The Zen Teaching of Huang Po on the Transmission of Mind

The same idea is repeated but to actually grasp ‘one mind’ not just as an idea is probably not that easy. Not the easiest read but at the same time a great explanation of one mind. I don’t think the goal is to intellectually understand but maybe it’s one step on the path?!?!!

Huang-po (d. 850) was one of the most influential Chan/Zen masters of the Tang Dynasty. John Blofeld (1913-1987) has done great service in providing such a fine translation of two truly wonderful texts ("The Chun Chou Record (Sermons and Dialogues)" and "The Wan Ling Record (Dialogues, Sermons and Anecdotes)"). Also included is an interesting and helpful introduction. The result is an engaging work of great profundity and wisdom, that provides valuable insights into the heart of Chan/Zen Buddhism. As such, the reader will benefit from much rereading and contemplation of this work. Also available in translation by John Blofeld is The Zen Teaching of Instantaneous Awakening: Being the Teaching of the Zen Master, Hui Hai, Known as the Great Pearl , which can, in some ways, be considered a companion piece to this text, as they complement each other very well. For those who are interested, there is also a very interesting autobiography of John Blofeld available The Wheel of Life: The Autobiography of a Western Buddhist (Shambhala Dragon Editions) . Another work which may be of interest is Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism (Cambridge Studies in Religious Traditions) which takes a contemporary philosophical look at Zen as expressed in Blofeld's translation of Huang Po. Other translations of this work by Huang Po are available by Thomas Cleary Zen Mind, Buddha Mind and John McRae Zen Texts (BDK English Tripitaka Series) . There is also a translation with commentary, by Zen (Korean: Seon) Master Subul A Bird in Flight Leaves No Trace: The Zen Teaching of Huangbo with a Modern Commentary . I highly recommend all the works mentioned in this review.

This is the clearest book on Zen ever written . It cuts away all nonsense and gets straight to the matter. It is all you need if you are ready to hear it. "All of the Buddhas and all sentient beings are nothing but the One Mind, beside which nothing exists. This Mind, which is without beginning, is unborn and indestructible."

Probaly not for the novice as some knowledge of chan/zen philosophy is needed to get the most from it.

This is an excellent doorway into the teaching of Huang Po, one of the truly great Zen Masters. Quote from Huang Po: The approach to it ( Mind, Absolute, Void, Buddha Nature, Enlightenment ) is called the Gateway of the Stillness beyond all Activity. If you wish to understand, know that a sudden comprehension comes when the mind has been purged of all the clutter of conceptual and discriminatory thought-activity. Those who seek the truth by means of the intellect and learning only get further and further away from it. Not till your thoughts cease all their branching here and there, not till you abandon all thoughts of seeking for something, not till your mind is motionless as wood or stone, will you be on the right road to the Gate. Huang Po.

This book, this short book wonderfully and lovingly translated by John Blofeld is a book I return to again and again. If your a Buddhist or interested in Zen on any level this book is above all other books, above all Sutras. It will blow your fuses wide open. Its pure simplicity will scatter your doubts, misunderstandings, shadows and open you heart wide open into what Zen or Buddhism is truly about. Forget the Japanese masters, forget reading Non-duality, forget spiritual teachers, forget your next retreat or trip to India. Just sit on your Zafu in your room and this book and you will find exactly what it is that you seek. Thank you John and thank you Pearl.

A truly invaluable resource for any Buddhist regardless of what school you belong to. Simple, clear and concise though thoroughly insightful and enjoyable reading from a Master with true understanding and wisdom. Will definitely be rereading time and time again!

Ah, Huang Po. Back to the 9th century: "All the Buddhas and all sentient beings are nothing but the One Mind beside which nothing exists." The combination of the sage and John Blofeld - no mean sage himself - is very compelling. I keep more than one copy of this book on my shelves in case of fire, theft, or civil turmoil. I might, with a bit of encouragement, leave them to the nation. Reluctantly, of course.

Um livro para pessoas dedicadas à iluminação além de qualquer conceito, dogma, tradição, religião ou costume. Entendível apenas para aqueles que realmente se dedicam a isso

唐代の禅師、黄檗さんの教えです。基本的には盤珪禅師の教えとは同じです。あらゆる人には仏性が備わっている。不生で不滅のその本質を見出すということ。黄檗禅師はただただ観念化をやめなさい。あなたはすでに悟っているのですと。ラマナマハルシも言っていたように真我実現においては自分はまだ真我を実現していないという観念が真我実現の妨げとなり、身体との同一化が人間を無数の誤った観念との同一化に結びつけた張本人だと。禅の持つシンプルな響きは、思考に浸りがちな現代文明の先進国の人々には、特に思考の連綿とした繋がりを切り裂き、静寂、沈黙に至るアプローチとしては、直接的で斬新にうつることでしょう。もともと、伝心法要として翻訳されいるみたいなのですが英語のペーパーバックで読んでみるほうが読みやすかったりします。ぜひ一度読んでみてはいかがでしょうか。禅の真髄を、存在の最深部にまで浸透させ、現実に直接アプローチするとはどういうことなのかがわかります。

The book is a classic but the insights did not deliver -- unless you are new to zen

fOR THOSE WHO LIKE ME ARE THIRSTY OF THE LIVING WORD, MEANING TO HEAR TRUE WORDS & NOT SAME OLD WORDS OF CONDITIONNING, WHICH KEEP US ENGAGED IN PASSING REALITIES & TAKE US AWAY FROM OUR ESSENCE, I HIGHLY RECOMMAND TO READ PUANG-PO

Epic book of Zen Buddhist conundrums. Warning; this is not "pop" Zen watered down stuff... You might think this book is garbage unless you have a decent background in traditional Buddhist theory and practices. For those who do, this book is like an epic FAQ from a very opinionated and somewhat crotchety ancient Chinese philosopher. It's a short read but will likely need to be read, and re-read, and re-read again.