Sun At Midnight: Poems and Letters Paperback – July 16, 2013

Right in this very book Muso Soseki (a very important Japanese Zen Rinzai monk of the "Five Mountains" milieu) quotes with approval a former Zen monk saying, "It is a pity that students with great capacity waste their whole lives reading widely in the native and foreign classics, cultivating the art of composition and in that way leaving no time for coming to see clearly into their Original Nature." Thus Muso would be the very last to complain about the fact that this translation of his poems and sermons is clearly intended for the serious American Zen practitioner and not for the scholar (of Japanese Religion, of Buddhism generally or Zen specifically, of Japanese literature, or whatnot). That said, no scholar has yet bothered to come forth with a more academically definitive treatment of this key figure in Zen Buddhist history, so this is it folks, take it or leave it.Still, a lot of hard work has gone into this book, and it shows. The introduction is very helpful, tracing Muso Soseki's biography with care and giving a very straightforward account of the theory and method of translation in what's to follow. This is an odd collaboration, in which Soiku Shigematsu translated the original text into rough, word-for-word English and Merwin reworked this into smooth, idiomatic English. While this gets the job done okay overall, it creates an odd, stilted syntax bordering perilously close to the unidiomatic in spots--this is true especially for the sermons.The poems themselves evince a subtle, quiet religiosity. They are elegant, but in a deep and resonant manner (as opposed to some of the more admittedly shallow work of some of his contemporaries). They are definitely Buddhist in theme--the poems treat of the monastic lifestyle, of the impact and nature of spiritual experience, and of friendships with other monks in the Dharma. There are 130 poems in all, so one gets a pretty good sense of Muso's range.The sermons are quite interesting in their own right and relevant to issues in Buddhist Studies under debate today (scholars take note!). There has been a lot of ink spilled on Zen Buddhism's ambiguous attitude towards reading, textuality, and scriptural study, and it is thus interesting that the first (and longest) sermon is a complicated discussion of this problem in which Muso grapples with the complexities of the issues involved (in dialogue with a tenaciously heckling monk). The second set of sermons show us Muso relating his religious views on gardening; a kind of cynical deconstructive instinct has led some in academia today to claim that the great temple gardens of Kyoto had no spiritual significance or symbolism. A few words from Muso Soseki here pretty much puncture that whole line of claptrap. Finally, we get to see the religious mentor in Muso, as he admonishes his disciples on the proper priorities for aspiring monks.So despite a few limitations, this highly interesting book gives us an invaluable glimpse of the religious views and spiritual sensibility of Muso Soseki, our only real glimpse in English of this great monk.

It looks as though a new edition is on its way. Thisbook is very high quality, as the Publisher offersextremely Nice Paper and an overall quality product.It was produced in respect for the author.It is a collection of of introspective observationsand musing of a life well lived in the True Way. Ireally felt as though I was there at His experiences.An overall sublime retrospective with a calmingatmosphere. More Poetic than an intense teachingor Koan filled cuplets.Muso Soseki was a Giant among hearts.

This is one of the clearest books of Zen poetry I've read. It is meditation, fantasy, reflection and part-biography of a man who lived at the same time as Dante. This volume expands on the selections Mr. Merwin chose for East Window to which I have turned many times over the last five or so years. I don't know how one "translates" these ancient texts, but Mr. Merwin and Mr. Shigematsu make the selections read as if they were composed yesterday. A wonderful volume.

A beautiful book, thank heavens it's back in print. The introduction opens the volume nicely. Each poem is like a painting, full of such depth it can be viewed over and over to appreciate its depth.

These poems and letters make it clear why Muso Soseki was 'Teacher to Seven Emperors'.

Muso Soseki, also known as Muso Kokushi, was a thirteenth-century Zen roshi, the first great designer of the Japanese rock garden, and a poet of startling immediacy and attractive spirit. His work mixes the paradoxical directness of Zen convention with a great expansiveness of feeling: the poems manage to be both wise and delightful. He too has been fortunate in his translator: W.S. Merwin, working with Soiku Shigematsu, has cast Muso's verse in Williams-inspired triadic stanzas, and it works beautifully. Read SUN AT MIDNIGHT: Poems and Sermons by Muso Soseki (North Point Press). For more of his prose, DREAM CONVERSATIONS: On Buddhism and Zen (as by Muso Kokushi) is published by Shambhala, translated by Thomas Cleary. Muso's poems are included in EAST WINDOW (Copper Canyon Press), a collection of W. S. Merwin's Asian translations, which is full of good things. A rather dry but informative essay on Muso is in Heinrich Dumoulin's (rather dry but informative) ZEN BUDDHISM: A HISTORY, VOLUME 2: JAPAN (Macmillan, 1990).Glenn Shea, from Glenn's Book Notes, at www.bookbarnniantic.com

I purchased the North Point Press edition of these poems in the early 1990's mostly for the sermons contained at the end of the book. At that point in my life, I was not much of a poetry reader and had little interest in the art form. After receiving the book in the mail, I flipped through it and decided to read it on the upcoming weekend when a fraction of peace would enter a very busy life. Starting at the beginning of the book, I read each poem and found some glint of insight or empathic resonance in almost every poem. This was the first book of poems I read from cover to cover and enjoyed. I have kept this book with me for many years now. It holds a special place in my growing collection of Asian poetry. And as you can guess, I highly recommend it.

A collection of of introspective observations,and musing of a life well lived in the True Way.I felt as though I was there at His experiences.An overall sublime retrospective with a calmingatmosphere. More Poetic than an intense teachingor Koan filled cuplets.Muso Soseki was a Giant among hearts.