Zen Classics Formative Texts in the History of Zen Buddhism [Paperback]

This is a companion volume toThe KoanandThe Zen Canon, by the same editors. The first volume collected original essays on koan collections, recorded sayings of individual masters, histories of major schools, and compilations of monastic regulations. The second focuses on the early history of Zen in China, providing overview assessments of many of the most important canonical texts that set the Zen tradition in motion throughout East Asia.Zen Classicswill follow that historical movement, focusing primarily on texts from Korea and Japan that brought this Buddhist movement to fruition. Although enormously diverse in style and structure all of the texts and genres of texts considered here were fundamental to the unfolding of Zen in East Asia. The range of genres reveals the varieties of Zen practice, from rules of daily practice to sermons and meditation manuals. The all new essays in this volume will be contributed by an international team of distinguished scholars of Buddhism. It is aimed at broad audience including college students, Zen practitioners, and scholars of East Asian history, religion, and culture, as well as specialists in Buddhist history.

In distinct ways, each author opens up the narrow view of Zen to reveal a tradition inextricably linked to the broader Buddhist tradition. In this way,Zen Classicsgoes a long way in revising our understanding of Zen history, literature, and practice. --The Eastern Buddhist