Cypress Trees in the Garden: The Second Generation of Zen Teaching in America

I really hesitated between giving 4 or 5 stars to this book. First, a warning: if you are not a Zen practitioner, a scholar of religion, or deeply interested in Zen, then this is probably not the book for you. It is far too focused, too "sectarian" to be of likely interest to a general reader. This is NOT "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance." This is journalism; reportage; analysis; synthesis; history; a Studs Terkel approach to religious writing.I would also like to say that the subtitle of the book is totally misleading: this is NOT "The second generation of Zen Teaching in America." A far more accurate statement would be "The second generation of Rinzai Zen Teaching in America." The author barely wastes any ink on mere Soto Zen practice, although as a Soto practitioner for 45 years, I can testify that Soto practice is very much alive in America and quite as vigorous as Rinzai.Rinzai Zen is often called "Samurai Zen" while Soto Zen is called "Farmer Zen." There is a strong flavor of that in this book, as if Soto understanding of contemporary Buddhism in America is not worth being taken into consideration. I notice that the other reviews of this book are notable for their uncritical enthusiasm and their failure to delve into what the book is really about. That is not to say that this is not a book worth reading, even by a Soto student. I found it very thought provoking, but also a bit chilling. When I read about the (literal!) stampedes from the Zendo to the dokusan line at Philip Kapleau's center, with students knocking each other over in order to get to the head of the line, I shuddered. This is Zen? I wondered.The book was compiled from a series of taped interviews Richard McDaniel conducted during 2013 and 2014 of what seems to be roughly 75 primarily Rinzai Zen teachers or head students. A view emerges of both the width and the narrowness of Zen in America. Wrestling with issues of succession and with legitimacy of teaching-authority, a score or more Zen centers are featured, with usually 3 relatively high level students interviewed on tape and then allowed to speak for themselves in print. To his credit McDaniel deliberately obscures his own views and experience in order to allow the authentic voices of his subject to come forth. This produces a quilt-like effect, and we gain a vision of contemporary American Zen as practiced across the country, albeit limited mainly to Rinzai venues. That in turn is what led me to give the final star to this work. Clearly the author has quite a bit of experience in Zen and indeed the reader wishes he would have expressed these more directly, but in the end, the subtlety obtained his way is all the more impressive.Once I realized that this was really about Rinzai teachers and centers, I almost wanted to stop reading, but something about it impelled me to continue it. Yes, there are obvious differences between the Rinzai and Soto schools, especially the role of koan study, but in many ways they are closely attuned to the same matter: penetrating the nature of mind, and calming the mental tidal waves that threaten to overwhelm us.In its own way, this book is a spiritual anthropology, and well worth reading.ETA: I have been informed by knowledgeable people that this book actually deals with a number of Soto teachers who use koans in their teaching methodology, so I would like to clarify that.

loved everything about this book--and the previous three. keep this in mind; "i am not what you think i am. YOU are what you think i am." the Buddha. (thou art that/tat vam asi) everything this dude says and writes about is a mirror reflection of him. the 4 books say very little about zen and it's history. tis worth noting that he is an academic--i.e. a moron--(see einstein) and hence his perspective is limited to his emotional intelligence--which is obviously very limited. example. no where in his 4 books does he detail the spontaneous enlightenment of many people w/no training--of many 'zen' students w/no training. nor does he talk about females outside of the monastic tradition that were recognized as fully enlightened. nor does he focus on the heart of all "liberation" which is joy, happiness, well being. most of his writing is on striving and effort and all the hardships/struggles of some of the recognized zen masters--a small, small perspective of the zen tradition. and which is a reflection of his mental landscape mostly. his picture of the Japanese and US zen teachers and teaching cultures portrays these folks as --by and large--fanatics, zealots, broken, emotionally immature people. which is true to some extent(i was a student of maizumi for a short while in the 80's-- when that place imploded). and that is minuscule compared to all the rest of the "awakenings" that have happened w/little or no effort both within the zen community and without. these four books are an immense achievement and an excellent record that exposes many of the abuses and weaknesses in the zen community at large. ---and personally they explained -to me- why i quit tha LA zen center after my last session. my impression of miazumi was that he was angry, abusive, and psychotic. i now know why. thanks for that bud. and i thoroughly enjoyed the books and truly wished there was another follow up to read. i recommend these 4 books completely for anyone interested in the zen culture and especially for anyone interested in the zen community and zen centers at large. definitely an awakening experience. and keep in mind----"we don't see things as they are. we see things as we are." anias nin.

This book is profoundly interesting for anyone, especially in the circles of Zen in America.Richard hangs out all the dirty laundry of the dysfunctional Dharma families with gifted interviews and writing skills as well as many success stories. A good read and hopefully will be in all libraries across the country.

Cypress Trees in the Garden, is a wonderful compilation of stories and experiences of second generation Zen teachers in America. Richard Bryan McDaniel's has done a phenomenal job getting past what's commonly seen as Zen mysticism and brought forward the reality and 'earthiness' of Buddhism in America today. His work is as significant and moving as the Three Pillars of Zen and Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. Read and enjoy.~Seiho Jaye Morris

Love this author and his books. The book held my interest all the way through. I was so fortunate to meet the author. He is a wonderful man with integrity and ethics. This shines through in all of his writings.

This is a wonderful book and very well written. For anyone interested in Zen this is a must read.

Great book to complete the saga of zen teachers; but for this volume I was expecting to read a good or fair bio on the life and work of one of my favorites zen teachers -Albert Low-, disappointing...nothing, zero.

In "Cypress Trees in the Garden," Rick McDaniels masterfully gets out of the way and lets his subjects tell their stories. In so doing, we get a whole sense of this great American Zen experiment from satori to debauchery and back (or vice versa), along with much in the middle. If the Zen root does entangle with the American spirit, then Zen students for generations will cherish this book for the honest portrayals of it's founders and failures expressed and exposed here. Well worth the price!

As someone on the periphery of Zen practice I was delighted to find this book so accessible. The conversational style throughout made for enjoyable reading. It almost seemed as if I was sitting in the room with the author and whomever he was talking with at the time. The surprise bonus for me in relaxing with the author and those telling their own personal stories about how they came to be so fully committed practitioners of Zen I found insights that help my understanding of Zen practice and teachings but more importantly to me personally on my own journey outside of Zen. I have to admit though that I do not have a clue about the story recounted in the Postscript or its possible significance to anyone's life.