Sign-In
Cart
Opening a Mountain: Koans of the Zen Masters
Paperback
Religion General BuddhismGeneral Eastern Religions
Please select the version of book you would like to purchase.
ISBN10: 0195174348
ISBN13: 9780195174342
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: Feb 26 2004
Pages: 200
Weight: 0.69
Height: 0.64 Width: 5.82 Depth: 8.92
Language: English
ISBN13: 9780195174342
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: Feb 26 2004
Pages: 200
Weight: 0.69
Height: 0.64 Width: 5.82 Depth: 8.92
Language: English
With the growing popularity of Zen Buddhism in the West, virtually everyone knows, or thinks they know, what a koan is: a brief and baffling question or statement that cannot be solved by the logical mind and which, after sustained concentration, can lead to sudden enlightenment. But the truth about koans is both simpler--and more complicated--than this.
In Opening a Mountain, Steven Heine shows that koans, and the questions we associate with them--such as What is the sound of one hand clapping?--are embedded in larger narratives and belong to an ancient Buddhist tradition of encounter dialogues. These dialogues feature dramatic and often inscrutable contests between masters and disciples, or between masters and an array of natural and supernatural forces: rouge priests, wild foxes, hermits, wizards, shapeshifters, magical animals, and dangerous women. To establish a new monastery, to open a mountain, the Zen master had to tame these wild forces in regions most remote from civilization. In these extraordinary encounters, fingers and arms are cut off, pitchers are kicked over, masters appear in and interpret each other's dreams, and seemingly absurd statements are shown to reveal the deepest insights. Heine restores these koans to their original traditions, allowing readers to see both the complex elements of Chinese culture and religion that they reflect and the role they played in Zen's transformation of local superstitions into its own teachings.
Offering a fresh approach to one of the most crucial elements of Zen Buddhism, Opening a Mountain is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the full story behind koans and the mysterious worlds they come from.
Offering a fresh approach to one of the most crucial elements of Zen Buddhism, Opening a Mountain is essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the full story behind koans and the mysterious worlds they come from.
Also in
Buddhism
The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World
O'Brien, Barbara
Paperback
From $14.99
Soul of the Samurai: Modern Translations of Three Classic Works of Zen & Bushido
Cleary, Thomas
Hardcover
$9.99
Enlightenment Is an Accident: Ancient Wisdom and Simple Practices to Make You Accident Prone
Burkett, Tim
Paperback
$17.96
Healing Emotions: Conversations with the Dalai Lama on Psychology, Meditation, and the Mind-Body Connection
Salzberg, Sharon
H. H. the Fourteenth Dalai Lama
Paperback
$18.95
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of Rain
Brach, Tara
Hardcover
$10.99
Two Buddhas Seated Side by Side: A Guide to the Lotus Sūtra
Stone, Jacqueline I.
Lopez, Donald S., Jr.
Hardcover
$44.93
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance [50th Anniversary Edition]: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
$19.79
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching: Transforming Suffering Into Peace, Joy, and Liberation
Hanh, Thich Nhat
Paperback
$18.90
Zen and Ghibli: Life Lessons for Lasting Happiness from the Legendary Studio
Suzuki, Toshio
Hardcover
$26.10
Who We Are Becoming Matters: The Courage, Wisdom, and Aloha We Need in a Timeplace of Collapse
Wong, Norma Kaweloku
Paperback
$17.96
Engaged Compassion: Seven Practices to Cultivate Resilience, Connection, and a Joyous Life
Negi, Lobsang Tenzin
Hardcover
$26.60
Sit Write Here: 6 Mindfulness Practices to Help You Write More and Suffer Less
Dávila, April
Paperback
$18.05
Why Buddhism Is True: The Science and Philosophy of Meditation and Enlightenment
Wright, Robert
Paperback
From $11.99
Comfortable with Uncertainty: 108 Teachings on Cultivating Fearlessness and Compassion
Chodron, Pema
Paperback
$17.05
What the Buddha Taught: Revised and Expanded Edition with Texts from Suttas and Dhammapada
Rahula, Walpola
Paperback
From $10.99
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen
Suzuki, Shunryu
Brown, Edward Espe
San Francisco, Zen Center
Paperback
$18.99
Dreams of a White Snow Lion: The Remarkable Life, Vision, and Deeds of the Dalai Lama
Bianca, Mariateresa
Dhargye, Sherab
Hardcover
$37.95
Dokkodo. The Way of Walking Alone: Discover self-discipline and personal mastery through the ancestral wisdom of the samurai.
Musashi, Miyamoto
Ediciones, Shinden
Paperback
$11.99
The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing
Kondo, Marie
Hardcover
From $9.99
365 Days of Zen: A Daily One-Page Guide to Zen Buddhism for Clarity, Calm, and Deep Stillness
Lee, Dae
Mode, Airplane
Paperback
$29.99
Seeing That Frees: Meditations on Emptiness and Dependent Arising: 10th Anniversary Edition
Burbea, Rob
Paperback
$27.49
Practicing Mindfulness: 75 Essential Meditations to Reduce Stress, Improve Mental Health, and Find Peace in the Everyday
Sockolov, Matthew
Paperback
From $11.99
The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us about Living Fully
Ostaseski, Frank
Paperback
$17.09
The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller: 30th Anniversary Edition
Rinpoche, Sogyal
Paperback
$20.90
Fierce Self-Compassion: How to Harness Kindness to Speak Up, Claim Your Power, and Thrive
Neff, Kristin
Paperback
$18.99
The Mind Illuminated: A Complete Meditation Guide Integrating Buddhist Wisdom and Brain Science for Greater Mindfulness
Graves, Jeremy
Yates, John
Immergut, Matthew
Paperback
$27.54
Near Enemies of the Truth: Avoid the Pitfalls of a Spiritual Life and Become Radically Free
Wallis, Christopher
Hardcover
$24.70
It's Okay Not to Look for the Meaning of Life: A Zen Monk's Guide to Living Stress-Free One Day at a Time
Minami, Jikisai
Hardcover
$14.24
El Milagro de Mindfulness: Una Introducción a la Práctica de la Meditación / The Miracle of Mindfulness
Nhat, Thich
Paperback
$12.30
Total Eclipse of the Mind: Unleashing the Power of Darkness for Creativity, Healing, and Transformation
Holecek, Andrew
Hardcover
$28.50
How to Let Things Go: 99 Tips from a Zen Buddhist Monk to Relinquish Control and Free Yourself Up for What Matters
Masuno, Shunmyo
Hardcover
$24.70
The Daily Buddhist: 366 Days of Wisdom for Happiness, Inner Freedom, and Mindful Living
Barca, Brendan
Sherpa, Pema
Hardcover
$26.60
Shodo: The Quiet Art of Japanese Zen Calligraphy, Learn the Wisdom of Zen Through Traditional Brush Painting
Sato, Shozo
Hardcover
$33.20
The Truth about Forgiveness: A Biblical and Theological Study of How to Follow Christ's Example
MacArthur, John F.
Paperback
$12.34
The Things You Can See Only When You Slow Down: How to Be Calm in a Busy World
Sunim, Haemin
Hardcover
From $10.99
Radical Compassion: Learning to Love Yourself and Your World with the Practice of Rain
Brach, Tara
Paperback
$19.95
The Zen Guide to Opening Your Heart: Practical Advice from a Zen Buddhist Monk
Taigu, Gensho
Hardcover
$15.19
Change Your Mind, Change Your Life: The Transformative Power of Lojong Practice
Palmo, Jetsunma Tenzin
Paperback
$18.95
You Are Good, You Are Enough: Free Yourself from the Trap of Doubt and Return to Basic Goodness
Rinzler, Lodro
Paperback
$18.95
Opening the Hand of Thought: Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice
Warner, Jisho
Uchiyama, Kosho
Paperback
$18.95
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance American Classics Edition: An Inquiry Into Values
Pirsig, Robert M.
Paperback
$20.90
No Mud, No Lotus: Hardcover Gift Edition: The Art of Transforming Suffering
Hanh, Thich Nhat
Hardcover
$17.06
In Love with the World: A Monk's Journey Through the Bardos of Living and Dying
Mingyur Rinpoche, Yongey
Tworkov, Helen
Paperback
$18.05
Jewel in the Lotus/The Tantric Path to Higher Consciousness
Avinasha, Bodhi
Saraswati, Sunyata
Paperback
$18.00
The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Zen Buddhist Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy
Masuno, Shunmyo
Hardcover
$19.95
Tracing the Untraceable Buddha: The Vipassana Meditator's Journey to Enlightenment
Damborg, Uffe
Paperback
$23.70
We Were Made for These Times: Ten Lessons for Moving Through Change, Loss, and Disruption
Lingo, Kaira Jewel
Paperback
$14.20
No-Nonsense Buddhism for Beginners: Clear Answers to Burning Questions about Core Buddhist Teachings
Rasheta, Noah
Paperback
$14.24
A Year of Zen Mindfulness: Daily Practices and Meditations to Find Focus and Peace
Kakuyo, Alex
Paperback
$18.04
Dzogchen Practitioner's Daily Manual: With Complementary Practices
Rinpoche, Kyabje Tulku Urgyen
Paperback
$28.45
Aging as a Spiritual Practice: A Contemplative Guide to Growing Older and Wiser
Richmond, Lewis
Paperback
$16.15