Northwestern University professor of Slavic languages and literature Irwin Weil discusses his trip to China to attend an international meeting of teachers in Russian and Russian literature. He also briefly discusses notable Russian writers. Weil sings several unnamed Russian and Chinese folk songs throughout and reads “I Loved You” - Aleksandr Sergeevich Pushkin.

Poet Lucien Stryk discusses Zen poetry and Zen philosophy. Styrk focuses this conversation on “Satori," a Buddhist term for “the awakening”, and its influence on Zen philosophy. Styrk also discusses and reads from a book edited by him and Takashi Ikemoto entitled "Zen: Poems, Prayers, Sermons, Anecdotes, Interviews." Stryk reads a poem from “Triumph of the Sparrow” by Shinkichi Takahashi. Studs plays "His Eye is on the Sparrow" - Mahalia Jackson (1958).

According to Joseph Campbell's book, "Myths to Live By," myths put people in touch with dimensions of their own being and consciousness. Dreams, Campbell explained, are private myths and myths are a public dream. Campbell also talks about how the west and the orient view myths and symbols.

During a visit to the Old Town School of Folk Music, musician Tadashi Tad Hidaka discusses Japanese folk songs. Includes a rice planting folk song, a mining song, and several farewell songs.*Please note: some sections have been edited out from the original recording due to copyright considerations