Words on
the way of Zen
Reflections on practice, tradition, and the everyday path of Zen.
The Ordinary Eye Fails to Recognize Manjushri Bodhisattva
There was once a man named Kalavinka, who had set his heart on meeting Manjushri Bodhisattva, yet his wish never came to pass.
ReadThe Transmission of the Zen Lamp
One day, when the monastery’s monks were working in the fields, Huangbo picked up a hoe and noticed Linji trailing behind him empty-handed. “Where’s your hoe?” he called. Linji replied, “Someone took it.” Huangbo said, “Come here. I’d li...
ReadProfessor Lin Chong'an: A Study of the Schisms and Lineage Transmissions in Indian Sectarian Buddhism
Selected Essays on Buddhist Studies
ReadMaster Gangxiao: The Mysteries of the I Ching — Psychology Chapter Six: Different Views for Different Eyes: The I Ching as a Psychological Testing Tool
From the analysis above, a psychological testing tool should leave the subject ample room for thought, so that the various ideas of the benevolent and the wise can each find expression and each take their proper place. The sixty-four hex...
ReadProfessor Lin Chong'an: A Brief Exploration of the Dhammapada and the Evolution of Its Parables
Selected Essays on Buddhist Studies
ReadMaster Gangxiao: The Mysteries of the Zhou Yi — Psychology Chapter 5: The Word Association Method, Where Each Sees Differently, and Other Approaches
You may have heard of the lie detector — now regarded as an advanced criminal investigation technique. It originally grew out of Dr. Jung's word association test. You prepare a list of about a hundred words covering a broad range of topi...
ReadGet Out
One day, Chan master Huanglong Huinan asked a student monk standing beside him:
ReadUnstained by the Mud
I loved wearing expensive clothes. I would go to the market myself to pick out fabric, then take it to a tailor to have it measured and cut. I often wore a tie and dressed in all sorts of outfits that drew compliments.
ReadShowing the Dharma with the Tongue
A monk asked Chan Master Lingguan, "What is the Buddha?"
ReadSmashing the Bones of Empty Space
In his youth, National Teacher Musō traveled a thousand miles to study with Chan Master Issan in Kyoto. One day he went to the abbot's quarters and asked:
ReadProfessor Lin Chong-an: A Study of the Compilation of the Āgamas and the Origins of Mahāyāna Scriptures
Selected Buddhist Studies Essays
ReadVen. Gang Xiao: The Mysteries of the Zhou Yi — Psychology, Chapter 4: The Rorschach Test — Different Eyes, Different Insights
Hermann Rorschach was born in 1884 in Zurich, Switzerland, and later became a practicing physician. His father was a painting teacher. In 1921, he invented the famous Rorschach inkblot test, but died in 1922 before he could pursue deeper...
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