Zen Buddhism for anybody Vol. 1: This body itself is Nirvana

Description

A variety of texts overflowing with the spirit of Zen Buddhism, in both prose and poetry, were arranged in here for you, like a bouquet. You will be introduced to a lot of stories, anecdotes, quotes, remixes, sutras (the canonical texts from Buddhism), tokinoge (verses expressing the moment of enlightenment), koans (special “riddles”, used by some Zen masters in the training and evaluating of their students), yuige (farewell verses at the moment of passing), jakugo (the masters’ commentaries to the records of their predecessors), mondo (a form o Zen question-and-answer)... It includes the Heart Sutra; poetry by Hanshan (Cold Mountain), Ryokan (Great Fool), Ikkyu (Crazy Cloud) and every kind of classical text from Zen literature. Intro A cup of tea Nothing stays The fire Sand castles No pursuing of labyrinths Preference Not able to leave home To them monks Written by the Nun Ryonen in her deathbed Stones in the water Host and guest Lingyun and the peach blossoms A poem echoing poems Upon seeing a painting of peach blossoms An old saying Watch out! The great fool of immense tolerance Ryokan’s freedom Calligraphy on the spot Knowing ourselves Money by the side of the road Fragrance A young Joshu The way back home An end to bad karma Chosa Keishin Remix of Sudden Enlightenment Nothing compares Probing like the blind The Way is near Is this a repetition? More and more... Not yes, not no Searching for the fingers with your hands As if they were in a dream The fish are having fun? Zhuangzi From back when people traveled on foot Hardworking Hanshan Not even a single drop A whirlwind of dust Deaf and dumb A definition of kalpa Oneself and other Thankful about what, exactly? Over a bridge On the other side of the river Carrying a girl The way she goes... Using the creek as a pillow A teaching beyond words Speed up! An echo Hyakujo and Baso Somewhere Cows and dogs Does the ocean contains water? If you never ask any questions, how would you know? What now? A sparrow on the statue of Buddha Tumbling currents The animal Satori Bobo Roshi It all starts somewhere The Red-Bearded Barbarian coming from the West and a seat lying around Hsiang Lin A second load A tree in the garden Moss Fake news Not in here... Idiot Me neither A single verse from Zen Like a needle Water in the water-lilly The dewdrop and the color of the leaf Both are sides from a single miracle Warning: difficult to remove from the eyes Take this For real A lamp in broad daylight Swollen heads The dog and the moon No moon, no finger Straight forward, like an arrow No labyrinth leads to Rome Where does it happen? Who’s involved? Very high A famous metaphor Where are we? The super moves Facial composite Pregnant empty Short and sweet Learning beyond teaching As simple as that Gentle wind Supernatural powers? Sure! Zen embarrassments Hyakujo and the fox To and fro Guess what... A most magnificent shipwreck Original purity Guanyin’s arms and eyes Achoo! Wang-Bang Nothing besides this... It is not always easy, thinking of a title The fish and the net This body itself is Nirvana Halos by day; horns by night Fragile Here we are It’s all the same Controlled, or not controlled? Intimate and alone The fear is real With a shaven head and wearing a robe, a monk looks like a turtle Hungry once more AllTogetherRightHereNow Letter to a friend Hey you Temptation Written by a monk born in 1394 Tired of names A famous poet, even tired of being praised Scolding others Searching in vain Smoke Lu What if Lu walks through the door? Proud Hanging around Yoka Daishi Two sides from the same tissue Polishing a brick into a mirror A formal meditation A piece of truth A knife to a Zen fight Performance of acts The one who helps the most The master is you Ask it to the right person Nevermind Refined sugar and fancy butter After so much dispute You are happy Now that’s a guzzler A treasure map Transparent When the penny drops Which one? Zengetsu’s advice Ryokan: “My rules” Laughter all around That’s how it actually works Coward! Heart Sutra Emptiness manifested in form The burglar’s son Hua tou Enjoy the strawberry It is over, but there is more