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Instant Zen: Waking Up in the Present Paperback – October 12, 1994

by Thomas Cleary (Translator)

17 customer reviews

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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.

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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 0.4 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 17 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #963,921 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #712 in Zen Philosophy (Books)
- #918 in Zen Spirituality
- #221163 in Religion & Spirituality (Books)

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gets directly to the point

November 29, 2018

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I agree with all the other enthusiastic reviews. I've read many Buddhist and Zen books and been practicing for decades. Foyan dispenses with all the Zen cliches and enigmatic allusions and gets right to the point. He doesn't hide behind Zen imagery or Buddhist shop talk. When occasionally I give a Zen book to a friend, this is the one.

Comment

A great book. My favorite Buddhist book. Pure Wisdom.

January 10, 2002

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

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 koans 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.

47 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

I read a chapter every morning, similar to a ...

July 26, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I read a chapter every morning, similar to a daily devotional. I would consider this book, and anything translated by Thomas Cleary, essential to the understanding of Zen practice.

Comment

May 5, 2009

Format: Audio CDVerified Purchase

Content was good in my opinion but presentation was a little dry and I seemed to drift away at times. Being new to Zen, though, I may just not appreciate the content enough to get past novice distractions (e.g., presentation and flow).

2 people found this helpful

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April 13, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

wonderful reading and translation.

Comment

Like a finger pointing to the moon

September 1, 2008

Format: Audio CDVerified Purchase

This is a very good recording. It is not ABOUT zen. It IS zen. I have owned two coppies of this recording on cassett tape. I wore them both out, from playing them so much. I am glad to have found this recording on CD.

3 people found this helpful

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July 16, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Another excellent translation by T. Cleary. It is included in Volume 1 of Cleary's "Classics of Buddhism and Zen". I recommend this as it contains a number of other Zen classics you will want to study.

One person found this helpful

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Joanna Terrones Martinez

March 3, 2010

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I recieved my book in a timely manner and the book was in great condition, I always purchase books from Amazon and I am always pleased with the books I purchase.

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