The Sound of the One Hand

281 Zen Koans with Answers

Nonfiction, Religion & Spirituality, Philosophy, Zen, Eastern Religions, Zen Buddhism, New Age
Cover of the book The Sound of the One Hand by , New York Review Books
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: ISBN: 9781681370231
Publisher: New York Review Books Publication: December 6, 2016
Imprint: NYRB Classics Language: English
Author:
ISBN: 9781681370231
Publisher: New York Review Books
Publication: December 6, 2016
Imprint: NYRB Classics
Language: English

When The Sound of the One Hand came out in Japan in 1916 it caused a scandal. Zen was a secretive practice, its wisdom relayed from master to novice in strictest privacy. That a handbook existed recording not only the riddling koans that are central to Zen teaching but also detailing the answers to them seemed to mark Zen as rote, not revelatory.

For all that, The Sound of the One Hand opens the door to Zen like no other book. Including koans that go back to the master who first brought the koan teaching method from China to Japan in the eighteenth century, this book offers, in the words of the translator, editor, and Zen initiate Yoel Hoffmann, “the clearest, most detailed, and most correct picture of Zen” that can be found. What we have here is an extraordinary introduction to Zen thought as lived thought, a treasury of problems, paradoxes, and performance that will appeal to artists, writers, and philosophers as well as Buddhists and students of religion.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

When The Sound of the One Hand came out in Japan in 1916 it caused a scandal. Zen was a secretive practice, its wisdom relayed from master to novice in strictest privacy. That a handbook existed recording not only the riddling koans that are central to Zen teaching but also detailing the answers to them seemed to mark Zen as rote, not revelatory.

For all that, The Sound of the One Hand opens the door to Zen like no other book. Including koans that go back to the master who first brought the koan teaching method from China to Japan in the eighteenth century, this book offers, in the words of the translator, editor, and Zen initiate Yoel Hoffmann, “the clearest, most detailed, and most correct picture of Zen” that can be found. What we have here is an extraordinary introduction to Zen thought as lived thought, a treasury of problems, paradoxes, and performance that will appeal to artists, writers, and philosophers as well as Buddhists and students of religion.

More books from New York Review Books

Cover of the book The New York Stories of Elizabeth Hardwick by
Cover of the book Skylark by
Cover of the book Stalingrad by
Cover of the book One Fat Englishman by
Cover of the book The Burning of the World by
Cover of the book Blood on the Forge by
Cover of the book The Juniper Tree by
Cover of the book The Root and the Flower by
Cover of the book A Little Primer of Tu Fu by
Cover of the book The Wedding of Zein by
Cover of the book The Pushcart War by
Cover of the book Compulsory Games by
Cover of the book Part of Our Time by
Cover of the book Uncle by
Cover of the book The Marzipan Pig by
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy