Seeing through Zen

Seeing through Zen
Author: John R. Mcrae
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 232
Release: 2004-01-19
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0520937074

The tradition of Chan Buddhism—more popularly known as Zen—has been romanticized throughout its history. In this book, John R. McRae shows how modern critical techniques, supported by recent manuscript discoveries, make possible a more skeptical, accurate, and—ultimately—productive assessment of Chan lineages, teaching, fundraising practices, and social organization. Synthesizing twenty years of scholarship, Seeing through Zen offers new, accessible analytic models for the interpretation of Chan spiritual practices and religious history. Writing in a lucid and engaging style, McRae traces the emergence of this Chinese spiritual tradition and its early figureheads, Bodhidharma and the "sixth patriarch" Huineng, through the development of Zen dialogue and koans. In addition to constructing a central narrative for the doctrinal and social evolution of the school, Seeing through Zen examines the religious dynamics behind Chan’s use of iconoclastic stories and myths of patriarchal succession. McRae argues that Chinese Chan is fundamentally genealogical, both in its self-understanding as a school of Buddhism and in the very design of its practices of spiritual cultivation. Furthermore, by forgoing the standard idealization of Zen spontaneity, we can gain new insight into the religious vitality of the school as it came to dominate the Chinese religious scene, providing a model for all of East Asia—and the modern world. Ultimately, this book aims to change how we think about Chinese Chan by providing new ways of looking at the tradition.

The Zen of Seeing

The Zen of Seeing
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 168
Release: 1973
Genre: Art
ISBN:

A Dutch artist offers his concept of seeing and drawing as a discipline by which the world may be rediscovered, a way of experiencing Zen.

Essential Chan Buddhism

Essential Chan Buddhism
Author: Guo Jun
Publisher: Monkfish Book Publishing
Total Pages: 194
Release: 2013-04-02
Genre: Religion
ISBN: 0983358915

An inspiring introduction to Chan Buddhism in a value-priced hardcover edition. Perfect for daily spiritual guidance and gifts.

How Zen Became Zen

How Zen Became Zen
Author: Morten Schlutter
Publisher: University of Hawaii Press
Total Pages: 306
Release: 2010-04-30
Genre: History
ISBN: 0824835085

How Zen Became Zen takes a novel approach to understanding one of the most crucial developments in Zen Buddhism: the dispute over the nature of enlightenment that erupted within the Chinese Chan (Zen) school in the twelfth century. The famous Linji (Rinzai) Chan master Dahui Zonggao (1089–1163) railed against "heretical silent illumination Chan" and strongly advocated kanhua (koan) meditation as an antidote. In this fascinating study, Morten Schlütter shows that Dahui’s target was the Caodong (Soto) Chan tradition that had been revived and reinvented in the early twelfth century, and that silent meditation was an approach to practice and enlightenment that originated within this "new" Chan tradition. Schlütter has written a refreshingly accessible account of the intricacies of the dispute, which is still reverberating through modern Zen in both Asia and the West. Dahui and his opponents’ arguments for their respective positions come across in this book in as earnest and relevant a manner as they must have seemed almost nine hundred years ago. Although much of the book is devoted to illuminating the doctrinal and soteriological issues behind the enlightenment dispute, Schlütter makes the case that the dispute must be understood in the context of government policies toward Buddhism, economic factors, and social changes. He analyzes the remarkable ascent of Chan during the first centuries of the Song dynasty, when it became the dominant form of elite monastic Buddhism, and demonstrates that secular educated elites came to control the critical transmission from master to disciple ("procreation" as Schlütter terms it) in the Chan School.

Zen Seeing, Zen Drawing

Zen Seeing, Zen Drawing
Author: Frederick Franck
Publisher: Bantam
Total Pages: 198
Release: 1993
Genre: Art
ISBN:

Franck, the author of Zen of Seeing, the classic guide, returns with more teachings and instructions.

The Rhetoric of Immediacy

The Rhetoric of Immediacy
Author: Bernard Faure
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 420
Release: 1991
Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines
ISBN: 9780691029634

Exploring key concepts and metaphors, Bernard Faure guides readers to an appreciation of some of the more elusive aspects of the Chinese traditions of Chan Buddhism and Japanese Zen. Faure focuses on Chan's insistence on "immediacy"--its denial of all traditional meditations, including scripture, ritual, good works--and yet shows how these mediations have always been present in Chan.

The Zen Experience

The Zen Experience
Author: Thomas Hoover
Publisher: Prabhat Prakashan
Total Pages: 672
Release: 2021-01-01
Genre: Fiction
ISBN:

The Zen Experience: Know the Real Meaning by Thomas Hoover is a profound exploration of Zen philosophy and practice, providing readers with an insightful journey into the essence of Zen. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and contemporary insights, Hoover delves into the profound teachings of Zen Buddhism, unraveling its mysteries and revealing its transformative power. Key aspects of The Zen Experience: Know the Real Meaning: Deep Understanding of Zen: Thomas Hoover delves into the heart of Zen, offering readers a deep understanding of its principles, practices, and underlying philosophy. Through clear explanations and personal anecdotes, he demystifies Zen, making it accessible to both beginners and seasoned practitioners. Spiritual Enlightenment: The book explores the transformative nature of Zen, guiding readers towards spiritual enlightenment and inner peace. Hoover emphasizes the importance of mindfulness, meditation, and self-inquiry, providing practical guidance for incorporating Zen principles into daily life. Harmonizing Mind and Body: Hoover highlights the significance of harmonizing mind and body in the pursuit of Zen. He explores the role of physical practices, such as meditation, breathwork, and movement, in cultivating a deeper awareness and connection to the present moment. The Zen Experience: Know the Real Meaning is a thought-provoking and enlightening book that offers readers a profound understanding of Zen and its application in daily life. It serves as a valuable resource for anyone seeking spiritual growth, inner harmony, and a deeper connection with the present moment. Thomas Hoover: Thomas Hoover, an American author, is known for his historical fiction and suspense novels. His works, such as Caribbee and Tokyo Station, blend meticulous research with compelling storytelling, transporting readers to different times and places. Hoover's ability to weave intricate plots and develop multidimensional characters has earned him a dedicated readership. His writings, characterized by meticulous attention to detail and a deep understanding of historical events, provide readers with immersive and thought-provoking reading experiences.

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma

The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma
Author: Bodhidharma
Publisher: North Point Press
Total Pages: 148
Release: 2009-11-01
Genre: Philosophy
ISBN: 1429952768

A fifth-century Indian Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma is credited with bringing Zen to China. Although the tradition that traces its ancestry back to him did not flourish until nearly two hundred years after his death, today millions of Zen Buddhists and students of kung fu claim him as their spiritual father. While others viewed Zen practice as a purification of the mind or a stage on the way to perfect enlightenment, Bodhidharma equated Zen with buddhahood and believed that it had a place in everyday life. Instead of telling his disciples to purify their minds, he pointed them to rock walls, to the movements of tigers and cranes, to a hollow reed floating across the Yangtze. This bilingual edition, the only volume of the great teacher's work currently available in English, presents four teachings in their entirety. "Outline of Practice" describes the four all-inclusive habits that lead to enlightenment, the "Bloodstream Sermon" exhorts students to seek the Buddha by seeing their own nature, the "Wake-up Sermon" defends his premise that the most essential method for reaching enlightenment is beholding the mind. The original Chinese text, presented on facing pages, is taken from a Ch'ing dynasty woodblock edition.

The Bodhidharma Anthology

The Bodhidharma Anthology
Author: Bodhidharma
Publisher: Univ of California Press
Total Pages: 202
Release: 1999-09-21
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0520219724

"These original documents are crucial for understanding East Asian Buddhist development. Professor Broughton's analysis of the material provides a new and refreshing look at the tradition which was focused on meditation and the ancient lineage of Bodhidharma. . . . We can be grateful that the translations are accompanied by a detailed study that gives the reader access to the social and cultural events of the time."—Lewis Lancaster, University of California, Berkeley

The Dude and the Zen Master

The Dude and the Zen Master
Author: Jeff Bridges
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2013-01-08
Genre: Self-Help
ISBN: 1101600756

The perfect gift for fans of The Big Lebowski, Jeff Bridges's "The Dude", and anyone who could use more Zen in their lives. Zen Master Bernie Glassman compares Jeff Bridges’s iconic role in The Big Lebowski to a Lamed-Vavnik: one of the men in Jewish mysticism who are “simple and unassuming,” and “so good that on account of them God lets the world go on.” Jeff puts it another way. “The wonderful thing about the Dude is that he’d always rather hug it out than slug it out.” For more than a decade, Academy Award-winning actor Jeff Bridges and his Buddhist teacher, renowned Roshi Bernie Glassman, have been close friends. Inspiring and often hilarious, The Dude and the Zen Master captures their freewheeling dialogue and remarkable humanism in a book that reminds us of the importance of doing good in a difficult world.