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The Ways of Zen
C. C. Tsai is one of Asia’s most popular cartoonists, and his editions of the Chinese classics have sold more than 40 million copies in over twenty languages. In The Ways of Zen, he has created an entertaining and enlightening masterpiece from the rich collections of the Zen Buddhist tradition, bringing classic stories to life in delightful language and vividly detailed comic illustrations. Combining all the stories previously published in Tsai’s Wisdom of the Zen Masters and Zen Speaks, this is the artist’s largest collection of selections from the most important and famous Zen texts.
The story of the illiterate wood-peddler Huineng, who improbably rises to become the most famous Zen patriarch, is joined by others that trace the development of the five major sects of Zen Buddhism through other masters such as Mazu, Linji, and Yunmen. A shattered antique, a blind man carrying a lantern, sutras set on fire, a cow jumping through a window—each story leads the reader to reflect on fundamental Buddhist ideas.
The Ways of Zen also features the original Chinese text in side columns on each page, enriching the book for readers and students of Chinese without distracting from the English-language cartoons.
Filled with memorable anecdotes and disarming wisdom, The Ways of Zen is a perfect introduction to Zen Buddhism and an essential addition to any Zen collection.
The story of the illiterate wood-peddler Huineng, who improbably rises to become the most famous Zen patriarch, is joined by others that trace the development of the five major sects of Zen Buddhism through other masters such as Mazu, Linji, and Yunmen. A shattered antique, a blind man carrying a lantern, sutras set on fire, a cow jumping through a window—each story leads the reader to reflect on fundamental Buddhist ideas.
The Ways of Zen also features the original Chinese text in side columns on each page, enriching the book for readers and students of Chinese without distracting from the English-language cartoons.
Filled with memorable anecdotes and disarming wisdom, The Ways of Zen is a perfect introduction to Zen Buddhism and an essential addition to any Zen collection.
288 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
January 27, 2022
This book illustrates the broad history of the different Zen Buddhist traditions, a form of Buddhism that is prominent in North Asia. The general pattern of the book is the same as the others within the series, starting off with an informative introduction and proceeding to tell 1-4 page stories through black and white illustrations reminiscent to Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes whimsical adventures. However, the feel of the book is more grounded than the ones on Laozi and Zhuangzi, due to its cartoon depictions of political repression or people picking corpses from a battlefield in order to survive - it can be pretty grim.
My impression of Zen Buddhism from the book is that the religion is like Daoism due to it's skepticism towards given cultural values, the artificiality of the self put forward in social life and an emphasis on simple living. Yet Zen seems more socially conscious because of Buddhism's monastic life and desire to form self sustained communities while also helping other people. Additionally, it is a bit less metaphysical than Laozi because Zen focuses on how the mind gives rise to the illusions that make life unsatisfying, but they essentially agree that a people are driven by universal compassion. I recommend the book if you want to have a glimpse into Zen Buddhism.
My impression of Zen Buddhism from the book is that the religion is like Daoism due to it's skepticism towards given cultural values, the artificiality of the self put forward in social life and an emphasis on simple living. Yet Zen seems more socially conscious because of Buddhism's monastic life and desire to form self sustained communities while also helping other people. Additionally, it is a bit less metaphysical than Laozi because Zen focuses on how the mind gives rise to the illusions that make life unsatisfying, but they essentially agree that a people are driven by universal compassion. I recommend the book if you want to have a glimpse into Zen Buddhism.
April 8, 2024
Some of the stories made no rational sense. And yet, after story after story, it all came together and it sort of made sense. I must admit that the really crazy illustrations did help me understand some obscure (in my mind) concepts that I’d been finding hard to grasp in other “zen” books.
November 16, 2021
Tsai, my guy, thanks.
August 4, 2025
A good way to introduce yourself to the Zen texts.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews