Dropping Ashes on the Buddha, The Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha is a collection of Zen teachings, stories and conversations with Korean Zen Master Seung Sahn, compiled during his time teaching in the West. The book captures his signature style, which is direct and humorous. It is aimed at shaking students out of their habitual ways of thinking.
Throughout the text, Zen Master Seung Sahn uses sharp dialogue, koans (kong-ans) and everyday examples to convey the essence of Zen practice: awakening to one’s true nature without relying on conceptual understanding. His core teaching of “Don’t know” highlights the importance of letting go of fixed ideas and cultivating a clear, open mind. The book isn’t structured like a typical manual. Instead, it reads like a series of intimate exchanges between teacher and student, revealing how Zen can be practised in the ordinary messiness of life, moment to moment.