Only Don’t Know
Selected Teaching Letters of Zen Master Seung Sahn

By Zen Master Seung Sahn
Edited by Hyon Gak

You can find the book on shambhala.com/only-don-t-know-… - Here is the inimitable Zen Master Seung Sahn up close and personal—in selections from the correspondence that was one of his primary modes of teaching. Seung Sahn received hundreds of letters per month, each of which he answered personally, and some of the best of which are included here. His frank and funny style, familiar to readers of Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, is seen here in a most intimate form. The beloved Zen master not only answers questions on Zen teaching and practice, but applies an enlightened approach to problems with work, relationships, suffering, and the teacher-student relationship.

Here is the inimitable Zen Master Seung Sahn in action-in letters to students taken from the correspondence that is one of his primary modes of instruction. In his thirty years of teaching Zen in the West, he has responded by mail to literally thousands of students’ questions about Zen practice-and also about family, life, work, and relationships-applying wisdom, compassion, and his limitless energy to each interaction.

Whether illuminating koans, consoling the bereaved, or advising would-be monks, Zen Master Seung Sahn always offers advice that cuts through preconceived notions and offers the truth for each situation, uncomplicated and beautiful.

“Don’t worry-just try. Trying is better than a Zen Master, better than Buddha, better than God. It is already great love, great compassion, and the great bodhisattva way. …. anextraordinaryandordinarylife…