I have no doubt whatsoever concerning the absolute necessity of sitting in front of a wall with no purpose and no goal,” declares Zen monk Rei Ryu Philippe Coupey in the first chapter of his latest book, Zen, Simply Sitting.
Coupey’s candor and conviction permeate Simply Sitting, his commentaries on Master Eihei Dogen’s Fukanzazengi, a central text in the Zen tradition. Written by Dogen in 1227 and revised by him in 1242-43, the original “Universal Guide to the Practice of Seated Meditation” is a short work which aims to transmit the essence of Zen practice as Dogen learned it from his master, Tendo Nyojo. It contains a surprising amount of concrete how-to do Zazen, but also refers to important moments and figures in Zen history to explain why such practice is necessary.
