Customer Rating: 
Summary: Great Book. Read Between the Lines
Comment: I have read over the Amazon.com reviews on Samurai Zen and I believe that they are all enlightening and present a unique perspective from the point of view of each reviewer. Though these reviews each present an interesting appraisal of the book, there is a serious problem with the review placed here on November 11, 2003. This review must be addressed as it presents untrue and incorrect facts about Master Scott Shaw and his book Samurai Zen. Not only does the reviewer make a completely false statement, which he has no basis for, about the training background of Master Shaw, but he also states incorrect facts about the book. These falsehoods must be addressed.First of all, certainlly Dr. Scott Shaw is best known for his involvement and long list of published works on the Korean martial arts. This being stated, he lives much of every year in Japan, and has done so for the past twenty-five years. Not only did he train in the Japanese arts, from the late 1970's forward, but he has long held training seminars in Japan and the West on, not only the Korean martial arts, but the Japanese martial arts, as well. Furthermore, as anyone who has studied the historic evolution of the modern Korean martial arts understands, these arts were born from the Japanese arts. Thus, the two can never be seperated.
I find that it is often the case that a martial artist is so locked into their particular system of training that they believe that it is the only true style. From this, some of these practitioners falsely attack others who present a different approach to the martial arts. This is obviously the case with this particular reviewer. He clearly states that he has only studied Iaido for four years. That is no comparsion to the four decades of training possessed by Master Shaw. Furthermore, as anyone who has studied the sword arts understands, there are numerous Ryu or schools that teach varying methods of sword play. So, to say one person is wrong by the style of technique they demonstrate, clearly illustrates a complete lack of understanding, as there exists a plethora of schools on the sword arts: Japanese, Korean, and otherwise.
In closing, to read this book as soley a book on Iaido is completely missing the point. Only a very small porition of this book is focused on the physical techniques of the martial arts, This book is about the subtle realms of the martial arts and how they can cause the practitioner to raise themselves to the higher mind. In other words, to understand this book, you must step beyond the obvious realms of physical techniques and read it as a manual for meditation, the way, I am sure, Dr. Shaw had hoped it would be received.
Customer Rating: 
Summary: Waste of Money
Comment: ... First of all in severial pictures, his grip was incorrect. Secondly, the text disagreed with the pictures. For example, the text stated to go down on the right knee first and in the picture he was on his left. No the picture wasn't reveresed. I checked the sword was in the propper place. Speaking of the sword. When he placed the sword with in the Obi, he used his left hand with the right hand on the belt. As I have been taught and all of the other books on the subject have shown and stated, you use the left thumb to hook the belt and the right hand slides the sword home. His terminology was correct, but that was about it. ... As far as the spiritual part of the book, it was good, however that does not make up for the errors of the sword. For the record, I have studied Iaido and Isshin-ryu Karate for about four years. Now if someone is interested in books on Zen or Iaido, I would suggest. Zen and the Sword, Flashing Steel, and Iaido: the art of the Japanese Sword. To name just a few of the good books on the subject.Thank you for your time
A Martial Artist.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Excellent Book
Comment: This is an excellent book. What I find most appealing about Samurai Zen is how the meditation techniques presented within its pages are so accessible. They are detailed in a manner that they can be practiced by everyone.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Zen for the Martial Artist
Comment: This is a very good book. I think what Scott Shaw does a great job integrating the spirituality inherent in Bushido into the modern practice of swordsmanship. This is inspiring and proivdes an element to the martial arts which few people in the west are exposed to. I try to do this at my own Dojo. Westerners have a hard time understanding.I think Samurai Zen really conveys Zen Buddhism in a exceptional manner. Though the shaw focuses on Japan and Iaido. This book would benefit all practioners who wish to know more about Zen Buddhism.
This book should be in everyone's library who wants to understand the foundations of the Japanese Samurai and who wish to bring Zen into their everyday life.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Tough Subject Made Easy
Comment: In the modern Western philosophy we are very much concerned with the destination rather then the journey. Every aspect of our lives depends on what happens next rather than on how we are going to get there. A lot of times when we accomplish something, we are not sure if we are happy with the result, because the goal has been reached and now there is nothing to shoot for. A lot of times if we do not reach our goal we give up, because it takes longer then we expected.We should enjoy the process of getting there without worrying about the length of the process. We should stop and think about the present moment in time without worrying about what tomorrow will bring. Planning for next day makes us miss the beauty of the time in the present. Time is short, enjoy life and stop worrying about how long something lasts, because before you know it, it will be the destination and you have missed the entire journey. That is how you can reach the highest awareness and accomplish a true act of Zen. That is the only way you can prolong your task and your life, by enjoying every moment and concentrating on it no matter how unimportant the moment may seem.
From all of the books I have read and going to read on the subject, I can truly say that this one will be one of the greatest books on Zen. I will definitely have to read it again someday to understand it even better. Whether it is your first book on Zen or not, this book makes you learn the concept of Zen relatively easy or understand it in even greater depth.
By reading this book I finally can distinguish between Zen and Ki much more then I did previously. I understand the process and how to get there. The book also has very useful information on various meditation techniques and exercises. They are very easy to understand and to follow. There is a whole bunch of meditations to be able to recognize your Ki and special breathing, concentration exercises to get into the state of mind of sub-conscious consciousness. There is a small section on the sword and sword meditations but if you are not interested in that, there is still plenty of information in this book for you. Samurai Zen is great for everyone. It is not about fighting and not about samurais, it is about healing, relaxing and learning how to properly prepare yourself for various situations. I strongly recommend it.
