Jodo's interpretations of the stories and koans of Zen master Ejo Takata
- Offers more than 60 Zen teaching tales, initiatory stories, koans,
and haikus for self-realization and spiritual awakening
- Each story or koan is accompanied by the author's lucid and
penetrating commentary, blending the same burlesque slapstick and
sublime insight that characterize his films
- Explains how one must see beyond the words of the story to grasp the
spiritual insights they contain
Before he became the film maker and graphic novel author known
throughout the world today, Alejandro Jodorowsky studied with Zen master
Ejo Takata in Mexico City. In The Finger and the Moon, Jodorowsky
recounts how he became Takata's student and offers his interpretations
of the teaching tales, initiatory stories, koans, and enigmatic haikus
he learned at the feet of his great and humble teacher. Blending the
same burlesque slapstick and sublime insight that characterize his films
such as El Topo and The Holy Mountain, each story is accompanied by
the author's lucid and penetrating commentary, as well as insights from
ancient Zen teachers. Yet their most significant gift to the reader is
the sudden shock of realization they impart that can lead to spiritual
awakening.
Jodorowsky notes that most people are incapable of self-realization
because of their fear of the void within, an emptiness they seek to fill
with noise and chatter. He shows that Zen teachings can be compared to a
finger pointing at the moon, directing you to awaken to your true
nature--the Buddha within. The danger lies in mistaking the pointing
finger for the moon, mistaking the words for the essential
enlightenment, which can only be grasped once words have been surpassed.
Unlike most tales, these stories are intended to evoke silent
illumination--as true awakening and self-realization cannot occur until
the mind has been stilled.
