The Zen Teaching of Huang-Po: On the Transmission of Mind (Paperback)

by John Eaton Calthorpe Blofeld (Translator), P'ei Hsiu (Preface) "The Master said to me: All the Buddhas and all sentient beings are nothing but the One Mind, beside which nothing exists..." (more)
Key Phrases: sentient world, many aeons, conceptual thought, One Mind, Huang Po, Gautama Buddha (more...)

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Product Description

This complete translation of the original collection of sermons, dialogues, and anecdotes of Huang Po, the illustrious Chinese master of the Tang Dynasty, allows the Western reader to gain an understanding of Zen from the original source, one of the key works in its teachings; it also offers deep and often startling insights into the rich treasures of Eastern thought. Nowhere is the use of paradox in Zen illustrated better than in the teaching of Huang Po, who shows how the experience of intuitive knowledge that reveals to a man what he is cannot be communicated by words. With the help of these paradoxes, beautifully and simply presented in this collection, Huang Po could set his disciples on the right path. It is in this fashion that the Zen master leads his listener into truth, often by a single phrase designed to destroy his particular demon of ignorance.

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Product Details Paperback: 144 pages Publisher: Grove Press (January 18, 1994) Language: English ISBN-10: 0802150926 ISBN-13: 978-0802150929 Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #119,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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First Sentence:
The Master said to me: All the Buddhas and all sentient beings are nothing but the One Mind, beside which nothing exists. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
sentient world, many aeons, conceptual thought, environmental phenomena

Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
One Mind, Huang Po, Gautama Buddha, Three Vehicles, Great Void, Kuei Tsung, Dipamkara Buddha, City of Illusion, Royal Treasury, Sixth Patriarch, Triple World, Chih Kung, Dharma Dharma, Pei Hsiu, Place of Precious Things, Sword of Truth, Zen Sect

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 5 books:

• Zen Buddhism by Daisetz T. Suzuki in Front Matter
• The Perennial Philosophy (Perennial Classics) by Aldous Huxley on page 80
• Tibetan Series by W. Y. Evans-Wentz in Front Matter
• Zen Buddhism by Christmas Humphreys in Front Matter
• Song of Enlightenment by Ch&an Master Yung Chia on page 62

 

12 books cite this book:

• The Measure of Things: Humanism, Humility, and Mystery by David Cooper on page 242, and page 292
• Taking the Path of Zen by Robert Aitken in Back Matter
• Going to Pieces without Falling Apart by Mark Epstein in Back Matter
• San Francisco Beat: Talking with the Poets by David Meltzer on page 300
• John Cage's Theatre Pieces (Contemporary Music Studies) by Willi Fetterman in Back Matter

See all 12 books citing this book

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	86% buy the item featured on this page: The Zen Teaching of Huang-Po: On the Transmission of Mind 4.9 out of 5 stars (27) $10.40
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	4% buy Transcending the Levels of Consciousness 4.7 out of 5 stars (27) $12.50
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Customer Reviews

27 Reviews 5 star:  (25) 4 star:  (2) 3 star:    (0) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.9 out of 5 stars (27 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 61 of 61 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A pearl without price, December 21, 2004 By  Hakuyu "Ikeda" (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews There seems to be unanimous agreement that this deceptively compact text repays careful digestion, a mine of wisdom compressed within its pages -for those prepared to dig it out. Huang Po's discourses (and the Wan Ling record) remain some the most lucid expositions of Zen. They were delivered when the Zen tradition was still fresh. Huang po's 'sermons' were addressed to practising Buddhists. They presuppose that you are 'looking' into the meaning hinted at - the 'MIND' - which is neither 'yours' nor 'mine' - and in that sense 'VOID' - yet embraces everything in the phenomenal universe. Zen is sometimes regarded as an 'obscure' doctrine, but Huang P'o sermons have a refreshing sense of focus. Skirting the boundaries of what is virtually indescribable, he necessarily ends up uttering paradoxes - sometimes paradox -within-paradox, within paradox - and yet, in such a way that it actually brings focus, 'jiggling' the mind out of its habitual tendency to cling to dualities and contraries. In short, it resumes its inherent condition. We don't 'do' it - 'IT' does itself. All we have to do - is to get out of the way. Thus, Huang P'o's 'direct pointing to the Mind.'This is Zen as it was originally taught, before all the wrangling about 'fixed koans' and answers - or getting stuck with 'just sitting.'Huang P'o speaks with unshakeable conviction that we can AWAKEN RIGHT NOW - if we look into what he is saying. He doesn't want to tie anyone up. It has to be 'your own thing' - nobody else can do it for you. This is squeaky clean Dharma! P.S Besides the Huang-Po material, Blofeld also translated Hui-hai's 'Treatise on Entering the Gate to Sudden Enlightenment.' Between them, these two Zen 'sermons' represent some of most lucid expositions of Zen - ever set down in writing. They posess astonishing focus and compression, without a wasted word. 18 of 18 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Unquestionably a classic, August 24, 1996 By A Customer Huang Po (d. 850) is perhaps one of Zen Buddhism's most brilliant Zen masters. This translation by John Blofeld of Huang Po's dialogues brings to light Zen Buddhism's most esoteric theme which concerns Buddha Mind. Different than the Western concept of Mind, Huang Po reveals the transcendent nature of Buddha Mind which traditional Zen Buddhists believe is the source of all things. This book is a must for anyone wishing to put their foot into the waters of Zen Buddhism. It is a classic in every since of the word. It always seems to say more than print is capable of expressing 21 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars A penetrating insight into Zen Buddhism by an early master, March 28, 1999 By A Customer The teachings of Huang Po bear re-reading many, many times. So compressed and dense is this work that it is impossible to absorb the full import of Huang Po's insights at first pass. I've read it at least a dozen times and continue to discover new insights. This is one of three books I'd want on a desert island. Don't be put off by its compression. This book was translated by John Blofield in the 1950s and appears to remain the only English translation. I'd love to know what happened to Blofield, who apparently was living in Thailand at the time he translated the work.		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars Zen Distilled To Its Essence I'm certain that you've read some of the other reviews and so understand what this book is about -- I'll try not to repeat their words. Read more Published 3 days ago by Leonard Moskowitz 5.0 out of 5 stars Getting better every time Hundreds of books read on Buddhism, Zen, Non-duality, etc., this book continues to say it all perfectly clearly and improves each time I re-read it. Read more Published 2 months ago by T. Simonson 5.0 out of 5 stars Highest Teachings The teachings of Huang Po are considered one of the highest teaching on the spiritual path to enlightenement. Read more Published 3 months ago by D. Hodges 5.0 out of 5 stars An essential translation of a record from one of the Zen giants! An essential translation of a record from one of the Zen giants! Huang-Po was the teacher of Lin-chi (Rinzai) and one of the most revered Zen masters of all time... Read more Published 4 months ago by Ted Biringer 5.0 out of 5 stars An essential translation of a record from one of the Zen giants! An essential translation of a record from one of the Zen giants! Huang-Po was the teacher of Lin-chi (Rinzai) and one of the most revered Zen masters of all time... Read more Published 4 months ago by Ted Biringer 5.0 out of 5 stars An essential translation of a record from one of the Zen giants! An essential translation of a record from one of the Zen giants! Huang-Po was the teacher of Lin-chi (Rinzai) and one of the most revered Zen masters of all time... Read more Published 4 months ago by Ted Biringer 5.0 out of 5 stars Among the great books of all time Huang Po's zesty and expansive teachings are brought to life in this small but infinitely faceted gem. Read more Published 6 months ago by Dr. J. Adam Shaw 5.0 out of 5 stars Nondual Direct Path is what Huang Po is about I highly recommend this gem of a book! Haung Po is straight forward and teaches that Enlightenment comes on spontaneously. Read more Published 7 months ago by Chris Buck 5.0 out of 5 stars Fountainhead Zen Huang-po, teacher of Lin-chi and possibly a student of Ma-tsu, was one of the seminal figures in Zen. Read more Published 7 months ago by L. Wilcox 5.0 out of 5 stars Favorite Zen book If we can say that Zen is direct pointing to Reality, then we can also say that Huang-Po's teaching is direct Zen, without dilution. Read more Published 12 months ago by M. LATORRA Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 144 pages
• Publisher: Grove Press (January 18, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0802150926
• ISBN-13: 978-0802150929
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #119,168 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A pearl without price, December 21, 2004

By	Hakuyu "Ikeda" (Kyoto, Japan) - See all my reviews

There seems to be unanimous agreement that this deceptively compact text repays careful digestion, a mine of wisdom compressed within its pages -for those prepared to dig it out. Huang Po's discourses (and the Wan Ling record) remain some the most lucid expositions of Zen. They were delivered when the Zen tradition was still fresh. Huang po's 'sermons' were addressed to practising Buddhists. They presuppose that you are 'looking' into the meaning hinted at - the 'MIND' - which is neither 'yours' nor 'mine' - and in that sense 'VOID' - yet
embraces everything in the phenomenal universe.

Zen is sometimes regarded as an 'obscure' doctrine, but Huang P'o sermons have a refreshing sense of focus. Skirting the boundaries of what is virtually indescribable, he necessarily ends up uttering paradoxes - sometimes paradox -within-paradox, within paradox - and yet, in such a way that it actually brings focus, 'jiggling' the mind out of its habitual tendency to cling to dualities and contraries. In short, it resumes its inherent condition. We don't 'do' it - 'IT' does itself. All we have to do - is to get out of the way.

Thus, Huang P'o's 'direct pointing to the Mind.'This is Zen as it was originally taught, before all the wrangling about 'fixed koans' and answers - or getting stuck with 'just sitting.'Huang P'o speaks with unshakeable conviction that we can AWAKEN RIGHT NOW - if we look into what he is saying. He doesn't want to tie anyone up. It has to be 'your own thing' - nobody else can do it for you. This is squeaky clean Dharma!

P.S Besides the Huang-Po material, Blofeld also translated
Hui-hai's 'Treatise on Entering the Gate to Sudden
Enlightenment.' Between them, these two Zen 'sermons'
represent some of most lucid expositions of Zen - ever
set down in writing. They posess astonishing focus and
compression, without a wasted word.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unquestionably a classic, August 24, 1996

By A Customer

Huang Po (d. 850) is perhaps one of Zen Buddhism's most brilliant Zen masters. This translation by John Blofeld of Huang Po's dialogues brings to light Zen Buddhism's most esoteric theme which concerns Buddha Mind. Different than the Western concept of Mind, Huang Po reveals the transcendent nature of Buddha Mind which traditional Zen Buddhists believe is the source of all things. This book is a must for anyone wishing to put their foot into the waters of Zen Buddhism. It is a classic in every since of the word. It always seems to say more than print is capable of expressing

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A penetrating insight into Zen Buddhism by an early master, March 28, 1999

By A Customer

The teachings of Huang Po bear re-reading many, many times. So compressed and dense is this work that it is impossible to absorb the full import of Huang Po's insights at first pass. I've read it at least a dozen times and continue to discover new insights. This is one of three books I'd want on a desert island.

Don't be put off by its compression.

This book was translated by John Blofield in the 1950s and appears to remain the only English translation. I'd love to know what happened to Blofield, who apparently was living in Thailand at the time he translated the work.