The flowing bridge : guidance on beginning Zen koans / Elaine MacInnes ; edited by Patrick Gallagher ; foreword by Ruben L.F. Habito.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Maclnnes, Elaine.

Contributor:

Habito, Ruben L. F., 1947-

Gallagher, Patrick C., 1951-

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Koan.

Spiritual life--Zen Buddhism.

Spiritual life.

Physical Description:

xv, 159 pages ; 23 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Somerville, MA : Wisdom Publications, [2007]

Summary:

"Zen Master Elaine MacInnes has given the world a great gift." Koans-such as "What is the sound of one hand clapping?"-have penetrated deeply into popular consciousness. Yet those who encounter koans in traditional literature or in the context of exploring Zen practice themselves can often find them utterly baffling. The Flowing Bridge is the first-ever book to address all of the first koans that Zen students encounter in practice-"What is Mu?" "What is the sound of the Single Hand?" and the so-called "miscellaneous" koans gleaned from various traditional sources-that have historically been closely guarded by master and disciple as esoteric treasures.

Elaine MacInnes, a Catholic nun and a Zen teacher in the lineage of the renowned master Koun Yamada (author of The Gateless Gate), offers exceptionally valuable guidance to beginners on how to work with koans-and reveals an uncommon depth of insight and a clear technical mastery of Zen's most misunderstood and most powerful tools. This book is sure to become a classic, standing alongside The Gateless Gate and The Blue Cliff Record as a must-read for anyone seeking Zen's subtles teachings and deepest power.

Contents:

Part 1 The Three Jewels

Joshu's Dog 3

What is Kongen, the origin of Mu? 13

What is the Sound of One Hand? 21

Part 2 The Miscellaneous Koans

Stop the sound of the distant temple bell 33

Put out the fire a thousand miles away 39

Stop the boat sailing by out on the open sea 43

Save a ghost 48

Move a mountain 53

Count the number of stars in the heavens 58

In a well that has not been dug... 63

Slowly I wade in a brook... 67

In the sea of Ise... 72

With empty hands I take hold of the plow... 77

In order to be worthy as a Zen student... 83

The leaves of the lotus are round... 86

On Mount Godai a cloud is cooking rice... 94

A thousand mountains are covered with snow... 101

Shogen's Three Turning Words 106

Oryu's Three Turning Words 112

Tosotsu's Three Barriers 118

Kido's Three Barriers 124

Joshu's Three Turning Words 129

From the Diamond Sutra 136

From Dogen's Fukan Zazengi 145

Haryo's Three Turning Words 153.

ISBN:

0861715454

9780861715459

OCLC:

136780345