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The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans

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The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan) is one of the most influential texts in the history of Zen Buddhism, and Koun Yamada lucidly guides us to its essential wisdom.

In the style of the classic masters, Koun Yamada presents a treasure trove of insight from his lifetime of practice and enlightenment.

His commentaries on the Mumonkan one open the way to the profound wisdom embodied in this peerless collection of koans, revealing one of the reasons that Koun Yamada was so influential in bringing Zen Buddhism to the West.

Also included is an introduction to the History of Zen Practice, lineage charts, Japanese-to-Chinese and Chinese-to-Japanese conversion charts for personal names, and names of writings, place names, and more.

This translation of the Gateless Gate is alone worth the price of the book-- add to that Yamada's profound commentary and the supplamental material and you will see the reason why this is a must own book for anyone interested in Zen.

This is the classic set of koans with teisho written in a modern style. You will not have to struggle with arcane language and metaphors. Yamada explains the older metaphors fairly well as well. You can get to the meat of the matter rather than the semantics!

This volume has an excellent set of historical observations about Zen and the commentaries on the "koans" are in progression as in any good law book. I feel this is the most outstanding edition available.

20-Nov-2011

The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans is one of the principal collections of Zen koans (Chinese: "public records"), masterfully translated by Koun Yamada Roshi. More recent translations exist, but this book is the basis of much of current Zen teaching.

Compiled by Mumon almost 900 years ago, the koans in Gateless Gate (or Gateless Barrier) are short stories or riddles that are used as a means to accelerate the process of realization. While these riddles can't be solved by any rational process, they must be penetrated to realize their message. (Ask yourself: "Should I walk to work or take my lunch?" If an answer exists, it can't be produced by any logical system I'm aware of. Developing this answer is analogous to the process of realizing/solving a koan.)

I've owned a copy of Gateless Gate for over 30 years, though I originally purchased the book out of curiosity. It made absolutely no sense to me whatever, but I kept it because I found some of the stories amusing. I bought the latest edition because my teacher uses it occasionally as the basis for Dharma talks, though I have yet to formally embark on koan study. It is delightful to have this important Zen study aid - and other Zen titles - available for kindle.

[As with all my reviews of Zen-related products, I provide a disclaimer: Zen isn't something you read about or talk about. Find a qualified teacher. Develop strong practice habits. Realize yourself and be well.]

18-Dec-2011

Contrary to other reviews, this is not a general-purpose text for people interested in spirituality. Unless you're one of them one-in-a-million transcendent folks, you probably won't make much headway through this book without a teacher. "Joshu's Dog," the first koan in this collection, is very typically the first koan assigned by a teacher, but only after a student is sufficiently accomplished in basic practice. I've talked to any number of folks who tell me they've needed 3-6 YEARS of guided study before they penetrated "Joshu's Dog." (I can hardly wait.)

Koun Yamada's translations are essential not just for students working on koans but for all of us (laymen) interested in spirituality. I find myself going back to this book for inspiration and clarity.

I find myself reading and rereading this book, and gaining new insights from every passage each time as though I'm reading it for the first time. The translation of the Koans are excellent, and Koun Yamada brings great insight to the meaning, and non-meaning of the great Zen Master Mumon's words.

If you're interested in Zen, but don't know where to start, look no further! This book is truly priceless.

Yamouda's translation, and commentary to The Mumukon sits atop the heap of all great, classical translations of beloved spiritual guides to any mystical tradition. It can stand alone as a beacon, or it can be used to light the way through other important, but less ably translated, spiritual guides. I give The Gateless Gate in this translation my highest recommendation. Were this book the only guide to spiritual practice available to a pilgrim, I would count that pilgrim well-equipped to follow the Buddhist, mystical oath.

In our lineage, after one "clearly sees what can't be seen, and clearly comprehends the incomprehensible", the practice moves on to preliminary koans followed by the Mumonkon { Wu-Men-Kan}. Yamada roshi's book has been extremely helpful to me in this process of ever deepening, ever clarifying. And always bringing it back to: it's just this thing; it's not some other thing. So simple, so invaluable, and such a testament to the strength, depth, and integrity of his teacher: Da'un Sogaku Yasutani roshi. Essential for anyone working on koan practice.

The book arrived quickly and was in tip top condition. I am very happy with how the entire process went. Thanks again!