Here are the inspirational life and teachings of Awa Kenzo (1880 1939), the Zen and kyudo (archery) master who gained worldwide renown after the publication of Eugen Herrigel's cult classic "Zen in the Art of Archery" in 1953. Kenzo lived and taught at a pivotal time in Japan's history, when martial arts were practiced primarily for self-cultivation, and his wise and penetrating instructions for practice (and life) including aphorisms, poetry, instructional lists, and calligraphy are infused with the spirit of Zen. Kenzo uses the metaphor of the bow and arrow to challenge the practitioner to...

This is the catalogue produced in conjunction with the Enso: The Timeless Circle exhibition held at the Robyn Buntin of Honolulu Gallery in 2008/2009. Enso are the circles used in East Asian Buddhism to visually express Zen teachings on paper with a brush and ink. The Zen circle can represent many things-enlightenment, the universe, perfection, infinity, emptiness, the mind, the moon, enlightenment, and even a tea bowl or a sweet cake. Sixty-two enso are reproduced in color, both the image itself and the full-length of the scroll, with translations and commentary by Prof. John Stevens. The...