Craig:

You absolutely correct regarding historical connection. Unfortunately
it is implied in all "Zen and the Art of ?????" books.
So please consider the following. I have just looked at the book section
of Amazon.com and found the following titles. It is only a small and
partial list:

Zen and the art of...
Motorcycle maintenance
Archery
Martial arts
Making a living
Stand-up comedy
Writing
Pottery
Just sitting
Leadership
Murder
Guitar
Gardening
Stick fighting
Cooking
Painting
Postm,odern philosophy
Controlled accident
Windsurfing
Calligraphy
Teaching
Screen writing
Climbing mountains
Slaying vampires
Macintosh
Street fighting
Diabetes maintenance
Snowboarding
Loving
Casino gaming
Poker
Knitting
Falling in love
Travel
Golf
Monologu8e
Anything
etc., etc.

Christian had a far greater influence on our culture and you as
a clergyman is much better qualified to address that than I. Yet,
I have not found anywhere a title like "Presbyterian way to bowling"
or the "Southern Baptists an the Art of NASCAR."
I think by now you get the point. Mentioning Zen invokes a
strange, exotic, inscrutable Orient that Westerners can't really
understand. So let's use it in the title or the book and sell some books.

How about "Zen and the Internet" with matching volumes on
"Catholicism and Websurfing," "Java and Jews," and "Managing
email accounts for Muslims."

Cheers.

Peter Aradi
Tulsa, Oklahoma



----- Original Message -----
From: "Craig Cowing"
To:
Sent: Thursday, October 30, 2003 9:40 AM
Subject: [IBC] Spirit of Bonsai Design by Chye Tan


Jim Lewis wrote:

Greetings:

I am sorry to chime in, but I would be very interested
to find out where Mr. Chye Tan gained his experience
with Zen Buddhism.


Chime away, Peter. I was wondering the same thing you obviously
are. I have _never_ read anything reliable that tells me that
Zen and Bonsai have any direct connection -- but _I_ am not even
close to being an expert, so was reluctant to do any chiming
myself.

Of course, you can bring Zen into anything you do, I suppose --
even motorcycle maintenance. ;-)

snip

Jim Lewis - - Tallahassee, FL - The phrase
'sustainable growth' is an oxymoron. - Stephen Viederman

The historical connection between bonsai and Zen may be difficult to
establish, but
why can't a person from any given religious or philosophical persuasion
import
their faith *into* bonsai? For example, Iris Cohen and I have both found
very
strong links with our respective branches of the Judeo-Christian heritage,
yet the
people who first conceived of bonsai however many years ago certainly
weren't
Jewish or Christian.

We need to remember that just as bonsai is an art that continues to evolve
in terms
of techniques, so it is also a philosophical discipline (for some) which
continues
to evolve as well. Just because the author under discussion has made a
connection
with bonsai and Zen, does that mean he is claiming that there is a
historical
connection?

Craig Cowing
NY
Zone 5b/6a Sunset 37


************************************************** **************************
****
++++Sponsored, in part, by Lisa Kanis++++

************************************************** **************************
****
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++


************************************************** ******************************
++++Sponsored, in part, by Lisa Kanis++++
************************************************** ******************************
-- The IBC HOME PAGE & FAQ: http://www.internetbonsaiclub.org/ --
+++++ Questions? Help? e-mail +++++