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Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching: Classic Stories, Discourses, and Poems of the Chan Tradition
Thomas Cleary, one of America’s most beloved translators of Buddhist texts, brings twelfth century Chan master Dahui’s monumental compilation of teachings to life for the first time in English.
Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching (Chinese Zhengfayanzang ) stands as among the greatest classics of Chan (Chinese Zen) Buddhism, combining speeches, stories, dialogues, poems, and commentaries that the influential master Dahui (1089–1163) extracted from Chan lore. Compiled by Dahui’s students during Song Dynasty China, this work is replete with the enigmatic, paradoxical wisdom for which Zen Buddhism is so well known.
Central to this collection is the notion of “great doubt” in matters of language, conceptual thinking, and how we conceive of our existence. By working with great doubt through koan introspection and other meditative practices, a practitioner is able to push themself to the limits of ideas and concepts until a breakthrough to enlightenment is achieved. In the words of Dahui, “Within great doubt there necessarily exists great enlightenment.”
A fascinating compendium of literary and spiritual puzzles, Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching will challenge and inspire readers to work with great doubt themselves and to discover their inborn potential for enlightenment. Masterfully translated by one of America’s foremost translators of Chinese classics into English, it is a captivating window into the literary world of Chinese Zen and essential reading for students of all Zen schools today.
Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching (Chinese Zhengfayanzang ) stands as among the greatest classics of Chan (Chinese Zen) Buddhism, combining speeches, stories, dialogues, poems, and commentaries that the influential master Dahui (1089–1163) extracted from Chan lore. Compiled by Dahui’s students during Song Dynasty China, this work is replete with the enigmatic, paradoxical wisdom for which Zen Buddhism is so well known.
Central to this collection is the notion of “great doubt” in matters of language, conceptual thinking, and how we conceive of our existence. By working with great doubt through koan introspection and other meditative practices, a practitioner is able to push themself to the limits of ideas and concepts until a breakthrough to enlightenment is achieved. In the words of Dahui, “Within great doubt there necessarily exists great enlightenment.”
A fascinating compendium of literary and spiritual puzzles, Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching will challenge and inspire readers to work with great doubt themselves and to discover their inborn potential for enlightenment. Masterfully translated by one of America’s foremost translators of Chinese classics into English, it is a captivating window into the literary world of Chinese Zen and essential reading for students of all Zen schools today.
464 pages, Paperback
Published October 11, 2022
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November 5, 2025
Master Dahui Zonggao (1089, 1163)
Almost 40 years between Master Dahui's 'Treasury' and Dogen's, which must be mentioned because of the confusion resulting from Dogen's use of the same title.
Dogen's effort is similar to Master Dahui's in numbering and Zen Masters quoted, however one important difference lies in the Bodhidharma quote. Master Dahui quotes the entire 'Method for Quieting Mind' of Bodhidharma (too long to quote here, but for the significance see The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen, Broughton!) a text which was found among the ancient (1000 C.E.) Dunhuang Caves. Whereas Dōgen Zenji (1200, 1253)
replaces it with:
“A special transmission outside the teachings;
not established upon words and letters;
directly pointing to the human heartmind;
seeing nature and becoming a Buddha.'
(Taken from the Blue Cliff Record)
Only one reason, among many, that Thomas Cleary's masterful translation of The Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching is not to be missed! Did I say 'missed', it is his skill in translation that will be missed, may he rest in peace.
Take Care
Almost 40 years between Master Dahui's 'Treasury' and Dogen's, which must be mentioned because of the confusion resulting from Dogen's use of the same title.
Dogen's effort is similar to Master Dahui's in numbering and Zen Masters quoted, however one important difference lies in the Bodhidharma quote. Master Dahui quotes the entire 'Method for Quieting Mind' of Bodhidharma (too long to quote here, but for the significance see The Bodhidharma Anthology: The Earliest Records of Zen, Broughton!) a text which was found among the ancient (1000 C.E.) Dunhuang Caves. Whereas Dōgen Zenji (1200, 1253)
replaces it with:
“A special transmission outside the teachings;
not established upon words and letters;
directly pointing to the human heartmind;
seeing nature and becoming a Buddha.'
(Taken from the Blue Cliff Record)
Only one reason, among many, that Thomas Cleary's masterful translation of The Treasury of the Eye of True Teaching is not to be missed! Did I say 'missed', it is his skill in translation that will be missed, may he rest in peace.
Take Care
Displaying 1 of 1 review