Librarything is a cataloging and social networking site for booklovers. Busch, a writer and zen student, weaves together the story of the lightningsparked. Fire monks put a magnifying glass on this story, sucked me into the drama, and kept me up way past my bedtime. Browse colleen morton buschs bestselling audiobooks and newest titles. A massive wildfire has surrounded tassajara mountain center. Zen master and author of the classic zen mind, beginners mind, shunryu suzuki roshi established a monastery at tassajara hot. Her main purpose, though, is to explore how the discipline of zen uniquely prepared otherwise untrained monks to. Berkeley writer colleen morton buschs captivating and often exhilarating new book, fire monks, chronicles the truly amazing story of how the intrepid residents of tassajara came to evacuate on. Fire monks ebook by colleen morton busch rakuten kobo. The vivid and electrifying true story of how five monks saved the oldest zen buddhist monastery in the united states from wildfire san francisco chronicle.
This daybyday account of the defense of tassajara zen mountain center against. Named one of the top 100 books of 2011 by the san francisco chronicle, publishers weekly, and barnes and noble. Zen master and author of the classic zen mind, beginners mind, shunryu suzuki roshi established a monastery at. A gripping narrative as well as a portrait of the zen path and the ways of wildfire, fire monks reveals what it means to meet a crisis with full presence of. The story is told from the perspective of those who stayed behind to protect tassajara. This daybyday account of the defense of tassajara zen mountain center against massive wildfires in summer 2008 brings a buddhist twist to the ageold preoccupation of humans living withand trying to control. Fire monks, by colleen morton busch, is the story of how tassajara was saved by a handful of zen monks. Set deep in the ventana wilderness east of big sur, the center is. Novices in fire but experts in readiness, the tassajara monks summoned both intuition and wisdom to face the crisis with startling clarity. Drawing on the strength of community, the practice of paying attention, and the power of an open, flexible mind, the tassajara monks were able to remain in the moment and act with startling speed and clarity. This daybyday account of the defense of tassajara zen mountain center against massive wildfires in summer 2008 brings a buddhist twist to the ageold preoccupation. Tassajara, the oldest zen buddhist monastery in the united states, was at particular risk. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by colleen morton busch is the nonfiction account of the 2008 california fire which almost destroyed the tassajara zen mountain center. Fire monks is featured in the current issues books in.
Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by colleen morton busch is the nonfiction account of the 2008 california fire. Colleen morton busch audio books, best sellers, author. Fire monks zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara book. Tassajara, the oldest zen buddhist monastery in the united states, was at. Tassajara zen mountain center survives soberanes wildfire. Novices in fire but experts in readiness, the tassajara monks summoned both intuition and wisdom to face crisis with startling clarity. Meyers cartoon shows a little boy admiring the monk shouting out, when i grow up i want to be a fire monk. The smoke plume was visible throughout the monterey bay and. When a massive wildfire surrounded tassajara zen mountain center, five monks risked their lives to save it.
Named one of the top 100 books of 2011 by the san francisco chronicle, publishers weekly, and barnes and noble selected for inclusion in best buddhist writing 2012. Fire monks is a book about the california wild fires that swept through the state in 2008, and the defense of a zen retreat called tassajara by the small group of monks that remained behind even after they were ordered to leave by authorities. A gripping narrative as well as a portrait of the zen path and the ways of wildfire, fire monks reveals what it means to meet. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by colleen morton busch pivots on the kind of moment some seek and some run from, when life and death hang in simultaneous view.
Zen mind meets wildfire kindle edition by busch, colleen morton. Since tassajara springs fire has our attention, lets talk about fire monks, the book written by colleen morton busch, about the tassajara five, the five monks who remained onsite at tassajara, the oldest zen buddhist monastery in california, nestled within backcountry south of carmel valley, to battle the 2008 basin complex fire. Fire monks by colleen morton busch overdrive rakuten. Fire monks virginia beach public library overdrive.
Fire monks book chicago public library bibliocommons. The center is very isolated, more than 16 miles 26 km from the nearest paved road, and only accessible via a narrow, steep, onelane dirt road. Selected for inclusion in best buddhist writing 2012. The fire, deemed to be 99% contained on october 10, is no longer a threat.
Fire monks evansville vanderburgh public library overdrive. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara more below. Colleen morton busch an account of how five monks saved the u. She has practiced in the soto zen tradition for many years and currently serves on the board at the berkeley zen center. Fire monks pivots on the kind of moment some seek and some run from, when life and death hang in simultaneous view. Colleen morton busch, colleen morton busch, blackstone audio, inc audible audiobooks. A gripping narrative as well as an insiders portrait of the zen path, fire monks reveals what it means to meet an emergency with presence of mind. A gripping narrative as well as a portrait of the zen path and the ways of wildfire, fire monks reveals what it means to meet a crisis with full presence of mind. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara audible audio edition. Sf gates cartoonist tom meyer makes the point that it was the resident monks of the tassajara zen center that fended off flames, not firefighters who watched from a safe distance. Fire monks tells the story of five monks who stayed behind to defend the zen heartmind temple against a raging wildfire in tassajara. The result is a profound lesson in the art of living. Fire monks zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by colleen morton busch the penguin press.
Being at tassajara zen mountain center in the summer and the fall is being with fire, or at least coexisting with the possibility that a sudden fire could sweep through these rugged hills east of. As the firefighters and remaining residents caravanned out the long road from tassajara, five monks turned back, risking their lives to save the monastery. Tassajaras fire monks story remains untold firefighter blog. A gripping narrative as well as a portrait of the zen path and the ways of wildfire, fire monks reveals what it means to. Their histories, the stories of other tassajara disciples, an introduction to the tenets of buddhism and a meticulous tracking of the devastating fires progress are all part of buschs story.
According to a press release from the san francisco zen center, tassajara remained closed for 83 days, but with the help of fire crews, 25 extensively trained firefighting monks, and the us forest service, it is now designated a safe zone. It was named for the tassajara mountain zen center at tassajara hot springs it was contained a week later on september 27. Fire monks fire monks audiobook, by colleen morton busch. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by colleen morton busch, the law of divine compensation. Available july 7, 2011 fire monks events page on buschs fire monks website. Tassajara is a retreat maintained by the san francisco zen center. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by colleen morton busch. Tassajaras residents, on the other hand, had regularly practiced firefighting drills, cleared fire lines and rigged a sprinkler system. A san francisco chronicle best book of the year a publishers weekly best book of the year in june 2008 more than two thousand wildfires, all started by a single lightning storm, blazed across the state of california. Tassajara zen mountain center was created from the tassajara hot springs when the san francisco zen center purchased the property in 1967 under the leadership of shunryu suzuki. Zen mind meets wildfire at the gates of tassajara by. When a massive wildfire surrounded tassajara zen mountain center, five.
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