Kensho: The Heart of Zen

by Thomas Cleary (Translator)

Kensho is the transformative glimpse of the true nature of all things. It is an experience so crucial in Zen practice that it is sometimes compared to finding an inexhaustible treasure because it reveals the potential that exists in each moment for pure awareness free from the projections of the ego. Among the traditional Zen works are a number of important texts focusing on the profound subtleties of this essential Zen awakening and the methods used in its realization. The selections here are taken from: Straightforward Explanation of the True Mind, by Korean Zen teacher Chinul (1158-1210), which provides the contextual balance needed to understand kensho by relating it to the broader teachings of the Buddhist scriptures and treatises. Several works by Japanese Zen master Hakuin (1786-1769), whose teachings emphasize the techniques used in the cultivation and application of kensho and the importance of going beyond the experience itself to apply Zen insight to the full range of human endeavors. The Book of Ease, a Chinese koan collection from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with commentary showing the practical dimension of classical koan practice. The translator provides extensive introductory notes and detailed commentary on each of the selections to help the reader understand the inner meaning of this essential experience of Zen.

Genres: Zen, Buddhism, Spirituality, Philosophy

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Dr. Thomas Francis Cleary, Ph.D. (East Asian Languages and Civilizations, Harvard University; J.D., Boalt Hall School of Law, University of California, Berkeley), was a prolific translator of Buddhist, Taoist, Confucian, and Muslim classics, with a particular emphasis on popular translations of Mahāyāna works relevant to the Chan, Zen, and Soen systems.

Reviews

[Marian · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 stars fail to show my appreciation for the contents of this book. Hakuin's essay on the four cognitions is especially enlightening! This is by far the best book I have ever read on Zen Buddhism. Highly recommended!

[James Byron · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful view of the inexplainable.

[Isaac Kerson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book get's bogged down in Buddhist doctrine and jargon, which seems intended for Zen students or historians. It's a hard read at times. However, it is interspersed with clear, straightforward discussion of Zen practice, which will be comprehensible and useful to all.