The Story of Chinese
Zen
By Nan Huai Chin, trans. by Thomas Cleary. 258 pg., 5 1/2" x 8 1/2"
paperback. The Story of Chinese Zen begins with the premise that the climate
during Shakyamuni's founding of Buddhism in India ultimately influenced
the differences behind Hinayana & Mahayana thought. From therebeginning
with its transmission to ChinaMaster Nan outlines the Zen school, exploring
influences on the development of Zen before the early T'ang dynasty, different
means of studying Zen & pursuing "the heart & goal of Zen."
He explores the relationship between Zen and neo-Confucianism and the inseparability
of religion and Zen from Chinese literature and philosophy, especially Taoism. |