Customer Reviews

Ch'an and Zen Teaching, Volume 1

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For the Zen student, this is a book of great value. The practice of working with the koan is clarified greatly by the Chinese master Hsu-Yun who, in a two-week retreat, gives daily Dharma-talks which detail the practice of the "Hua-Tou" or the "word-head," essentially "before-thought," in which a phrase or word such as "Mu" from a koan is used to trace each arising thought to the moment it arises, to the ground of no-thought. When this can be done in one's meditation, this is the gateway to the great freedom! Also valuable is the translation and commentary on the Diamond Cutter of Doubts Sutra. This is a good book to read after one has already been introduced and has personally begun a meditation practice in the Zen tradition. Highly recommended!

I discovered Chan & Zen Teachings nearly forty years ago, and - despite the proliferation of books on Ch'an (Zen) since then - Chan & Zen teachings remains the clearest account I have seen, detailing what Chan practice is about. Hsu-yun's (1840-1959) teaching is particularly outstanding.Although a Chan(Zen) monk (for a century - surely ample experience!),the teachings Hsu-yun delivered at the 'Chan Weeks' session - recorded in Luk's text, were for the benefit of monks and lay followers alike. His teaching on hua-t'ou practice can be put into effect anywhere, regardless of surroundings etc. What Hsu Yun says about taking the 'host' position, the 'feeling of doubt' etc. -is very lucid, without the artificial 'stress and strain' - found in some contemporary accounts. This provides an excellent preliminary to the Ch'an anecdotes in the following chapters, and helps to explain the strange seeming gestures and idioms often employed by Ch'an masters. The final chapter of this book is invaluable, because it contains master Han-shan's commentary on the Heart Sutra, also stressing the 'host' position - as hinted at by master Hsu-yun. The Second Series of Ch'an and Zen Teachings outlines the teaching methods employed by the origin- al 'Wu-chia' or Five Ch'an schools. These will be found to be highly complementary, something of a relief, after the stark divisions read into them in the present day. The Third Series contains Hui-neng's teachings, Yung chia's Cheng Tao Keh or 'Song of Enlightenment' - along with the Sutra of Complete Enlightenment. All of Luk's texts are provided with helpful but unobtrusive footnotes, informative glossaries. If you wanted a 'portable roshi' - this collection is a pretty good bet! Master Hsu-yun was the most eminent Chinese master in the last century - and Hsu-yun encouraged Lu Kuan Yu (Charles Luk) to undertake these translations.