Customer Reviews

Trust in Mind: The Rebellion of Chinese Zen

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This book is a treasure of feeling and experiencing the spirit of Sengcan and his Xinxinming. The author in a scholarly, yet feeling manner gives us the historic and philosophical background of this work and gives us insight into the connections of buddhism, taoism, and chan in this great poem. This is not a quick read, but can be savored slowly. I always felt happier and see glimpses of "The Great Way" when I read and experience the wisdom of Sengcan. The Xinxinming and this book are to be read again and again.

The Faith/mind poem or sutra is a well loved and important piece written by Sengcan or Sosan Zenji, the 3rd Zen Patriarch. This poem is rich and accessible, and no matter how new or old to zen practice a student might be the sutra contains many levels of teachings.
What is wonderful about this book by Mu Soeng, is that he not only includes numerous translations of the poem by zen masters such as Suzuki and Sheng-yen, but he also delves into the history of zen at the time this poem was written. I tend to find history a dry subject, but Mu Soeng keeps it interesting and pertinent. This book is valuable not only for the sutra it contains, but also for the great insight into the evolution of zen practice.
I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in deepening their practice or anyone interested in how what we know as Zen has come to us in the form that it has.

Another tiresome 'psychotheraputic' commentary on one of Chan Buddhism's most revered poems. To believe this writer all Chan Buddhism has to offer is confirmation of Freud and Jung's theories (with new and exciting ways to put them into practice). All the wonders of Chan Buddhism reduced to psychology. What a pity!

I am not suggesting that psychotherapy isn't helpful, only that there may be more to Chan than just resolving such issues, and if so, then this 'psychologizing' may stand in the way of something wholly different and more wondrous, as Chan's long and glorious past might suggest.