Sound That Perceives the World : Calling Out to the Bodhisattva
Language: English
Published by Wisdom Publications, 2025
- Softcover
- Used

Seller: GreatBookPrices, Columbia, MD, U.S.A.GreatBookPrices
AbeBooks seller since April 6, 2009
Condition: Used - As new
£ 19.79
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
Seller Inventory # 50570029
- Title
- Sound That Perceives the World : Calling Out to the Bodhisattva
- Author
- Uchiyama, Kosho; Okumura, Shohaku (FRW); Lazzarini, Howard (TRN)
- Publisher
- Wisdom Publications
- Publication year
- 2025
- Condition
- As New
- Binding
- Soft cover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 161429951X
- ISBN 13
- 9781614299516
Musings and autobiographically informed commentary on the human condition through the lens of the Kannon-gyo—chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra—connecting Zen and Pure Land Buddhism through the practice of venerating and chanting the names of buddhas and bodhisattvas.
The Kannon-gyo is chapter 25 of the Lotus Sutra, focused on the bodhisattva of compassion, Avalokiteshvara—known in China as Guanyin, and in Japan as Kannon or Kanzeon. The text describes the many ways in which calling out the bodhisattva’s name, Namu Kanzeon Bosatsu, can relieve suffering.
Most schools of Zen Buddhism, and especially the Soto school, typically avoid practices such as chanting the names of buddhas and bodhisattvas, along with venerating such figures. The eminent Soto Zen master Kosho Uchiyama Roshi, however, came to appreciate the Kannon-gyo and its related practices during times when he could not practice zazen, or formal sitting meditation. While doing hard physical labor early in his career, he turned to reciting Kannon’s name, as recommended in the text of the Kannon-gyo.
Later in life, Uchiyama Roshi suffered from illness that again prevented him from practicing formal Zen, and he returned once more to the Kannon-gyo and the practice of chanting. He went so far as to assert that chanting Kannon’s name is completely equivalent to zazen, the two practices simply two sides of the same coin—a revolutionary idea seemingly at odds with Zen tradition.
Chanting practice is especially accessible, as it can be done while working, traveling, suffering from illness, or during other activities that might ordinarily hinder formal Zen practice. With these practices, the Kannon-gyo, and Kannon herself as a backdrop, Uchiyama Roshi reflects on the purposes of religion, the goals of religious practice, and the meaning of enlightenment—and their deep relation to suffering itself.
"Synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
About the Author
Shohaku Okumura is a Soto Zen priest and Dharma successor of Kosho Uchiyama Roshi. He is a graduate of Komazawa University and has practiced in Japan at Antaiji, Zuioji, and the Kyoto Soto Zen Center, and in Massachusetts at the Pioneer Valley Zendo. He is the former director of the Soto Zen Buddhism International Center in San Francisco. His previously published books of translation include Shobogenzo Zuimonki, Dogen Zen, Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo, and Opening the Hand of Thought. Okumura is also editor of Dogen Zen and Its Relevance for Our Time and SotoZen. He is the founding teacher of the Sanshin Zen Community, based in Bloomington, Indiana, where he lives with his family.
Howard Lazzarini holds a degree in Japanese Language and Literature from the University of California at Berkeley. He spent 12 years in Japan and for several years during that time, in the early 1970s, practiced Soto Zen at Antaiji, a small temple that was located in the north Takagamine section of Kyoto. There he met his first teacher, Kosho Uchiyama Roshi and sat in the shikantaza style of Uchiyama Roshi and Dogen. After returning to the US he began studying with Shohaku Okumura Roshi of Sanshin Zen Community in Bloomington, Indiana, where he took lay ordination. He translated The Sound that Perceives the World in close collaboration with Okumura Roshi and Shoko Hayashi Lazzarini, his wife. He currently lives in Everett, Washington, and practices with the Everett Zazen Group located in Everett.
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
GreatBookPrices
Columbia, MD, U.S.A.
AbeBooks seller since April 6, 2009
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 14 business days | 8 to 14 business days |
|---|---|---|
| First item | £ 1.95 | £ 1.95 |
Payment methods
Store description
Seller's business information
Expert Trading Limited
9220 Rumsey Road, Suite 101
Columbia, MD U.S.A. 21045
Terms of sale
Company Name: GreatBookPrices
Legal Entity: Expert Trading, LLC
Address: 6310 Stevens Forest, suite 200, Columbia MD 21046
Email address: CustomerService@SuperBookDeals.com
Phone number: 410-964-0026
consumer complaints can be addressed to address above
Registration #: 52-1713923
Authorized representative: Danielle Hainsey
Right of withdrawal
If you are a consumer you can withdraw from the contract in accordance with the following. Consumer means any natural person who is acting for purposes which are outside his trade, business, craft or profession.
Information regarding the right of withdrawal
Statutory right to withdraw
You have the right to withdraw from this contract within 14 days without giving any reason.
The withdrawal period will expire after 14 days from the day on which you acquire, or a third party other than the carrier and indicated by you acquires, physical possession of the last good or the last lot or piece.
To exercise the right of withdrawal, electronically fill in and submit a clear statement on our website, under "My Purchases" in "My Account". We will communicate to you an acknowledgement of receipt of such a withdrawal on a durable medium (e.g. by e-mail) without delay.
To meet the withdrawal deadline, it is sufficient for you to send your communication concerning your exercise of the right of withdrawal before the withdrawal period has expired.
Effects of withdrawal
If you withdraw from this contract, we will reimburse to you all payments received from you, including the costs of delivery (except for the supplementary costs arising if you chose a type of delivery other than the least expensive type of standard delivery offered by us).
We may make a deduction from the reimbursement for loss in value of any goods supplied, if the loss is the result of unnecessary handling by you.
We will make the reimbursement without undue delay, and not later than 14 days after the day on which we are informed about your decision to withdraw from this contract.
We will make the reimbursement using the same means of payment as you used for the initial transaction, unless you have expressly agreed otherwise; in any event, you will not incur any fees as a result of such reimbursement.
We may withhold reimbursement until we have received the goods back, or you have supplied evidence of having sent back the goods, whichever is the earliest.
You shall send back the goods or hand them over to GreatBookPrices, Bensenville, Illinois, U.S.A., without undue delay and in any event not later than 14 days from the day on which you communicate your withdrawal from this contract to us. The deadline is met if you send back the goods before the period of 14 days has expired. You will have to bear the direct cost of returning the goods. You are only liable for any diminished value of the goods resulting from the handling other than what is necessary to establish the nature, characteristics and functioning of the goods.
Exceptions to the right of withdrawal
The right of withdrawal does not apply to:
- The delivery of newspapers, journals or magazines with the exception of subscription contracts; and
- The supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium (e.g. on a CD or DVD) if you accepted when you placed your order that we could start to deliver it, and that you could not withdraw once delivery had started.
Shipping terms
Our warehouses across the globe are fully operational without substantial delays. We are working hard and continue to overcome the daily challenges presented by COVID-19. We appreciate your understanding.
Internal processing of your order will take about 1-2 business days. Please allow an additional 4-14 business days for Media Mail delivery. We have multiple ship-from locations - MD,IL,NJ,UK,IN,NV,TN & GA