Dear Spark Zen Readers, thank you so much for your continued support. I truly appreciate it. Today, I’m delighted to share some insightful communication tips from Taigu Ryōkan (1758-1831)— a Zen monk-poet who lived most of his life as a hermit. Although he was a hermit, Ryōkan loved playing with the village children and would get so caught up in these games that he’d often forget to beg for food.

Below are some of Ryōkan’s admonitory words (kaigo) for conversing with others as translated by Burton Watson in his book Ryōkan: Zen Monk-Poet from Japan. Ryōkan’s original contained 90 kaigo, but alas that’s too many for a Zen in Ten post. Watson says that Ryokan was mainly addressing these admonitions to himself.

As a fast talker who gesticulates often, I chuckled to myself as a read this list! I hope you find these guidelines illuminating and beneficial. Bows of peace + gratitude, Rev. Shōren

1. Talking a great deal

2. Talking too fast

3. Volunteering information when not asked

4. Talking with your hands

5. Giving gratuitous advice

6. Talking up your own accomplishments

7. Breaking in before others have finished speaking

8. Insisting on getting in the last word

9. Making glib promises

10. Repeating yourself as old people will do

11. Trying to explain to others something you don’t understand yourself

12. Starting a new subject before you’ve finished with the last one

13. Reporting in details on affairs that have nothing to do with anything

14. Talk that smacks of the pedant

If you’d like to learn more about Ryōkan’s life, calligraphy, and poetry, here are some additional resources:

• Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan by Kazuaki Tanahashi

• One Robe, One Bowl: The Zen Poetry of Ryōkan by John Stevens

• Great Fool: Zen Master Ryōkan, Poems, Letters, and Other Writings by Ryūichi Abē Peter Haskel

• The Zen Poems of Ryokan by Noboyuki Yuasa