Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present [Paperback]

Thomas Cleary (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 12, 1994

Instant Zen presents the teachings of Foyan, a twelfth-century Chinese Zen master recognized as one of the greatest masters of the Song dynasty Zen renaissance in China. Returning to the uncomplicated genuineness of the original and classical Zen masters, Foyan offers many simple exercises in attention and thought designed to lead to the awakening of Zen insight into the real nature of the self. These succinct teachings emphasize independence and autonomy, and show us how to open our own eyes and stand on our own two feet, to see directly without delusion and act on truth without confusion.

Translator Thomas Cleary provides an incisive introduction and extensive references from traditional Zen sources, placing the work in both historical and contemporary contexts. Newcomers to Zen will find this book a useful and sophisticated introduction to authentic inner Zen practices from an impeccable source, without cultural exoticism or religious cultism. Instant Zen sheds new light on this vital tradition, making available the immediacy of Zen practice and unveiling our innate potential for conscious awakening.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese

About the Author

Thomas Cleary is highly regarded as one of the greatest contemporary translators of Asian texts. Among his translations are many classic texts of Buddhism, Taoism, and I Ching studies, including The Essential Tao, Awakening to the Tao, and The Buddhist I Ching. His works have been retranslated into German, Italian, French, Turkish, Hebrew, Spanish, Czech, Thai, Indonesian, Mandarin, and other modern languages.

Product Details

• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (October 12, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1556431937
• ISBN-13: 978-1556431937
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.2 x 10 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #407,523 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great book. My favorite Buddhist book. Pure Wisdom., January 10, 2002

By 

David (MASON, OH, United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present (Paperback)

I am a Buddhist, have studied formally in all three main branches of Buddhism and was a monk during the most intense part of my study. I own hundreds of Buddhist texts, and if I could only own one book, this would be it. This is absolutely the clearest expression of Enlightenment I've encountered. Foyan is wonderously clear, avoids reliance on Koan's and historical cases (but has a few references to them), and instead, simply expresses Realization on his own, directly, brilliantly, in every sentence of this book. A previous reviewer wrote (in his excellent review) "Logical contradictions are purposely employed to get you to see something beyond logic", while there are a few statements like that, that is a slight misunderstanding of why most of the apparently "contadictions" are there. Instead these "contradictions" are direct expressions of the Truth of Reality, and that requires 1) that you see directly and don't confuse the labels for the reality itself and 2) that everything be seen simultaneously from both sides (the relative or functional view and the absolute). So a statement such as "you must have nonseeing right in seeing" or
"all that is necessary is that there is no hearer or heard when you hear" is presenting both sides, not negating one with the other. However, there are statements such as "the ancients told you.. all sounds are Buddha's voice... You have misunderstood, supposing that all sounds are actually the voice of Buddha" that appears to be a contradiction, but again this is pointing out (POINTING not explaining) the diffence between the understanding and the perception of that truth. I've said much too much, the Zen Master would be beating me over the head with the stick by now. You will enjoy this book, and you will hear the voice of Enlightenment speaking across 9 centuries of time, if you get this book, you'll need no others, and eventually you can give this one away. My Highest recommendation.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Live in the land of thought yet untouched by thought...., April 21, 2001

By 

Joel Kotarski "." (Louisville, KY USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present (Paperback)

Absorb these passages fully and you will need no other books on Zen. Of course, it might take a succession of time to fully absorb these passages.

The book transcribes lectures from Foyan, who teaches autonomy, "I have no Zen for you to study!" and independence. Consequently, the text might appear difficult as Foyan purposely gives nothing to grasp at -- and if you do grasp you will experience a subtle whack to your intellect. Hint: Logical contradictions are purposely employed to get you to see something beyond logic.

Just turn to a random passage at random moments of intuition and over time it will become clear. For the spiritually sharp, this should be the only book on Zen you will ever need. Then the need of itself will dissolve...

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended, September 7, 2006

By 

Frank K. Braker - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present (Paperback)

I found the introduction especially useful as it points out the emergence and identification of Zen cults, and contrasts them to the simplest practice of Zen.

The body of the book is in convenient 1 to 3 page short reads. The presentation is in a conversational prose. Common errors are addressed. After tripping over one section (Emancipation), I started reading it in parallel with Huang Po's commentary of the Diamond Sutra, which must be read very very slowly, (without missing the meaning of a single word), and doing this helped me. However, most of the passages are very down-to-earth.

I can't say this is an "advanced" book. There is no "beginner" and "advanced" -- jump in wherever you like. This book is as good a place as any. I also recommend Huang Po, as he also gets immediately to the root and avoids common misconceptions.