Hakuin

Hakuin Ekaku (1686–1768) is a towering figure in Japanese Zen. He was widely respected during his lifetime for his extraordinary courage and determination as he strove tirelessly to revive a Zen tradition in crisis, he is today considered one of the most influential figures in the history of Japanese Zen, most especially the Rinzai Zen school.

Norman Waddell

NORMAN WADDELL, born in Washington, D.C. in 1940, was attracted to Japan by the works of the legendary D. T. Suzuki and his protégée R. H. Blyth. He taught at Otani University for over thirty years, and was editor of the Eastern Buddhist Journal for several decades. He has published more than a dozen books on Japanese Zen Buddhism and is considered one of the finest translators of sacred texts of our time. He is the authoritative English translator of works by and about Hakuin.

"From Norman Waddell, the tireless translator of Hakuin, a new book: Beating the Cloth Drum. Containing letters, some of them only recently discovered, written by Hakuin to his disciples, both monks and lay believers, it covers topics ranging from the nature of enlightenment to the cost of getting a book printed in eighteenth-century Japan. A must-read for anyone interested in the life and teachings of this Master of Zen!" —Burton Watson, translator of The Columbia Book of Chinese Poetry

"Norman Waddell is far and away the finest translator of Hakuin’s writings, bringing to life many facets of the great Zen Master’s work. Amazingly, this is the first book in any language to gather together his letters. Supported here by thorough and helpful commentaries, they fully demonstrate the generosity of Hakuin’s spirit, the breadth of his knowledge, and the compassionate rigor of his teachings." —Stephen Addiss, author of 77 Dances and The Art of Zen

"Exuberant collection. . . . Writing so vivid it takes the breath away. [Zen Master Hakuin’s letters] throw open windows onto his personality: his penchant for playful hyperbole and subterfuge, his humor, his aspirations for his students, and his relentless pursuit of a Dharma heir. With Waddell’s illuminating commentary, they fan a Zen breeze, bringing the spectrum of Hakuin’s life and the intensity of his dedication before us." —Mountain Record: The Zen Practitioner’s Journal

"Hakuin’s letters . . . give modern readers a glimpse into the compassionate activity exhibited by this formidable Zen master." —Buddhadharma: The Practitioner’s Quarterly