Crowded by Beauty : The Life and Zen of Poet Philip Whalen

Philip Whalen was an American poet, Zen Buddhist, and key figure in the literary and artistic scene that unfolded in San Francisco in the 1950s and ’60s. When the Beat writers came West, Whalen became a revered, much-loved member of the group. Erudite, shy, and profoundly spiritual, his presence not only moved his immediate circle of Beat cohorts, but his powerful, startling, innovative work would come to impact American poetry to the present day. Drawing on Whalen’s journals and personal correspondence—particularly with Ginsberg, Kerouac, Snyder, Kyger, Welch, and McClure —David Schneider shows how deeply bonded these intimates were, supporting one another in their art and their spiritual paths. Schneider, himself an ordained priest, provides an insider’s view of Whalen’s struggles and breakthroughs in his thirty years as a Zen monk. When Whalen died in 2002 as the retired Abbot of the Hartford Street Zen Center, his own teacher referred to him as a patriarch of the Western lineage of Buddhism. __Crowded by Beauty__ chronicles the course of Whalen’s life, focusing on his unique, eccentric, humorous, and literary-religious practice. Philip Whalen Was An American Poet, Zen Buddhist, And Key Figure In The Literary And Artistic Scene That Unfolded In San Francisco In The 1950s And '60s. When The Beat Writers Came West, Whalen Became A Revered, Much-loved Member Of The Group. Erudite, Shy, And Profoundly Spiritual, His Presence Not Only Moved His Immediate Circle Of Beat Cohorts, But His Powerful, Startling, Innovative Work Would Come To Impact American Poetry To The Present Day. Drawing On Whalen's Journals And Personal Correspondence--particularly With Ginsberg, Kerouac, Snyder, Kyger, Welch, And Mcclure --david Schneider Shows How Deeply Bonded These Intimates Were, Supporting One Another In Their Art And Their Spiritual Paths. Schneider, Himself An Ordained Priest, Provides An Insider's View Of Whalen's Struggles And Breakthroughs In His Thirty Years As A Zen Monk. When Whalen Died In 2002 As The Retired Abbot Of The Hartford Street Zen Center, His Own Teacher Referred To Him As A Patriarch Of The Western Lineage Of Buddhism. Crowded By Beauty Chronicles The Course Of Whalen's Life, Focusing On His Unique, Eccentric, Humorous, And Literary-religious Practice.--provided By Publisher. Reflection In Friends -- Banjo Eyes : Whalen And Ginsberg -- Buddha Red Ears : Whalen And Kerouac -- Kalyanamitra : Whalen And Snyder -- Your Heart Is Fine : Whalen And Kyger -- Hail Thee Who Play : Whalen And Mcclure -- Early : 1923-1943 -- Forced Association : Army Life, 1943-1946 -- Reed's Fine College : 1946-1951 -- Solvitur Ambulando : 1959-1971 -- Japan, Bolinas, Japan, Bolinas : 1959-1971 -- New Years : Whalen And Baker, Zen Center -- An Order To Love : Ordination -- Rope Of Sand (philip At Santa Fe With Baker, Et Al; Dharma Transmission) -- Rsvp : Hartford St., Decline And Death. David Schneider. Includes Bibliographical References (page 313) And Index. "Philip Whalen was an American poet, Zen Buddhist, and key figure in the literary and artistic scene that unfolded in San Francisco in the 1950s and '60s. When the Beat writers came West, Whalen became a revered, much-loved member of the group. Erudite, shy, and profoundly spiritual, his presence not only moved his immediate circle of Beat cohorts, but his powerful, startling, innovative work would come to impact American poetry to the present day. Drawing on Whalen's journals and personal correspondence ... particularly with Ginsberg, Kerouac, Snyder, Kyger, Welch, and McClure ... David Schneider shows how deeply bonded these intimates were, supporting one another in their art and their spiritual paths. Schneider, himself an ordained priest, provides an insider's view of Whalen's struggles and breakthroughs in his thirty years as a Zen monk. When Whalen died in 2002 as the retired Abbot of the Hartford Street Zen Center, his own teacher referred to him as a patriarch of the Western lineage of Buddhism. Crowded by Beauty chronicles the course of Whalen's life, focusing on his unique, eccentric, humorous, and literary-religious practice." ... Provided by publisher Philip Whalen was an American poet, Zen Buddhist, and key figure in the literary and artistic scene that unfolded in San Francisco in the 1950s and ’60s. When the Beat writers came West, Whalen became a revered, much-loved member of the group. Erudite, shy, and profoundly spiritual, his presence not only moved his immediate circle of Beat cohorts, but his powerful, startling, innovative work would come to impact American poetry to the present day.

Drawing on Whalen’s journals and personal correspondence—particularly with Ginsberg, Kerouac, Snyder, Kyger, Welch, and McClure —David Schneider shows how deeply bonded these intimates were, supporting one another in their art and their spiritual paths. Schneider, himself an ordained priest, provides an insider’s view of Whalen’s struggles and breakthroughs in his thirty years as a Zen monk. When Whalen died in 2002 as the retired Abbot of the Hartford Street Zen Center, his own teacher referred to him as a patriarch of the Western lineage of Buddhism. Crowded by Beauty chronicles the course of Whalen’s life, focusing on his unique, eccentric, humorous, and literary-religious practice. Reflection in friends (includes methods) Banjo eyes, (Whalen & Ginsberg) Buddha red ears (Whalen & Kerouac) Kalyanamitra (Whalen & Snyder) Your heart is fine (Whalen & Kyger) Hail thee who play (Whalen & Mcclure) Early (childhood, family, through high-school) Forced association Reed's fine college (Whalen & Welch; Whalen and Lloyd Reynolds) Portage Solvitur Ambulando (1959-1971-includes publication of his first books) Japan, Bolinas, Japan, Bolinas (1959-1971) New years (Whalen & Richard Baker, first phase at Zen Center, including Tassajara) An order to love (ordination, second phase at Zen Center & Tassajara, head monk at Tassajara, South Ridge Zendo) Rope of sand (Philip at Santa Fe with Baker, et al; Dharma Transmission) RSVP (Philip at Hartford St.; Decline & death; includes a little postscript) Contents List of Illustrations Preface Brief Chronology 1. Reflection in Friends 2. Banjo Eyes: Whalen and Ginsberg 3. Buddha Red Ears: Whalen and Kerouac 4. Kalyanamitra: Whalen and Snyder 5. Your Heart Is Fine: Whalen and Kyger 6. Hail Thee Who Play: Whalen and McClure 7. Early: 1923–1943 8. Forced Association: Army Life, 1943–1946 9. Reed’s Fine College: 1946–1951 10. Solvitur Ambulando: 1959–1971 11. Japan, Bolinas, Japan, Bolinas: 1965–1971 12. New Years: Whalen and Baker, Zen Center 13. An Order to Love: Ordination 14. Rope of Sand: Santa Fe and Dharma Transmission 15. RSVP: Hartford Street, Decline and Death Acknowledgments Notes Primary Sources Index