六祖壇經
The Wisdom of the Zen Masters
Huai Jang: I am polishing it to make a mirror.
Ma Tsu: How could polishing a tile make a mirror?
Huai Jang: How could sitting in meditation make a Buddha?
Ma Tsu: What should one do then?
Huai Jang: If a cart drawn by an ox does not move, is it correct to whip the ox or the cart?
Unlike other versions of “Wisdom of the Zen Masters”, our rendition instead combines selections from the most important and famous Zen texts into a single volume, and as an core axle we also supplemented with digital animation and interactive content, consequently this “Wisdom of the Zen Masters” not only serves as a perfect introduction to Zen Buddhism, but also an essential component of any Zen collection.
Consists of three volumes, the first one introduced how only one Chinese Buddhist work ever attained the status of an official scripture, the Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch. And from second volume onward the book follows the orthodox line of Zen transmission in a loosely chronological format from patriarch to patriarch, master to master. The result is a delightful romp through the history of forty or so illustrious and irreverent Zen masters, complete with enlightening anecdotes and disarming wisdom.
In addition to the Platform Sutra, many episodes are drawn from other key Zen texts, including the Transmission of the Lamp, the Gateless Gate (Mumonkan), and the Blue Cliff Record. All of these are recognized as rich sources of the famous Zen koan.
