The Golden Age of Zen: Zen Masters of the T'Ang DynastyA classic, examining the history of the great Chinese Zen masters of the 7th through 10th century. |
Contents
| 27 | |
| 41 | |
| 51 | |
Huinengs Fundamental Insights | 67 |
Matsu Taoi | 81 |
Paichang and Huangpo | 97 |
Tsungshen of Chaochou | 111 |
Outstanding masters in the Lineage of Shihtou | 129 |
Tungshan Liangchieh Founder of the Tsaotung House | 149 |
Linchi Ihsuan Founder of the Linchi House | 167 |
Yunmen Wenyen Founder of the Yunmen House | 185 |
Fayen Weni Founder of the Fayen House | 199 |
Epilogue Little Sparks of Zen | 213 |
Correspondence with DT Suzuki | 249 |
Biographical Notes | 257 |
| 259 | |
Common terms and phrases
Abbot Age of Zen ancient Buddha answer attain Bodhi Bodhidharma Bodhisattva Buddha-nature Buddhism called Ch'an Ch'an master Chao-chou Chapter Chinese Christian Chuang Tzu Confucian Confucius D. T. Suzuki Dharmakaya Dhyana Diamond Sutra disciple doctrine enlightenment essential eternal experience eyes fact flowers fundamental gatha hand heart House of Fa-yen Hsüeh-feng Huai-jang Huang-po Hui-neng inner insight intuition Kuei-shan Lao Tzu later Lin-chi living Lung-t'an Ma-tsu means mind monastery monk asked mountain mysterious mystical Nan-ch'üan never Niu-t'ou noumenal once one's Pai-chang phenomenal philosophy Prajna pure question Reality realize realm remarked replied Reverence School of Zen scriptures seek self-nature sense Shen-hui Shih-t'ou Shih-te shout Sixth Patriarch speak spirit stage Sutra Tao-hsin Tao-wu Taoist Te-shan teaching Thereupon things Thomas Merton thought tion transcendent true Truth Tung-shan Tzu and Chuang Tzu's understand uttered void whole wisdom words Yang-shan Yen Hui Yen-t'ou Yüeh-shan Yün-men Zen masters
Popular passages
Page 7 - That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched — this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. The life appeared; we have seen it and testify to it, and we proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and has appeared to us.
Page 20 - ... explains nothing. It just sees. Sees what? Not an Absolute Object but Absolute Seeing. Though this may seem very remote from Christianity, which is definitely a message, we must nevertheless remember the importance of direct experience in the Bible. All forms of "knowing," especially in the religious sphere, and especially where God is concerned, are valid in proportion as they are a matter of experience and of intimate contact. We are all familiar with the Biblical expression "to know" in the...
Page 36 - One has had a draught of hippocrene, a taste of the consummation of beauty, and then one turns over the page, and pours out another glass. Different, indeed, is the effect of the Chinese lyric. It is the very converse of the epigram; it aims at producing an impression which, so far from being final, must be merely the prelude to a long series of visions and of feelings. It hints at wonders; and the revelation which at last it gives us is never a complete one— it is clothed in the indefinability...
Page 28 - At the same time, he does not fail to add that the interpretation was a creative one, for the Chinese upholders of the Doctrine of Enlightenment did not wish to swallow Indian Buddhism undigested. "The practical imagination of the Chinese people came thus to create Zen, and developed it to the best of their abilities to suit their own religious requirements."3 In my view, the School of Zen derived its original impetus from the generous impulse of Mahayana Buddhism.
References to this book
Justice and Remembrance: Introducing the Spirituality of Imam Ali Reza Shah-Kazemi No preview available - 2007 |