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Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Buddhist Master Hongzhi
First to articulate the meditation method known to contemporary Zen practitioners as shikantaza ("just sitting") Chinese Zen master Hongzhi is one of the most influential poets in all of Zen literature. This translation of HongzhiÆs poetry, the only such volume available in English, treats readers to his profound wisdom and beautiful literary gift. In addition to dozens of HongshiÆs religious poems, translator Daniel Leighton offers an extended introduction, placing the masterÆs work in its historical context , as well as lineage charts and other information about the Chinese influence on Japanese Soto Zen.
136 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
December 17, 2008
Do you ever really *finish* reading a book like this?
July 3, 2020
My less than 5-Star rating is not for the original text and poetry, but more as an indication of how much I recommend this book for the general reader and how I feel about the marketing.
This is becoming my general assessment of many books on zen and meditation: if you are a beginner, it's going to be frustrating and obscure. If you are experienced enough not to be too intimidated by it, it's not going to offer anything new to you except a few moments of historical and cultural insight.
The book is a historical record. Hongzhi's poetry has a well-deserved place of honor in the history of zen, and a lot of his terminology seeped into greater zen culture. It's interesting to see exactly where he sits and what his influence was. The book should be treasured, and the introduction, notes and translation all skillfully provide access to the modern, English-speaking reader.
But I cannot recommend reading this book as an instructive introduction or support for a modern zen practice. And the style is too obscure to be satisfying reading for most people. The book wasn't meant for us - Hongzhi was writing using a symbolic language very specific to his time and place. If you don't find it boring and confusing, you're not being honest with yourself - but neither is that a fault. As modern readers, we're not capable of connecting to texts that were not written in our cultural context. Rather, it's our responsibility to take fresh approaches. It's not disrespectful to a tradition or cultural artifact, if you put it to rest when it is spent and done. You can still learn from it, but you can't pretend it's alive when it's not.
What I would like us to avoid is the idea that puzzling over foreign cultural concepts is part of the organic learning curve of the material - it is not.
This book I imagine is only really of interest to zen nerds (a term I use lovingly) or advanced practitioners / teachers / scholars with furious curiosity for all the details. Otherwise, it's not of much use or appeal. Pass, if you're looking for books on zen practice itself.
This is becoming my general assessment of many books on zen and meditation: if you are a beginner, it's going to be frustrating and obscure. If you are experienced enough not to be too intimidated by it, it's not going to offer anything new to you except a few moments of historical and cultural insight.
The book is a historical record. Hongzhi's poetry has a well-deserved place of honor in the history of zen, and a lot of his terminology seeped into greater zen culture. It's interesting to see exactly where he sits and what his influence was. The book should be treasured, and the introduction, notes and translation all skillfully provide access to the modern, English-speaking reader.
But I cannot recommend reading this book as an instructive introduction or support for a modern zen practice. And the style is too obscure to be satisfying reading for most people. The book wasn't meant for us - Hongzhi was writing using a symbolic language very specific to his time and place. If you don't find it boring and confusing, you're not being honest with yourself - but neither is that a fault. As modern readers, we're not capable of connecting to texts that were not written in our cultural context. Rather, it's our responsibility to take fresh approaches. It's not disrespectful to a tradition or cultural artifact, if you put it to rest when it is spent and done. You can still learn from it, but you can't pretend it's alive when it's not.
What I would like us to avoid is the idea that puzzling over foreign cultural concepts is part of the organic learning curve of the material - it is not.
This book I imagine is only really of interest to zen nerds (a term I use lovingly) or advanced practitioners / teachers / scholars with furious curiosity for all the details. Otherwise, it's not of much use or appeal. Pass, if you're looking for books on zen practice itself.
July 25, 2019
This book provides further instruction and elaboration of silent illumination. It seems best for those already familiar with the method.
Leighton explains that silent illumination is an objectless meditation and spiritual orientation that allows apprehension of all phenomena as a unified totality (rather than the typical dualistic orientation that estranges us from real experience). It is a goalless practice aimed at realizing our inherent Buddha nature in ordinary existence experienced during meditation and expressed through compassionate behavior in the world. We practice by focusing attention on our own awareness on the totality of self to return to and enact the bright shining empty field that is our own fundamental nature.
Hongzhi's instructions include the following:
-"Stay with that just as that. Stay with this just as this. That and this are mixed together with no discrimination as to their places.”
-“This field is without boundary, beyond direction, magnificently one entity without edge or seam.”
-“In upright practice let go from the edge of the high cliff, not grabbing anything.”
-“Wisdom arrives inside the circle; affairs are left outside the gate. This is the single profundity beyond the gate. You must take the backward step and return home. Sincerely I relate these words.”
Leighton explains that silent illumination is an objectless meditation and spiritual orientation that allows apprehension of all phenomena as a unified totality (rather than the typical dualistic orientation that estranges us from real experience). It is a goalless practice aimed at realizing our inherent Buddha nature in ordinary existence experienced during meditation and expressed through compassionate behavior in the world. We practice by focusing attention on our own awareness on the totality of self to return to and enact the bright shining empty field that is our own fundamental nature.
Hongzhi's instructions include the following:
-"Stay with that just as that. Stay with this just as this. That and this are mixed together with no discrimination as to their places.”
-“This field is without boundary, beyond direction, magnificently one entity without edge or seam.”
-“In upright practice let go from the edge of the high cliff, not grabbing anything.”
-“Wisdom arrives inside the circle; affairs are left outside the gate. This is the single profundity beyond the gate. You must take the backward step and return home. Sincerely I relate these words.”
July 18, 2015
Really amazingly well written discussion of Hongzhi's approach to enlightenment and the teaching and study of Buddhism. Leighton is both a believer and a scholar, so his interpretations of important documents both historically situate what's going on in the cultural and material context, but at the same time he gives a spiritual interpretation of the text and what Hongzhi (or whomever wrote the text under discussion) might have meant from their historical and cultural perspective. Really great, I think you should read all of his books if you are interested in Buddhism.
November 20, 2015
I've read a lot of zen texts, one hand clapping and all that, but none of the books I've read before were as lovely as this one. These koans are pure poetry to me. I will be reading and rereading this one for a long long time. Excellent.
March 19, 2017
A fascinating document of Zen's ancient traditions. Approach Hongzhi's words as a scholar would, rather than as a casual reader would, and they will reveal something new--and probably something different to each reader. Which is why Leighton packs in so many useful footnotes as well.
October 24, 2021
This book is divided into 3 sections:
- Introduction
- Practice Instructions
- Religious Verses
The introduction is by the translator, Taigen Dan Leighton. I struggle with his explanations of Zen here and elsewhere (for instance his book on Suchness). I couldn't finish the intro (which is 28 pages long).
The Practice Instructions is the core text and it is a marvel. One sees clearly the Taoist roots of Zen in this early text. The texts are replete with beautiful insights on Zen. One of the nicest Zen texts I've ever read. Real poetry.
The Religious Verses didn't click for me. They rely heavily on footnotes and references to other texts and ancient references, so they don't exactly flow.
So get this book for the Practice Instructions, only IMHO. But it is still worth it.
- Introduction
- Practice Instructions
- Religious Verses
The introduction is by the translator, Taigen Dan Leighton. I struggle with his explanations of Zen here and elsewhere (for instance his book on Suchness). I couldn't finish the intro (which is 28 pages long).
The Practice Instructions is the core text and it is a marvel. One sees clearly the Taoist roots of Zen in this early text. The texts are replete with beautiful insights on Zen. One of the nicest Zen texts I've ever read. Real poetry.
The Religious Verses didn't click for me. They rely heavily on footnotes and references to other texts and ancient references, so they don't exactly flow.
So get this book for the Practice Instructions, only IMHO. But it is still worth it.
September 21, 2025
This is not a book to rush through but one to savour over many encounters. It isn’t meant to be read from cover to cover; rather, it’s the kind of book you open at random, letting your finger land where it will.
Each short piece points back to the source — bypassing the conceptual mind and inviting awareness itself to awaken. It is a Dzogchen-like revealing of The View: simple words that gesture beyond themselves, opening into spaciousness.
Read one and then sit in contemplation. It can carry you into the depths of your own being and the heights of eternity glimpsed in a passing moment. You may never “finish” this book, because each return reveals another facet of the diamond.
Each short piece points back to the source — bypassing the conceptual mind and inviting awareness itself to awaken. It is a Dzogchen-like revealing of The View: simple words that gesture beyond themselves, opening into spaciousness.
Read one and then sit in contemplation. It can carry you into the depths of your own being and the heights of eternity glimpsed in a passing moment. You may never “finish” this book, because each return reveals another facet of the diamond.
May 31, 2020
What a wonderful little book! It is so good to take one of old masters and read it through, instead of going through texts of overly complicated analyses of old texts, never-ending explanations of what is what and why, etc. Refreshing, simple, so simple that one does not even understand, just enjoys. But who is this who enjoys? Great.
June 4, 2023
A masterpiece. Sublime poetic constellation on the practice realisation of the ineffable. Great didactic end notes. Beautiful translation.
"From the outset patch-robed monks have this field that is a clean, spacious, broad plain. Gazing ahead beyond any precipitous barriers, within the field they plough the clouds and sow the moon."
"From the outset patch-robed monks have this field that is a clean, spacious, broad plain. Gazing ahead beyond any precipitous barriers, within the field they plough the clouds and sow the moon."
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 4, 2023
The poems themselves, although beautiful, are quite esoteric. The practice instructions, however, are so lovely. Hongzhi captures the reader suddenly in a play of words that is uniquely his style and blossoms gently open our hearts to reveal an innate connectedness to our practice of zazen and the playful delight of the stilness of shikantaza.
November 24, 2019
An infinite book, with no start and no end. To be read once and again as if it were always the first time.
June 3, 2020
Read parts of it this time around, very slowly, with a study group with my Dharma siblings and Zen teacher. Couldn't ask for better.
May 30, 2022
Essential zen.
July 10, 2019
This book is a beautiful and inspiring collection of letters and lectures (titled Practice Instructions - which they are not) from Hongzhi, a 12th century Zen (Ch'an) master, famous for the creation and promulgation of his Silent Illumination technique, which had a dramatic influence on future Caodong school practitioners, including Dogen. It became essentially the main technique of the Japanese Soto style of Zen for the last 8 centuries. Hongzhi expounds on the nature of Mind (the "bright, empty field") and the universal aim to reunite with suchness using natural imagery, poems, and stories of ancient masters. Important reading for any Zen student.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews