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Great Doubt: Practicing Zen in the World
The greater the doubt, the greater the awakening.
“In this brief but remarkably thorough book, Boshan puts into words what it means to truly doubt. Not just to be skeptical—but to push all the way to the very foundations. Anyone interested in Zen can learn a whole lot from this little book.”
—from the foreword by Brad Warner, author of Hardcore Zen
“Great doubt and great faith are foundations of Zen practice. This great gift of a book provides essential checkpoints along the path.” —Grace Schireson, author of Zen Women
“Upbeat, insightful, and inspiring teachings—a rich resource for all Buddhist practitioners.”—Richard M. Jaffe, Duke University, author of Neither Monk nor Layman
“Boshan addresses the reader directly with vivid metaphors and stern (sometimes humorous) admonishments. He pulls no punches… These concise texts, not previously available in their entirety in English, offer classic wisdom for those exploring the Zen paths.”— Publishers Weekly
“A classic Chinese text with clear—and inspiring—commentaries”—Thomas Yuho Kirchner, translator of Entangling Vines
“In this brief but remarkably thorough book, Boshan puts into words what it means to truly doubt. Not just to be skeptical—but to push all the way to the very foundations. Anyone interested in Zen can learn a whole lot from this little book.”
—from the foreword by Brad Warner, author of Hardcore Zen
“Great doubt and great faith are foundations of Zen practice. This great gift of a book provides essential checkpoints along the path.” —Grace Schireson, author of Zen Women
“Upbeat, insightful, and inspiring teachings—a rich resource for all Buddhist practitioners.”—Richard M. Jaffe, Duke University, author of Neither Monk nor Layman
“Boshan addresses the reader directly with vivid metaphors and stern (sometimes humorous) admonishments. He pulls no punches… These concise texts, not previously available in their entirety in English, offer classic wisdom for those exploring the Zen paths.”— Publishers Weekly
“A classic Chinese text with clear—and inspiring—commentaries”—Thomas Yuho Kirchner, translator of Entangling Vines
128 pages, Paperback
Published July 26, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
January 4, 2019
I did not read the parts not by Boshan. That is, the comments made by the translator, Jeff Shore, that are the last quarter of the book. I didn't read those sections - although it is possible I may return to them - because I like to read the primary text/author for myself and let his thoughts digest for awhile. I'm a wee bit more academic than most. I can't (and wouldn't) change that, however I have learned what works best for me.
Boshan's text is quite small, this isn't a huge tome. And, overall, I think the purpose is cutting away all the bulls#i₱ and fraud and deception that runs through practitioners of *any* religion due to pride, extra-independence, and laziness.
Boshan really tears into people who are playing games with Zen... or who want to partake in pop culture "zen." No one is safe - he blasts those who wrangle with koans as well as those who fanny about with the idea of being hermits.
In so doing, this becomes a very direct book. It assumes an already substantial knowledge of Zen and is more than anything, a scathing warning to those practitioners of Buddhism who are playacting. I doubt [sic] many pop culture "zen" folks will enjoy this one. The humble and the honest will be receptive to it's warnings. Maybe this thing is just a litmus test?
Boshan's text is quite small, this isn't a huge tome. And, overall, I think the purpose is cutting away all the bulls#i₱ and fraud and deception that runs through practitioners of *any* religion due to pride, extra-independence, and laziness.
Boshan really tears into people who are playing games with Zen... or who want to partake in pop culture "zen." No one is safe - he blasts those who wrangle with koans as well as those who fanny about with the idea of being hermits.
In so doing, this becomes a very direct book. It assumes an already substantial knowledge of Zen and is more than anything, a scathing warning to those practitioners of Buddhism who are playacting. I doubt [sic] many pop culture "zen" folks will enjoy this one. The humble and the honest will be receptive to it's warnings. Maybe this thing is just a litmus test?
January 27, 2018
This book is very clear and direct to the point. it's also funny.
The comments make it more interesting, and maybe are very useful if you haven't "been there" as a way of making sense of the content.
The comments make it more interesting, and maybe are very useful if you haven't "been there" as a way of making sense of the content.
January 30, 2023
“since ‘stretching out your body is the spread of the universe,’ there is not a thing to seek within or without. What on earth do you take to be your body, to be facing you, to exist — what is that vague something?”
August 28, 2021
Translation was great, commentary was meh
May 13, 2024
Un libro para mantenerte siempre atento y no caer en las trampas del apego.
March 4, 2025
Just when you think you are Zen, you need to go further...
Jeff Shore is a Japan-based American Zen master in the Rinzai tradition. (For full disclosure, I've been on several of his retreats.) He is a scholar, practitioner, and teacher. In this slim volume, he translates two texts by the Chinese Ch'an master Boshan (1575-1630).
Boshan emphasizes the importance of doubt: "In Zen practice, the essential point is to rouse doubt. What is this doubt? When you are born, for example, where do you come from? You cannot but remain in doubt about this." This great doubt needs to be accompanied by great trust.
Boshan's first text is entitled, "Exhortations for those who don't rouse doubt." This is essentially a check list of ways in which Zen practice can go astray, such as being diverted into intellectual speculation; being addicted to blissful meditative states; achieving a fake calmness by suppressing emotions; or escaping responsibility by denying the reality of the material world. Boshan offers dire warnings for those following these dead-end paths. For example, he threatens those who self-indulgently swagger around in wild Zen postures, that, "If you continue this way, you will fall into demonic paths and commit serious offenses."
Boshan's second text is, "Exhortations for those who raise the doubt." Here, he addresses the committed Zen student and warns of dangers of failing to push through to the final stages of practice. If you find that you "fall into blank stillness where nothing arises, as if experiencing ten thousand years in one moment of thought", you are not there yet. And, even if "one experiences the unity of reality and appearance and the whole world seems in harmony for the moment", this is not the ultimate. In these exhortations, Boshan is kindly to the practitioner, urging redoubled effort.
Shore, having translated Boshan's exhortations, provides his own commentary. He underlines the validity of Boshan's insights, arguing that they remain just as relevant four centuries later. Given the potential for misinterpreting meditative states, Shore, like Boshan, argues that the Rinzai student should, where possible, seek guidance from a teacher.
This publication is most useful for pointing to the need to follow through on Rinzai practice beyond early signs of "progress", no matter how convincing. It's not a question of achieving kensho and then enjoying your well-earned Zen mastery. Clearly, this is for the advanced practitioner, rather than those starting to establish a Zazen practice. And even for the advanced practitioner, this is likely to be read once and assigned to the bookshelf, rather than kept on hand for ready reference. So, 5 stars for serious scholarship, trustworthy guidance from a contemporary Zen master, and an introduction to Boshan; but perhaps 3 stars for usefulness as a guide to regular practice.
Other Jeff Shore books:
Being Without Self: Zen for the Modern World, a collection of Shore's dharma talks (2008)
Backwater Reeds: Zen Buddhist Dharma Talks for the 21st century (2024)
Jeff Shore is a Japan-based American Zen master in the Rinzai tradition. (For full disclosure, I've been on several of his retreats.) He is a scholar, practitioner, and teacher. In this slim volume, he translates two texts by the Chinese Ch'an master Boshan (1575-1630).
Boshan emphasizes the importance of doubt: "In Zen practice, the essential point is to rouse doubt. What is this doubt? When you are born, for example, where do you come from? You cannot but remain in doubt about this." This great doubt needs to be accompanied by great trust.
Boshan's first text is entitled, "Exhortations for those who don't rouse doubt." This is essentially a check list of ways in which Zen practice can go astray, such as being diverted into intellectual speculation; being addicted to blissful meditative states; achieving a fake calmness by suppressing emotions; or escaping responsibility by denying the reality of the material world. Boshan offers dire warnings for those following these dead-end paths. For example, he threatens those who self-indulgently swagger around in wild Zen postures, that, "If you continue this way, you will fall into demonic paths and commit serious offenses."
Boshan's second text is, "Exhortations for those who raise the doubt." Here, he addresses the committed Zen student and warns of dangers of failing to push through to the final stages of practice. If you find that you "fall into blank stillness where nothing arises, as if experiencing ten thousand years in one moment of thought", you are not there yet. And, even if "one experiences the unity of reality and appearance and the whole world seems in harmony for the moment", this is not the ultimate. In these exhortations, Boshan is kindly to the practitioner, urging redoubled effort.
Shore, having translated Boshan's exhortations, provides his own commentary. He underlines the validity of Boshan's insights, arguing that they remain just as relevant four centuries later. Given the potential for misinterpreting meditative states, Shore, like Boshan, argues that the Rinzai student should, where possible, seek guidance from a teacher.
This publication is most useful for pointing to the need to follow through on Rinzai practice beyond early signs of "progress", no matter how convincing. It's not a question of achieving kensho and then enjoying your well-earned Zen mastery. Clearly, this is for the advanced practitioner, rather than those starting to establish a Zazen practice. And even for the advanced practitioner, this is likely to be read once and assigned to the bookshelf, rather than kept on hand for ready reference. So, 5 stars for serious scholarship, trustworthy guidance from a contemporary Zen master, and an introduction to Boshan; but perhaps 3 stars for usefulness as a guide to regular practice.
Other Jeff Shore books:
Being Without Self: Zen for the Modern World, a collection of Shore's dharma talks (2008)
Backwater Reeds: Zen Buddhist Dharma Talks for the 21st century (2024)
October 14, 2016
Way over my head.
November 30, 2016
The commentary is great. It's heavy for a novice like myself but it gives a good sense of what Zen is really about.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews