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Footprints in the Snow: The Autobiography of a Chinese Buddhist Monk
by
聖嚴法師
,
Shengyan
,
Kenneth Wapner
In this landmark memoir, a renowned Buddhist master traces his spiritual journey against the panoramic story of China from the pre-Communist era to the present.
Master Sheng Yen has devoted much of his life to spreading the teachings of Chinese Buddhism—a practice that antedates the more familiar Japanese and Tibetan traditions—throughout the world. He became known in the U ...more
Master Sheng Yen has devoted much of his life to spreading the teachings of Chinese Buddhism—a practice that antedates the more familiar Japanese and Tibetan traditions—throughout the world. He became known in the U ...more
Hardcover
,
224 pages
Published
October 21st 2008
by Harmony
(first published October 14th 2008)
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Community Reviews
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It is very inspiring to get to know his life story from a poor farming kid to a respected buddhism scholar and zen master. The temples he set up in Taiwan are the models with the "soul cleansing" methodology, as well as environmental friendly concept. He was a very humble man with a noble goal to spread the practical zen lessons to benefit people.
I did not have honor to meet him in person, but I will take the zen meditation lesson at one of his temple.
I did not have honor to meet him in person, but I will take the zen meditation lesson at one of his temple.
What a sweet man! Such a life of hardship and determination; very inspiring to get past the material desires and into what really matters. The sparse writing style was at first a bit dry and pedantic to me but as I continued reading I discovered that it fit the story. The simplicity of the chosen lifestyle of this monk reflects well in the rhythm of the writing. Even though he's lived such a long life in looking back on it he seems able to pull out some very particular memories that were markers
...more
A friend of mine at work gave this to me to help explain Buddhism, but it was just a biography and has no real explanation of the religion. The book helped make me assume that he was writing it, but other people wrote it on his behalf and wrote it from the 1st person perspective.
The historical information and perspective was very interesting. That seems to be the most significant reason to read the book. As a result of the book, I have an overall negative impression of the religion and the man. ...more
The historical information and perspective was very interesting. That seems to be the most significant reason to read the book. As a result of the book, I have an overall negative impression of the religion and the man. ...more
Buddhist Master Sheng-Yen is one of the foremost teachers of Chan (Chinese predeccessor of Zen) Buddhism in the world. Now in his late seventies, the author of over 100 books and founder of Buddhist meditation centers in the United States and Taiwan tells his own story, recounting his travels and travails in a life singularly focused on spiritual devotion.
"Footprints in the Snow" is a simply told inspirational account of a man who has found in hardship the opportunities to strengthen and share ...more
"Footprints in the Snow" is a simply told inspirational account of a man who has found in hardship the opportunities to strengthen and share ...more
Like sitting drinking tea while the master tells stories. Warm, encouraging, with scattered nuggets of wise advice & counsel.
The best part of the book is the first half as he describes his journey from rural China in a poor family to his growing commitment to the life of a monk. A few nuggets of wisdom about the importance of 'equanimity of mind.' Not exactly compelling.
Journey of shengyan fa shi and the founder of drum dharma, he takes in the flow of flow capitalizing on every opportunity to learn and be a better master....
I have plan to visit drum dharma in taipei twd end of year
I have plan to visit drum dharma in taipei twd end of year
I feel like this was the right book for the right moment. I'll be interested to read it in a year and the year after that to see how it affects me then.
Wonderful.
Wonderful.
Eh. Interesting view of Taiwanese Buddhism and Chan philosophy, but he's not a great storyteller, which is essential to a good biography.
Great overview of Chan. The book lacks a certain amount of intensity, but it's very interesting.
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聖嚴法師於1930年出生於江蘇南通，1943年在狼山廣教禪寺出家，1949年從軍跟隨國民政府到了台灣，服役十年後，於東初老人座下再度披剃出家。
閉關與留學
小沙彌時期的聖嚴法師，已深深體會到：「佛法是這麼好，可是誤解它的人是那麼多，而真正了解和接受的人是那麼少。」其中的根本原因，在於弘揚佛法的人才太少，因此前往高雄美濃山區閉關六年，之後更遠赴日本東京立正大學深造，於1975年獲得了文學博士學位。
從東方到西方
隨後，聖嚴法師應邀赴美弘化，先後擔任美國佛教會董事、副會長，紐約大覺寺住持及駐台譯經院院長。東初老人於1978年圓寂後，聖嚴法師自美返台承繼法務，隔年並應聘為中國文化學院佛學研究所所長及哲學研究所教授，此外也在東吳大學及輔仁大學任教，至此展開了推動佛教高等教育的理想。
因為有感於美國弟子們的求法熱誠，所以於1979年在美國紐約創立「禪中心」，後來擴大遷址更名為「東初禪寺」。此後，聖嚴法師便固定 ...more
More about 聖嚴法師...
閉關與留學
小沙彌時期的聖嚴法師，已深深體會到：「佛法是這麼好，可是誤解它的人是那麼多，而真正了解和接受的人是那麼少。」其中的根本原因，在於弘揚佛法的人才太少，因此前往高雄美濃山區閉關六年，之後更遠赴日本東京立正大學深造，於1975年獲得了文學博士學位。
從東方到西方
隨後，聖嚴法師應邀赴美弘化，先後擔任美國佛教會董事、副會長，紐約大覺寺住持及駐台譯經院院長。東初老人於1978年圓寂後，聖嚴法師自美返台承繼法務，隔年並應聘為中國文化學院佛學研究所所長及哲學研究所教授，此外也在東吳大學及輔仁大學任教，至此展開了推動佛教高等教育的理想。
因為有感於美國弟子們的求法熱誠，所以於1979年在美國紐約創立「禪中心」，後來擴大遷址更名為「東初禪寺」。此後，聖嚴法師便固定 ...more
