Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan

Tao-ch’uan says, “When it’s time to eat, open your mouth. When it’s time to sleep, close your eyes. My song goes: ‘My line hangs straight down one-thousand feet / after each wave come ten thousand more / fish aren’t

Rinzai’s radical use of buji tells us that Zen is no “thing” whatsoever. In his talk, he tries to cut off any notion we may have of what there is to do or what there is to accomplish. He spells out all the traps that his monks are likely to fall into—his way of flushing out their “secret practices.” Today, Rinzai is famous for answering questions w

TRULY, I love this life of seclusion. Carrying my staff, I walk toward a friend’s cottage. The trees in his garden, soaked by the evening rain, Reflect the cool, clear autumnal sky. The owner’s dog comes to greet me; Chrysanthemums bloom along the fence. These people have the same spirit as the ancients; An earthen wall marks their separation from