This natural spontaneity should not be confused with impulsiveness. Zen often seems paradoxical - it requires an intense discipline which, when practiced properly, results in total spontaneity and ultimate freedom. Zen techniques are compatible with other faiths and are often used, for example, by Christians seeking a mystical understanding of their faith. The essence of Zen is attempting to understand the meaning of life directly, without being misled by logical thought or language. It began in China, spread to Korea and Japan, and became very popular in the West from the mid- 20th century. Zen Buddhism is a mixture of Indian Mahayana Buddhism and Taoism.

The text is one of the first translations of Zen Buddhist literature to appear in English. 101 Zen Stories is a compilation of Zen koans, including 19th and early 20th century anecdotes, compiled by Nyogen Senzaki and Paul Reps. Facsimile of the original edition and not reproduced with Optical Recognition Software. Reproduction of the printed book, not the typewritten version often found. To learn more about how and for what purposes Amazon uses personal information (such as Amazon Store order history), please visit our Privacy Notice.Ģ021 Reprint of the 1940 Edition. You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie Preferences, as described in the Cookie Notice. Click ‘Customise Cookies’ to decline these cookies, make more detailed choices, or learn more. Third parties use cookies for their purposes of displaying and measuring personalised ads, generating audience insights, and developing and improving products. This includes using first- and third-party cookies, which store or access standard device information such as a unique identifier.

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101 zen koans