Unlocking the Zen Koan: A New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguam [Paperback]

Thomas Cleary (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 24, 1997

Elusive and enigmatic, zen koans have long puzzled people with their surprise meanings hidden in simple tales. Now one of America's finest translators of Asian philosophy provides a brillian new translation of the 12th century Wumenguan, the most popular of Chinese Zen koans. In Unlocking the Zen Koan (originally published as No Boundary), Thomas Cleary translates directly from the Chinese and interprets Zen Master Wumen's text and commentaries in verse and prose on the inner meaning of the koans. Cleary then gives us other great Chinese Zen masters' comments in prose or verse on the same koan. Cleary's probing, analytic commentaries wrestle with meaning and shading, explaining principles and practices. Five different steps to follow in reading the koan being with its use as a single abrupt perception, and lead progressively to more intellectual readings, illustrating the fixations which stand in the way of a true Zen understanding.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

A translation of a Chinese Zen classic called the "Wumenguan" from about A.D. 1200, this book will be popular with anyone seriously interested in Buddhism or Zen meditation. There are 48 koans (symbolic stories or sayings by Zen masters), followed by commentaries by later Zen masters and then an explanation by the author. Obviously, Zen koans aren't to be unlocked by simply reading a book; to remedy this, Cleary, who has studied them for 30 years and has a doctorate in East Asian Languages and Civilizations from Harvard, provides a helpful section on how to read and work with koans and the commentaries. Recommended for libraries with patron interest in the subject.
- Del Cain, V.A. Medical Ctr. Lib., Bedford, Mass.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Language Notes

Text: English (translation)
Original Language: Chinese --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: North Atlantic Books (September 24, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155643247X
• ISBN-13: 978-1556432477
• Product Dimensions: 5.1 x 0.7 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #724,314 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Republication of _No Barrier_, December 21, 2001

By 

John S. Ryan "Scott Ryan" (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Unlocking the Zen Koan: A New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguam (Paperback)

This translation of and commentary on the well-known Wumenguan/Mumonkan is one of Thomas Cleary's finest works. (I also think well of his _Dhammapada_.) As reviewer David Johnston has noted in his excellent and accurate review, it will clear up plenty of the misconceptions about Zen encouraged by people who (deliberately or otherwise) profit from obfuscation. And Cleary's commentary -- based on some thirty years of experience with the koans themselves -- will provide valuable guidance that those professional obfuscators would probably prefer that you not have.

There are plenty of books out there that purport to be about Zen, but as far as I can tell, only a handful of them are genuinely helpful over the long haul -- Reps's _Zen Flesh, Zen Bones_, Kapleau's _Three Pillars_, Suzuki's _Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind_, the other Suzuki's _Introduction to Zen Buddhism_, maybe Alan Watts's _The Way of Zen_ and Stephen Mitchell's _Dropping Ashes on the Buddha_. Cleary's Wumenguan belongs on the shelf next to these.

Cleary insists (correctly) that Zen is not anti-intellectual or anti-reason ("not blind to causality"), and it doesn't encourage the practitioner to dissolve one's mind (or the world) into undifferentiated mush. On that basis alone, quite a few of the trendy "Zen" books currently in print can be tossed directly into the trash.

One fact of which the reader/buyer should be aware: this is the very same book that was previously published as _No Barrier_ (which the back cover of this volume incorrectly calls _No Boundary_). I've had the earlier book since it was first published and I'm glad I didn't buy this one.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Empty, April 6, 2000

By 

G. ORafferty (Australia) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Unlocking the Zen Koan: A New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguam (Paperback)

Thomas Cleary is a master. This book is marvelous, as are all of the books I have read of his. I am greatly indebted to Thomas Cleary for helping to clear away delusions, his analyses of these koans are remarkable for their insight.

13 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening, January 4, 2001

By 

David E. Johnston (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Unlocking the Zen Koan: A New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguam (Paperback)

A wonderful book on Zen koans. There are a few other books on Zen koans but this is the only one with such commentaries written in simple language. Cleary is a great translator and excellent at explaining what these koans and koans in general are all about. Any body interested in Zen MUST own this book. It is perhaps my favorite book period. I have read so much hog-wash about Zen by people who don't understand it. I wish they would read this book before they speak. Zen is not

gibberish, Zen is not anti-thinking, Zen is not nihilistic. Cleary explains this perfectly through his commetaries on these koans. By the way, the koans themseleves are masterpieces but this book is especially good because of what Cleary has done. I do like to read others translations of the Wumenguan and so I recommend other books like Zen Flesh Zen Bone as well.