and a pivotal figure in Zen painting. He was known for his brilliance and acerbic wit. In these succinct and pointed essays, Takuan is concerned primarily with understanding and refining the mind - both generally and when faced with conflict. The Unfettered Mind was a major influence on the classic manifestos on swordsmanship that came after it, including Miyamoto Musashi's Book of Five Rings and Yagyu Munenori's Life-Giving Sword.

©1986, 2002 William Scott Wilson (P)2014 Audible Inc. Buddhism Philosophy Samurai Zen Buddhism

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Profile Image for Jason

Well narrated and useful material

A very well produced audio book. The content is useful and profound, however this should not be confused with a self help book. It is not a series of step by step instructions, but rather a set of thoughts and reflections about life. If you are at all interested in the practice of Zen, then you would be hard pressed to find a better starting point.

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Well presented but not useful

Master Takuan might have a point about not letting the mind fixate. Maybe he taught about how to do that somewhere, but he doesn’t do so here. Voice over sounds like Chris Hemsworth.

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