Customer Reviews

Unlocking the Zen Koan: A New Translation of the Zen Classic Wumenguam

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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.

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.

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.

Readers/buyers may want to know that this book has been republished as _Unlocking the Zen Koan_. Here's what I said about it in a review under its new title:

This translation of and commentary on the well-known Wumenguan/Mumonkan is one of Thomas Cleary's finest works. (I also think highly of his _Dhammapada_.) As reviewer David Johnston has noted in his excellent and accurate review [under the other title], 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, probably half the "Zen" books currently in print can be tossed directly into the trash.

A superb explanation of Zen introduces a brilliant translation of the Wumenguan, the most famous book of Zen riddle-lessons. Thomas Cleary has a rare ability to explain Eastern thought to the Western mind, not by dumbing it down, but by wising us up. Highly, highly recommended.

--Richard Brodie, author, Virus of the Mind: The New Science of the Meme

At first encounter with Zen koan's, you may feel overwhelmed. Is a master needed? Is some rare enlightenment required? Is it worth an effort of perhaps many years?

Maybe. But one can also approach a collection like this in a more playful, more participatory way, which Cleary seems to encourage with his comments as translator.

My understanding of these koans isn't that great and I can't say that have changed my life so much, but rather than consider koan study something I would never have time to do or could never find a teacher to help me with, with this book one can work with the core koans, the commentaries, and Cleary's comments: Cleary provides some handles that enable a modern reader to unravel the koan, as do the commentaries given Cleary's comments, so that one can return to view each koan as a pithy statement of a difficult issue in life that can be expanded out via the book's commentaries and your own responses, then allowed to transition back to that one brief statement.

Or something like that. My ignorance is substantial but why not try to get something out of these koans rather than hold them too aloof? Zen masters and the rest of us share the human condition: did you think they escaped it? Since I adopted this attitude and used Cleary's comments, I believe I have made some progress with these koans, although I admit it is hard to see it at this time in what way it has changed my life. But perhaps considered as grounding lessons, each of the koans in this collection provide a check that one is not going off any spiritual deep end.

Thomas Cleary, Unlocking the Zen Koan

Thomas Cleary's translation of and commentary to the Mumonkan, Unlocking the Zen Koan, is a welcome addition to the existing English translations. This remarkable Zen record of 48 koans (second in importance only to the Blue Cliff Record) by the great Zen master Mumon, is the most accessible of the classic koan texts.

As a source for koan-introspection, Cleary offers the student a wealth of background information and clarification in regard to cultural implications that westerners may not be familiar with. In his commentary to each case, Dr. Cleary reveals the variety of Zen methods, doctrines, and practices employed by the classic Zen Masters for the transmission of wisdom.

Cleary directs the reader to the central message of each koan, without `explaining away the point' he inspires and guides them to discover the blood and guts of Zen for themselves.

This text dishes up powerful wisdom and insight into the essential message of Zen, from a great master. Cleary's commentary shines light on the truth underlying Zazen, koans, the role of study, and the classic teachings of Zen Buddhism.

Thomas Cleary, Unlocking the Zen Koan

Thomas Cleary's translation of and commentary to the Mumonkan, Unlocking the Zen Koan, is a welcome addition to the existing English translations. This remarkable Zen record of 48 koans (second in importance only to the Blue Cliff Record) by the great Zen master Mumon, is the most accessible of the classic koan texts.

As a source for koan-introspection, Cleary offers the student a wealth of background information and clarification in regard to cultural implications that westerners may not be familiar with. In his commentary to each case, Dr. Cleary reveals the variety of Zen methods, doctrines, and practices employed by the classic Zen Masters for the transmission of wisdom.

Cleary directs the reader to the central message of each koan, without `explaining away the point' he inspires and guides them to discover the blood and guts of Zen for themselves.

This text dishes up powerful wisdom and insight into the essential message of Zen, from a great master. Cleary's commentary shines light on the truth underlying Zazen, koans, the role of study, and the classic teachings of Zen Buddhism.

This is a wonderful work. The translations are poetic and the comments very illuminating. Read and follow rigorously the instructions in the forward and you will learn something about Zen mind. It is permanenly on my shelf of most important references.

This is a wonderful work. The translations are poetic and the comments very illuminating. Read and follow rigorously the instructions in the forward and you will learn something about Zen mind. It is permanenly on my shelf of most important references.