Zen Baggage: A Pilgrimage to China

This is a wonderful book by Bill Porter with a treasure of riches from and to the Zen Mind. Mr. Porter has laid out a multifold story to document the history of Zen in China and unload some personal baggage that he has carried for years. Using the approach of Mark Twain "on the Damned human Race" and Pearl Buck in "The good Earth" he documents for posterity the 2500 year struggle of the Chinese mind to find itself. With the Typical Zen simplicity Mr. Porter has covered a lot of ground in his 359 page book that would have been 700 pages if he used a larger font size. The font size did a number on my bifocals but it was worth it. It reminds me of a question that could be applied both to Mr. Porter and the Chinese people from my childhood. "If these people are so poor, why are they always smiling? It is because the lack of worldly goods does not obscure the treasures of the Mind." The world should take note of the progress being made in China to restore its age old tradition of thought and stability. As to Mr. Porter, he is a national treasure for both the Chinese people and the USA. He should look for funding in his future projects not at the "GUG" but from more legitimate funding sources for these works and not "POP ART". The threefold tale that has been unfolded has fine detail threading in the Tapestry of Mind. The "Accidental Buddha" nature of the dependent arising and serendipitous encounters with old Dharma brothers, sisters and distant cousins could not have been staged. It is evidence of a life spent in mining the treasures of the Chinese Mind indicated by the network of contacts built though diligent efforts and travels. The unsaid is as important in this book as the said. Thank you Mr. Porter, aka Red Pine.

Bill Porter, once again, has written a marvelous book tracking where the 5 Zen Patriarchs lived. Not only is the journey fascinating but also included are Zen writings which he uses to give background on Zen teachings. All that plus pictures he took along with a map so you trace his steps. I highly recommend this book for chose who have an interest in Zen as well China in general. I had previously read "Road to Heaven - Encounters With Chinese Hermits" which Mr. Porter wrote and I highly recommend.

I thought Bill Porter's first book about his journeys in China, Road to Heaven, was one of the most entrancing books I have encountered in my many years of avid reading. However, his new book is equally compelling. As someone with a deep interest in Chinese thought and culture, I have been wondering what the current state of spiritual life is in the brave new world that is modern China. This book goes a long way toward answering some of my questions. Bill's ability to communicate and his intimate knowledge of Ch'an literature and history gives a richness to this deceptively simple tale of his wanderings.

well written and inciteful and a decent account of travels in China.

I really liked the real-life journey that was covered in this book. Small events that added up to a real picture of what it would be like to tour China with someone with experience, friends and connections in China. The history that was given along with the trip events were facinating. I will never take such a trip but I feel like this is a glimpse into such an adventure. I mistakenly gave the book a 1 star rating when I created this review, have corrected it to the 5 star rating I intended.

Among the most enjoyable, fascinating, and illuminating travelogue book on Chinese culture and geography and the practice of Zen/Ch'an meditation (shikantaza/mo-chao). A "must read" companion book to Bill Porter's earlier book "Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits."The Shaolin Monastery descriptions are among my personal highlights: Strengthens my resolve to continue practice zazen (sitting meditation with eyes open, lower back and head straight, breathing fully, and allowing all arising thoughts 'drop away' without clinging) and martial arts.Red Pine, Thank you.

Bill Porter's Zen Baggaage was a companion on a vacation. I never found him "grumpy", a dispassionate traveler who's never effusive about sights or people he meets, except an occasional cookie or Iron goddess tea. On that note I am glad he's not a Taoist or we'd not have a book to read.On the subject Mr. Porter the term Pratimoksha (Pali-Patimokkha) was a form of confessional for the inductee in front of the sangha.May your travels enlighten us more.

A pleasure to go traveling again with Bill Porter. I'm happy his travel writing about China is very successful there.

What can I say, fulfilled my expectations ten times over, what a brilliant book, from page to page I was transported to the places that Bill Porter was visiting, a great read, I could not put the book down, now onto the next book by Bill Porter, Road to Heaven, encounters with Chinese Hermits, :)

I have read many of Red Pines books on Buddhism and Zen and this is a wonderful travelogue of his trip to the Six Chinese Patriarchs Stupas from the first to the last. I love Red Pines writing, its easy to read, funny and very human and its great to follow him around his adventures in China. Something I would love to do. Read it

excellent and informative book

I like it very much. A good book and good service. It is a very good experience to buy book in this bookshop.

Livro muito bom de ler. Leitura gostosa e divertida. Nos transporta para a China, conhecendo os templos dos grandes patriarcas do Zen.