Fifty Zen Koans: from the Blue Cliff Record - Paperback

by Richard Bertschinger (Author)

These Fifty Koan (cases) are from the Blue Cliff Record (Lu Biyan 錄碧巖), and collected in medieval China. They relate the meetings of Master and disciple, and were selected by the Zen (Chan) Buddhist Monk Xuedou (980-1052), becoming a foundation text for all students. To each is attached a poem, as classical commentary: in effect, remarks made to students attending Xuedou's talks. Some clear, some perhaps puzzling. But they have a pristine light about them, showing the pure life-genius of Tang China. I commend them to all readers.