The Zen Canon

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Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 9780198034339
Total Pages : 337 pages
Book Rating : 4.0/5 (343 download)

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Book Synopsis The Zen Canon by : Dale S. Wright

Download or read book The Zen Canon written by Dale S. Wright and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2004-03-25 with total page 337 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bodhidharma, its first patriarch, reputedly said that Zen Buddhism represents "a special transmission outside the teaching/Without reliance on words and letters." This saying, along with the often perplexing use of language (and silence) by Zen masters, gave rise to the notion that Zen is a "lived religion," based strictly on non-linguistic practice and lacking a substantial canon of sacred texts. Even those who recognize the importance of Zen texts commonly limit their focus to a few select texts without recognizing the wide variety of Zen literature. This collection of previously unpublished essays argues that Zen actually has a rich and varied literary heritage. Among the most significant textual genres are hagiographic accounts and recorded sayings of individual Zen masters, koan collections and commentaries, and rules for monastic life. During times of political turmoil in China and Japan, these texts were crucial to the survival and success of Zen, and they have for centuries been valued by practitioners as vital expressions of the truth of Zen. This volume offers learned yet accessible studies of some of the most important classical Zen texts, including some that have received little scholarly attention (and many of which are accessible only to specialists). Each essay provides historical, literary, and philosophical commentary on a particular text or genre. Together, they offer a critique of the "de facto canon" that has been created by the limited approach of Western scholarship, and demonstrate that literature is a diverse and essential part of Zen Buddhism.

The Zen Canon

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0198034334
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (98 download)

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Book Synopsis The Zen Canon by : Dale S. Wright

Download or read book The Zen Canon written by Dale S. Wright and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2004-03-25 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bodhidharma, its first patriarch, reputedly said that Zen Buddhism represents "a special transmission outside the teaching/Without reliance on words and letters." This saying, along with the often perplexing use of language (and silence) by Zen masters, gave rise to the notion that Zen is a "lived religion," based strictly on non-linguistic practice and lacking a substantial canon of sacred texts. Even those who recognize the importance of Zen texts commonly limit their focus to a few select texts without recognizing the wide variety of Zen literature. This collection of previously unpublished essays argues that Zen actually has a rich and varied literary heritage. Among the most significant textual genres are hagiographic accounts and recorded sayings of individual Zen masters, koan collections and commentaries, and rules for monastic life. During times of political turmoil in China and Japan, these texts were crucial to the survival and success of Zen, and they have for centuries been valued by practitioners as vital expressions of the truth of Zen. This volume offers learned yet accessible studies of some of the most important classical Zen texts, including some that have received little scholarly attention (and many of which are accessible only to specialists). Each essay provides historical, literary, and philosophical commentary on a particular text or genre. Together, they offer a critique of the "de facto canon" that has been created by the limited approach of Western scholarship, and demonstrate that literature is a diverse and essential part of Zen Buddhism.

Zen Masters

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0199798850
Total Pages : 313 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (997 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Masters by : Steven Heine

Download or read book Zen Masters written by Steven Heine and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2010-04-22 with total page 313 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Extending their successful series of collections on Zen Buddhism, Heine and Wright present a fifth volume, on what may be the most important topic of all - Zen Masters. Following two volumes on Zen literature (Zen Classics and The Zen Canon) and two volumes on Zen practice (The Koan and Zen Ritual) they now propose a volume on the most significant product of the Zen tradition - the Zen masters who have made this kind of Buddhism the most renowned in the world by emphasizing the role of eminent spiritual leaders and their function in establishing centers, forging lineages, and creating literature and art. Zen masters in China, and later in Korea and Japan, were among the cultural leaders of their times. Stories about their comportment and powers circulated widely throughout East Asia. In this volume ten leading Zen scholars focus on the image of the Zen master as it has been projected over the last millennium by the classic literature of this tradition. Each chapter looks at a single prominent master. Authors assess the master's personality and charisma, his reported behavior and comportment, his relationships with teachers, rivals and disciplines, lines of transmission, primary teachings, the practices he emphasized, sayings and catch-phrases associated with him, his historical and social context, representations and icons, and enduring influences.

Zen Classics

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Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9780195175264
Total Pages : 300 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (752 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Classics by : Steven Heine

Download or read book Zen Classics written by Steven Heine and published by . This book was released on 2006 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A companion volume to 'The Koan' and 'The Zen Canon' this text concentrates primarily on texts from Korea and Japan that brought the Zen tradition to fruition.

Teachings of Zen

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Author :
Publisher : Shambhala Publications
ISBN 13 : 0834830221
Total Pages : 221 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (348 download)

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Book Synopsis Teachings of Zen by : Thomas Cleary

Download or read book Teachings of Zen written by Thomas Cleary and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 1997-12-16 with total page 221 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Zen Buddhism emerged in China some fifteen centuries ago and remained the most dynamic and influential spiritual movement in Asia for more than a millennium. Though the teachings of the first Zen masters are sometimes considered innovation, they were actually a return to the core of Buddhist teaching and to an understanding of the importance of the personal experience of enlightenment. This anthology presents talks, sayings, and records of heart-to-heart encounters to show the essence of Zen teaching through the words of the Zen masters themselves. The selections have been made from the voluminous Zen canon for their accessibility, their clarity, and above all their practical effectiveness in fostering insight.

Zen Ritual

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Author :
Publisher : OUP USA
ISBN 13 : 0195304675
Total Pages : 352 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (953 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Ritual by : Steven Heine

Download or read book Zen Ritual written by Steven Heine and published by OUP USA. This book was released on 2008 with total page 352 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When books about Zen Buddhism began appearing in Western languages just over a half-century ago, there was no interest whatsoever in the role of ritual in Zen. Indeed, what attracted Western readers' interest was the Zen rejection of ritual. The famous 'Beat Zen' writers were delighted by the Zen emphasis on spontaneity as opposed to planned, repetitious action, and wrote inspirationally about the demythologized, anti-ritualized spirit of Zen. Quotes from the great Zen masters supported this understanding of Zen, and led to the fervor that fueled the opening of Zen centers throughout the West.Once Western practitioners in these centers began to practice Zen seriously, however, they discovered that zazen - Zen meditation - is a ritualized practice supported by centuries-old ritual practices of East Asia. Although initially in tension with the popular anti-ritual image of ancient Zen masters, interest in Zen ritual has increased along with awareness of its fundamental role in the spirit of Zen. Eventually, Zen practitioners would form the idea of no-mind, or the open and awakened state of mind in which ingrained habits of thinking give way to more receptive, direct forms of experience. This notion provides a perspective from which ritual could gain enormous respect as a vehicle to spiritual awakening, and thus this volume seeks to emphasize the significance of ritual in Zen practice.Containing 9 articles by prominent scholars about a variety of topics, including Zen rituals kinhin and zazen, this volume covers rituals from the early Chan period to modern Japan. Each chapter covers key developments that occurred in the Linji/Rinzai and Caodon/ Soto schools of China and Japan, describing how Zen rituals mold the lives and characters of its practitioners, shaping them in accordance with the ideal of Zen awakening. This volume is a significant step towards placing these practices in a larger historical and analytical perspective.

The Zen Canon

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 336 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (12 download)

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Book Synopsis The Zen Canon by : Steven Heine

Download or read book The Zen Canon written by Steven Heine and published by . This book was released on 2004 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bodhidharma, its first patriarch, reputedly said that Zen Buddhism represents ""a special transmission outside the teaching/Without reliance on words and letters."" This saying, along with the often perplexing use of language (and silence) by Zen masters, gave rise to the notion that Zen is a""lived religion"" based strictly on practice. This collection of previously unpublished essays argues that Zen actually has a rich and varied literary heritage. Among the most significant texts are hagiographic accounts and recorded sayings of individual Zen masters, koan collections andcommentaries, and.

Zen Skin, Zen Marrow

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 0195326776
Total Pages : 228 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (953 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Skin, Zen Marrow by : Steven Heine

Download or read book Zen Skin, Zen Marrow written by Steven Heine and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2008 with total page 228 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Since Zen Buddhism first captivated the attention of Western seekers the dominant discourse about this sect has been romantic, idealistic, and utopian. Some scholars have begun to examine Zen through the lenses of historical and cultural criticism, producing a sharp challenge to the traditional view. This text investigates.

Beat Zen, Square Zen and Zen

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781258121242
Total Pages : 32 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (212 download)

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Book Synopsis Beat Zen, Square Zen and Zen by : Alan W. Watts

Download or read book Beat Zen, Square Zen and Zen written by Alan W. Watts and published by . This book was released on 2011-10-01 with total page 32 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Zen Essence

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Publisher : Shambhala Publications
ISBN 13 : 1570625883
Total Pages : 137 pages
Book Rating : 4.5/5 (76 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Essence by : Thomas Cleary

Download or read book Zen Essence written by Thomas Cleary and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2000-05-02 with total page 137 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Drawn from the records of Chinese Zen masters of the Tang and Song dynasties, this collection may surprise some readers. In contrast to the popular image of Zen as an authoritarian, monastic tradition deeply rooted in Asian culture, these passages portray Zen as remarkably flexible, adaptive to contemporary and individual needs, and transcending cultural boundaries. The readings contained in Zen Essence emphasize that the practice of Zen requires consciousness alone and does not depend on a background in Zen Buddhism and Asian culture. The true essence of Zen resides in the relationship between mind and culture, whatever that culture might be. This unique collection of writings creates a picture of Zen not as a religion or philosophy, but as a practical science of freedom.

The Koan

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Author :
Publisher : Oxford University Press
ISBN 13 : 019802780X
Total Pages : 335 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (98 download)

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Book Synopsis The Koan by : Steven Heine

Download or read book The Koan written by Steven Heine and published by Oxford University Press. This book was released on 2000-04-20 with total page 335 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Koans are enigmatic spiritual formulas used for religious training in the Zen Buddhist tradition. Arguing that our understanding of the koan tradition has been severely limited, contributors to this collection examine previously unrecognized factors in the formation of this tradition, and highlight the rich complexity and diversity of koan practice and literature.

Zen at War

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Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
ISBN 13 : 1461647479
Total Pages : 310 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (616 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen at War by : Brian Daizen Victoria

Download or read book Zen at War written by Brian Daizen Victoria and published by Rowman & Littlefield Publishers. This book was released on 2006-06-22 with total page 310 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A compelling history of the contradictory, often militaristic, role of Zen Buddhism, this book meticulously documents the close and previously unknown support of a supposedly peaceful religion for Japanese militarism throughout World War II. Drawing on the writings and speeches of leading Zen masters and scholars, Brian Victoria shows that Zen served as a powerful foundation for the fanatical and suicidal spirit displayed by the imperial Japanese military. At the same time, the author recounts the dramatic and tragic stories of the handful of Buddhist organizations and individuals that dared to oppose Japan's march to war. He follows this history up through recent apologies by several Zen sects for their support of the war and the way support for militarism was transformed into 'corporate Zen' in postwar Japan. The second edition includes a substantive new chapter on the roots of Zen militarism and an epilogue that explores the potentially volatile mix of religion and war. With the increasing interest in Buddhism in the West, this book is as timely as it is certain to be controversial.

Three Zen Sutras

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Publisher : Catapult
ISBN 13 : 1640094954
Total Pages : 90 pages
Book Rating : 4.6/5 (4 download)

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Book Synopsis Three Zen Sutras by : Red Pine

Download or read book Three Zen Sutras written by Red Pine and published by Catapult. This book was released on 2021-09-28 with total page 90 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A pocket-sized presentation of the 3 most venerated sutras of Zen Buddhism—the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Platform Sutra—from a legendary practitioner and translator of Buddhist teachings Three classic Buddhist sutras, often linked to form a trio of texts that have been revered and studied for centuries, are now available together in this single volume. Red Pine, whose acclaimed translations these particular Buddhist texts are considered canon, provides a sensitive and assured treatment of the classic triumvirate in a gift-sized volume, perfect for sharing with anyone seeking guidance and peace. The Heart Sutra, with its profound and wide-reaching influence on Buddhism, offers the Prajnaparamita teaching of emptiness. The Diamond Sutra, said to contain answers to all questions of delusion and dualism, outlines the bodhisattva path followed by the Buddha. The Platform Sutra is an autobiography of Hui-neng, the controversial 6th Patriarch of Zen. His understanding of the fundamentals of a spiritual and practical life has served as the introduction to the teachings of Zen that students have been putting into practice for the past 1300 years. In addition to new translations of all three texts, Red Pine has included an introduction that ties all three together and just enough footnotes to explain what needs explaining but not enough to get in the way.

Zen Wisdom

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 380 pages
Book Rating : 4.X/5 (3 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Wisdom by : Shengyan

Download or read book Zen Wisdom written by Shengyan and published by . This book was released on 1993 with total page 380 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: ZEN WISDOM is about Zen meditation practice, philosophy and doctine; Buddhism and social issues: the arts, children, abortion, euthanasia, suicide, morality, medical technology, material success, conservation with a master power of the mind, personal growth, self help and spiritual practice.

The Zen Reader

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Publisher : Shambhala Publications
ISBN 13 : 0834822784
Total Pages : 161 pages
Book Rating : 4.8/5 (348 download)

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Book Synopsis The Zen Reader by : Thomas Cleary

Download or read book The Zen Reader written by Thomas Cleary and published by Shambhala Publications. This book was released on 2012-02-14 with total page 161 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Founded by Bodhidharma centuries ago in China, Zen and its teachings have since spread widely, exerting a tremendous cultural influence not only across Asia, but also the modern West. To this day, Zen inspires young and old, from all walks of life, to see the world with fresh eyes—beyond our usual assumptions and prejudices. This compendium of a thousand years of Zen teaching presents the essence of the tradition through stories, sayings, talks, and records of heart-to-heart encounters with Zen masters. The great expositors of the tradition, whose voices are recounted here, encourage us to let go of our clinging and intellectual grasping, and to open ourselves to embrace reality exactly as it is.

Opening a Mountain

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Publisher : Oxford University Press, USA
ISBN 13 : 0195174348
Total Pages : 217 pages
Book Rating : 4.1/5 (951 download)

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Book Synopsis Opening a Mountain by : Steven Heine

Download or read book Opening a Mountain written by Steven Heine and published by Oxford University Press, USA. This book was released on 2002 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: With the growing popularity of Zen Buddhism in the West, virtually everyone knows, or thinks they know, what a koan is: a brief and baffling question or statement that cannot be solved by the logical mind and which, after sustained concentration, can lead to sudden enlightenment. But the truth about koans is both simpler--and more complicated--than this. In Opening a Mountain, Steven Heine shows that koans, and the questions we associate with them--such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"--are embedded in larger narratives and belong to an ancient Buddhist tradition of "encounter dialogues." These dialogues feature dramatic and often inscrutable contests between masters and disciples, or between masters and an array of natural and supernatural forces: rouge priests, "wild foxes," hermits, wizards, shapeshifters, magical animals, and dangerous women. To establish a new monastery, "to open a mountain," the Zen master had to tame these wild forces in regions most remote from civilization. In these extraordinary encounters, fingers and arms are cut off, pitchers are kicked over, masters appear in and interpret each other's dreams, and seemingly absurd statements are shown to reveal the deepest insights. Heine restores these koans to their original traditions, allowing readers to see both the complex elements of Chinese culture and religion that they reflect and the role they played in Zen's transformation of local superstitions into its own teachings. Offering a fresh approach to one of the most crucial elements of Zen Buddhism, Opening a Mountain is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the full story behind koans and the mysterious worlds they come from.

Zen Wisdom

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Author :
Publisher :
ISBN 13 : 9781556433863
Total Pages : 328 pages
Book Rating : 4.4/5 (338 download)

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Book Synopsis Zen Wisdom by : Shengyan

Download or read book Zen Wisdom written by Shengyan and published by . This book was released on 2001 with total page 328 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Master Sheng-yen combines wisdom gained from years of study and practice with knowledge of the contemporary world to show how Chan and Buddha’s teachings are still relevant today. Beginners, as well as those already on the path, will find clear and useful guidance as the revered teacher answers questions from his students on the simple yet elusive principles of Chan (Zen) practice.