The use of brief, thought-provoking stories -- also known as "koans" -- to teach the key concepts of Zen Buddhism has a long and illustrious history.In Zen Master Raven, Robert Aitken, one of America's best-known and most-respected Zen masters, presents a brilliant introduction to Zen Buddhist teaching through over one hundred lessons told through the stories (and voices) of animals -- from curious beginners like Mallard and Mole, to teachers-in-training like Porcupine, to the profound wisdom of masters like Brown Bear and Zen Master Raven himself.
Together, the stories represent both a fascinating and extremely readable introduction to Zen thought, and the summation of the teaching of one of the most important figures in the history of Zen in America.