This volume features essential translations from prominent Zen figures, including the Japanese master Dogen, the twelfth-century Korean master Chinul, and Hakuin, the founder of the Rinzai school. Additionally, it includes selections from the Prajnaparamita sutras, which are fundamental to the Zen tradition, providing insights into the philosophy and teachings that shape Zen practice and understanding.
Presents instructions, meditation guides, quotations, letters, essays, dialogues, and other writings by Zen masters over the centuries that were translated and published over a period of thirty years
This collection of translated texts • Understanding A Taoist Alchemical A tenth-century text on the principles of inner alchemy. • The Inner Teachings of The essentials of self-transformation according to the Complete Reality School of Taoism, with commentary by Liu I-ming. • The Book of Balance and These essays, conversations, poetry, and songs about the secrets of Taoism teach how to live a centered and orderly life. • Practical A collection of the most accessible of the texts on inner alchemy.
The book features the teachings of Hui-neng, a revered figure in Zen Buddhism known for his sudden enlightenment as an illiterate woodcutter. As the Sixth Patriarch, he established the "Sudden Enlightenment" school, emphasizing that enlightenment transcends education and social status. This collection of his talks, recognized as the Platform or Altar Sutra, stands out as a unique Zen scripture, capturing his profound insights and teachings that continue to inspire practitioners of Zen today.
The dynamic relationship between the individual and society has been a central concern of Taoism from its ancient beginnings—which is perhaps why certain Taoist classics, like Sun Tzu’s Art of War, are so often consulted these days for leadership advice. This anthology presents a wide range of texts revealing the processes of integrating personal spirituality with social responsibility central to Taoist tradition across the centuries and throughout the schools. There are a wealth of approaches to life in the world presented here, but at the heart of each is an understanding that even a mystic must be socially responsible and that self-cultivation is primary preparation for anyone called to lead.
The Blue Cliff Record is a classic text of Zen Buddhism, designed to assist in the activation of dormant human potential. The core of this extraordinary work is a collection of one hundred traditional citations and stories, selected for their ability to bring about insight and enlightenment. These vignettes are known as gongan in Chinese and koan in Japanese.Secrets of the Blue Cliff Record is a fresh translation featuring newly translated commentary from two of the greatest Zen masters of early modern Japan, Hakuin Ekaku (1685–1768) of the Rinzai sect of Zen and Tenkei Denson (1648–1735) of the Soto sect of Zen. This translation and commentary on The Blue Cliff Record sheds new light on the meaning of this central Zen text.
The collection features one hundred Zen koans accompanied by insightful commentaries, serving as a companion to the Blue Cliff Record. As a significant work in Chan Buddhism, it explores profound philosophical themes through concise and thought-provoking narratives. Renowned translator Thomas Cleary has skillfully rendered this classic into English, making it accessible to a wider audience interested in Zen teachings and practices.
The word yoga has many meanings, including "meditation," "method," and "union." While the physical exercises of Hindu yoga are familiar to Westerners, the subtle metaphysics and refined methods of spiritual development that characterize Buddhist yoga are not yet well known. This volume presents a landmark translation of a classical sourcebook of Buddhist yoga, the Sandhinirmochana-sutra , or "Scripture Unlocking the Mysteries," a revered text of the school of Buddhism known as Vijnanavada or Yogachara. The study of this scripture is essential preparation for anyone undertaking meditation exercise. Linking theory and praxis, the scripture offers a remarkably detailed and thorough course of study in both the philosophical and pragmatic foundation of Buddhist yoga, and their perfect, harmonious union in the realization of Buddhist enlightenment.
Of all the Buddhist writings, the "Dhamma-Pada" - -known for its accessibility--is perhaps the best primer of teachings on the dhamma, or moral path of life. It is also one of the oldest and most beloved classics, cherished by Buddhists of all cultures for its vibrant and eloquent expression of basic precepts. Buddha's beautiful, concise, and accessible aphorisms profoundly illustrate the serenity and unalterable dignity of the Buddhist path of light, love, peace, and truth. Thomas Cleary provides an enlightening introduction that puts the work into historical, cultural, and religious perspective. In each section, he offers helpful and insightful commentary on the beliefs behind the wisdom of the Buddha's words, translated from the ancient, original Pali text. Its 423 practical sayings are grouped under eclectic and useful headings such as Vigilance, Evil, Happiness, Anger, Craving, and Pleasure. In its unique and lovely two-color Wisdom Editions design, these timeless sayings of Buddha will join the "Tao Te Ching" as a classic gift book and keepsake.
The Dhammapada (Pali; Prakrit: Dhamapada; Sanskrit Dharmapada) is a versified Buddhist scripture traditionally ascribed to the Buddha himself. It is one of the best-known texts from the Theravada canon. The title, Dhammapada, is a compound term composed of dhamma and pada, each word having a number of denotations and connotations. Generally, dhamma can refer to the Buddha's "doctrine" or an "eternal truth" or "righteousness" or all "phenomena"; and, at its root, pada means "foot" and thus by extension, especially in this context, means either "path" or "verse" (cf. "foot (prosody)") or both. English translations of this text's title have used various combinations of these and related words.
