The Unfettered Mind: Writings from a Zen Master to a Master Swordsman

The classic samurai-era text that fused Japanese swordsmanship with Zen philosophy--written by the incomparable Zen master Takuan Soho

Written by the seventeenth-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.

Author: Takuan Soho
Binding Type: Paperback
Publisher: Shambhala
Published: 06/12/2012
Pages: 144
Weight: 0.3lbs
Size: 7.30h x 5.20w x 0.50d
ISBN: 9781590309865