Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing!
Review: Badly written and superficial. A bad specimen of Buddhist or gay literature.
Rating: 
Summary: Street Zen
Review: David Schneider's book misses the point for me. I was a student of Issan Dorsey's and was ordained in his lineage. Many of us have had colorful pasts, perhaps not as colorful as Issan's but what was wonderful about Issan and lives on as his legacy in such people as myself and those he helped, was his compassion and willingness to help. He literally would stop on the street and pick up an unconcious person suffering from AIDS and possibly too many drugs, bring them home to Maitri (his hospice) and ask us to help clean him up, feed him and give him a place to get back on his feet. He encouraged me personally to help with such programs as meals on wheels for people with AIDS in SF during a time when this was desparately needed. Too bad David Schneider felt that he needed to sensationalize Issan's life inorder to sell his book. Many people ask frequently about his life and sincerely want to know about his spiritual path and his accomplishments as a Zen practioner. I wonder why David Schneider, a former Zen priest himself, saw fit to attempt to cheapen the life of a person who dedicated himself to neutrality and compassion for anyone who was in need of his help or friendship by writing about him as if he was some kind queer novelty rather than a man who dedicated himself to being a dharma friend for whoever needed him.
Rating:
Summary: Street Zen
Review: David Schneider's book misses the point for me. I was a student of Issan Dorsey's and was ordained in his lineage. Many of us have had colorful pasts, perhaps not as colorful as Issan's but what was wonderful about Issan and lives on as his legacy in such people as myself and those he helped, was his compassion and willingness to help. He literally would stop on the street and pick up an unconcious person suffering from AIDS and possibly too many drugs, bring them home to Maitri (his hospice) and ask us to help clean him up, feed him and give him a place to get back on his feet. He encouraged me personally to help with such programs as meals on wheels for people with AIDS in SF during a time when this was desparately needed. Too bad David Schneider felt that he needed to sensationalize Issan's life inorder to sell his book. Many people ask frequently about his life and sincerely want to know about his spiritual path and his accomplishments as a Zen practioner. I wonder why David Schneider, a former Zen priest himself, saw fit to attempt to cheapen the life of a person who dedicated himself to neutrality and compassion for anyone who was in need of his help or friendship by writing about him as if he was some kind queer novelty rather than a man who dedicated himself to being a dharma friend for whoever needed him.
Rating: 
Summary: A wonderful read.
Review: I agree to some extent with some of the earlier reviews, I felt the author wrongly at times treated Issan Dorsey's homosexuality as somewhat of an exotic freakshow. But over all the author did a wonderful job of portraying the heart and nature of Issan. My only criticism would be sensationalizing Issan's sexuality. The earlier criticism one reviewer made that the book was flawed because a heterosexual was writing about a homosexual is extremely simplistic.
Rating:
Summary: A wonderful read.
Review: I can appreciate that folks who knew Issan Dorsey found this watered down. I, however, didn't, and I loved the book. It's a great counter to the prissiness that tinges most zen literature. This was the first thing I read that made me think, "Well, if he was a zen teacher, maybe zen is something I want to explore."For those who knew Issan and studied under him, please write books! He is an important teacher for the messiness and reality of this world, rather than the cozy sterility of a monastery, and I would love to know more about him.
Rating: 
Summary: Another view
Review: I can appreciate that folks who knew Issan Dorsey found this watered down. I, however, didn't, and I loved the book. It's a great counter to the prissiness that tinges most zen literature. This was the first thing I read that made me think, "Well, if he was a zen teacher, maybe zen is something I want to explore." For those who knew Issan and studied under him, please write books! He is an important teacher for the messiness and reality of this world, rather than the cozy sterility of a monastery, and I would love to know more about him.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired
Review: I didn't know Issan Dorsey, but reading this book made me wish I did if only because he seemed a terribly interesting person and the course of his life is...well...amazing. I highly recommend it. As a gay man with an interest in Buddhism, this book was like a door opening.
Rating:
Summary: Inspired
Review: I didn't know Issan Dorsey, but reading this book made me wish I did if only because he seemed a terribly interesting person and the course of his life is...well...amazing. I highly recommend it. As a gay man with an interest in Buddhism, this book was like a door opening.
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I found this book extremely inspiring. The life of Issan Dorsey is a must read for anyone who has ever felt dragged down, left out, and mentally or physically ill. That should include everyone!
Rating:
Summary: Great book!
Review: I found this book extremely inspiring. The life of Issan Dorsey is a must read for anyone who has ever felt dragged down, left out, and mentally or physically ill. That should include everyone!
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