{"title":"Korean Buddhism","description":"\u003cp\u003eKorean Buddhism blends Seon (Zen) meditation with scriptural study in a distinctive synthesis shaped by masters like Chinul. These books explore its history, teachings, and living practice, introducing readers to a tradition rich in koan work, community, and a spirit of harmonizing diverse Buddhist paths.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"kensho-the-heart-of-zen","title":"Kensho: The Heart of Zen","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eKensho\u003c\/i\u003e is the transformative glimpse of the true nature of all things. It is an experience so crucial in Zen practice that it is sometimes compared to finding an inexhaustible treasure because it reveals the potential that exists in each moment for pure awareness free from the projections of the ego. Among the traditional Zen works are a number of important texts focusing on the profound subtleties of this essential Zen awakening and the methods used in its realization. The selections here are taken from:  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cul\u003e \u003cli\u003e\t\u003ci\u003eStraightforward Explanation of the True Mind,  \u003c\/i\u003eby Korean Zen teacher Chinul (1158-1210), which provides the contextual balance needed to understand kensho by relating it to the broader teachings of the Buddhist scriptures and treatises. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\tSeveral works by Japanese Zen master Hakuin (1786-1769), whose teachings emphasize the techniques used in the cultivation and application of kensho and the importance of going beyond the experience itself to apply Zen insight to the full range of human endeavors. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\t\u003ci\u003eThe Book of Ease, \u003c\/i\u003e a Chinese koan collection from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, with commentary showing the practical dimension of classical koan practice. \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cli\u003e\u003cli\u003eThe translator provides extensive introductory notes and detailed commentary on each of the selections to help the reader understand the inner meaning of this essential experience of Zen.\u003c\/li\u003e","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685875728473,"sku":"9781570622694","price":19.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47685875761241,"sku":"9780834828735","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781570622694.jpg?v=1787678942"},{"product_id":"compass-of-zen","title":"The Compass of Zen","description":"\u003ci\u003eThe Compass of Zen \u003c\/i\u003e is a simple, exhaustive—and often hilarious—presentation of the essence of Zen by a modern Zen Master of considerable renown. In his many years of teaching throughout the world, the Korean-born Zen Master Seung Sahn has become known for his ability to cut to the heart of Buddhist teaching in a way that is strikingly clear, yet free of esoteric and academic language. In this book, based largely on his talks, he presents the basic teachings of Buddhism and Zen in a way that is wonderfully accessible for beginners—yet so rich with stories, insights, and personal experiences that long-time meditation students will also find it a source of inspiration and a resource for study.","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685880774745,"sku":"9781570623295","price":39.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47685880807513,"sku":"9780834823716","price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781570623295.jpg?v=1787678678"},{"product_id":"only-dont-know-selected-teaching-letters-of-zen-master-seung-sahn-1","title":"Only Don't Know: Selected Teaching Letters of Zen Master Seung Sahn","description":"\u003cp\u003eIn this illuminating collection, Zen Master Seung Sahn offers insight into the nature of Zen practice and the human experience through a rich tapestry of correspondence with his students. \u003ci\u003eOnly Don’t Know\u003c\/i\u003e uniquely presents both the students’ letters and the Zen master’s replies, allowing readers to witness the dynamic interplay between inquiry and wisdom. The Zen master’s teachings, likened to the precise placement of acupuncture needles, provide clarity, compassion, and a deeper understanding of one’s true nature, transcending the constraints of ego and thought.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eReaders will find invaluable guidance on navigating life’s complexities with a clear mind and open heart. Through the exploration of questions about existence, identity, and purpose, the book emphasizes the importance of direct experience and self-belief. It invites individuals to embrace the interconnectedness of all beings, fostering a mindset of love and action for the benefit of others. Zen Master Seung Sahn’s responses, filled with timeless wisdom, encourage readers to let go of attachments and engage with the present moment, ultimately leading to personal growth and the ability to help others. This book is a testament to the transformative power of Zen teachings and is an essential read for anyone seeking to navigate the challenges of life with greater awareness and equanimity. By engaging with the letters and teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn, readers are invited to reflect on their own journeys, fostering a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685889654873,"sku":"9781570624322","price":29.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781570624322.jpg?v=1787678945"},{"product_id":"buddha-from-korea-the-zen-teachings-of-taego","title":"A Buddha from Korea: The Zen Teachings of T'aego","description":"\u003ci\u003eA Buddha from Korea \u003c\/i\u003e is intended to open a window on Zen Buddhism in old Korea. The book centers on a translation of teachings of the great fourteenth-century Korean Zen adept known as T'aego, who was the leading representative of Zen in his own time and place. This is an account of Zen Buddhism direct from an authentic source.","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685912854617,"sku":"9781570626678","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781570626678.jpg?v=1787678679"},{"product_id":"dont-know-mind-the-spirit-of-korean-zen","title":"Don't-Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen","description":"\"Don't-know mind\" is our enlightened mind before ideas, opinions, or concepts arise to create suffering. Practicing with don't-know mind has long been a central concern of Korean Zen. Here, an American Zen master in the Korean lineage brings the teaching to life by using stories about the Chinese and Korean Zen masters as jumping-off points for his own teaching.  \u003ci\u003eDon't-Know Mind \u003c\/i\u003e is a clear, direct, and heartfelt presentation of Zen teaching applicable to anyone, both for formal practice and for all the rest of life.","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685946245209,"sku":"9781590301104","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47685946277977,"sku":"9780834826120","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781590301104.jpg?v=1787678682"},{"product_id":"wanting-enlightenment-is-a-big-mistake-teachings-of-zen-master-seung-sahn","title":"Wanting Enlightenment Is a Big Mistake: Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn","description":"A major figure in the transmission of Zen to the West, Zen Master Seung Sahn was known for his powerful teaching style, which was direct, surprising, and often humorous. He taught that Zen is not about achieving a goal, but about acting spontaneously from “don’t-know mind.” It is from this “before-thinking” nature, he taught, that true compassion and the desire to serve others naturally arises. This collection of teaching stories, talks, and spontaneous dialogues with students offers readers a fresh and immediate encounter with one of the great Zen masters of the twentieth century.","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685967609945,"sku":"9781590303405","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47685967642713,"sku":"9780834825628","price":16.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781590303405.jpg?v=1787679125"},{"product_id":"mirror-of-zen-the-classic-guide-to-buddhist-practice-by-zen-master-so-sahn","title":"The Mirror of Zen: The Classic Guide to Buddhist Practice by Zen Master So Sahn","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe sacred radiance of our original nature never darkens.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eIt has shined forth since beginningless time.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eDo you wish to enter the gate that leads to this?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSimply do not give rise to conceptual thinking.\u003c\/i\u003e  \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eZen Master So Sahn (1520–1604) is a towering figure in the history of Korean Zen. In this treasure-text, he presents in simple yet beautiful language the core principles and teachings of Zen. Each section opens with a quotation—drawn from classical scriptures, teachings, and anecdotes—followed by the author’s commentary and verse. Originally written in Chinese, the text was translated into Korean in the mid-twentieth century by the celebrated Korean monk Boep Joeng. An American Zen monk, Hyon Gak, has translated it into English.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685972033625,"sku":"9781590303849","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47685972066393,"sku":"9780834826410","price":14.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781590303849.jpg?v=1787678957"},{"product_id":"ten-gates-the-kong-an-teaching-of-zen-master-seung-sahn","title":"Ten Gates: The Kong-an Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn","description":"\u003cp\u003eZen is famous for koans (called \u003ci\u003ekong-ans\u003c\/i\u003e in Korean, and in this book), those bizarre and seemingly unanswerable questions Zen masters pose to their students to check their realization (such as “What is the sound of one hand clapping?”). Fear of koans keeps some people from ever giving Zen practice a try. But here, through the experience of seeing a modern Zen master work with his students, you can see what koan training is really like: It’s a skillful, lively practice for attaining wisdom.   \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book presents the system of ten koans that Zen Master Seung Sahn came to call the “Ten Gates.” These koans represent the basic types one will encounter in any course of study. Each of the ten gates, or koans, is illuminated by actual interchanges between Zen Master Seung Sahn and his students that show what the practice is all about: it is above all a process of coming to trust one’s own wisdom, and of manifesting that wisdom in every koan-like situation life presents us with.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47685977997401,"sku":"9781590304174","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47685978030169,"sku":"9780834826854","price":15.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781590304174.jpg?v=1787679059"},{"product_id":"minding-mind-a-course-in-basic-meditation","title":"Minding Mind: A Course in Basic Meditation","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eMinding Mind\u003c\/i\u003e is an extraordinary compendium of instruction manuals dealing primarily with ways of attaining the mode of experience characteristic of the highest form of meditation in the Zen tradition—pure, clear meditation arriving at being-as-is. The seven meditation manuals included here are some of the greatest treasures of the Zen tradition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Treatise on the Supreme Vehicle \u003c\/i\u003eis attributed to Hongren (602–675), who is known as the Fifth Patriarch of Chan Buddhism in China. The method taught in this manual is basic and quintessential in theory and practice, setting the stage for the texts that follow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eModels for Sitting Meditation\u003c\/i\u003e was composed by Chan Buddhist Master Cijiao of Changlu in late eleventh-century China. Little is known of Cijiao, except that he was not only a master of the powerful Linji school of Chan Buddhism but also a patriarch of popular Pure Land Buddhism. The combination of Chan and Pure Land Buddhism, especially in the domain of concentration technique, is commonly found in the records of early meditation schools of China, Korea, Japan, Tibet, and Vietnam.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGuidelines for Sitting Meditation\u003c\/i\u003e was written by Foxin Bencai, a younger contemporary of Cijiao. The instructions of Foxin and Cijiao, both quite brief, address problems of deterioration in the quality of meditation practices and prescribe simple remedies to counteract confusion and misalignment in order to foster the proper state of mind.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eOne of the main concerns of Dogen’s teaching activity was to alert people to the shortcomings and dangers of incomplete Zen meditation and partial Zen experience. In \u003ci\u003eA Generally Recommended Mode of Sitting Meditation\u003c\/i\u003e, one of Dogen’s first written works, reflects this concern and outlines an approach to its resolution.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eSecrets of Cultivating the Mind\u003c\/i\u003e was composed by Chinul (1158–1210), founder of the Chogye order of Korean Buddhism. Ordained as a monk at the age of eight, Chinul had no teacher. His first awakening occurred as he read a Chan Buddhist classic when he was twenty-five years old. After that, Chinul went into seclusion in the mountains. Later he perused the whole Buddhist canon and went back into solitude in a mountain fastness. During this period, Chinul experienced another awakening while reading the letters of one of the great Chinese masters. Based on classical teachings, Chinul’s \u003ci\u003eSecrets of Cultivating the Mind\u003c\/i\u003e is a highly accessible primer of basic Buddhist meditation, defining and contrasting the principles and methods of sudden and gradual enlightenment.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAn Elementary Talk on Zen\u003c\/i\u003e is attributed to Man-an, an old adept of a Soto school of Zen\u003cbr\u003ewho is believed to have lived in the early seventeenth century. Man-an’s work is very accessible and extremely interesting for the range of its content. In particular, it reflects a modern trend toward emphasis on meditation in action, which can be seen in China particularly from the eleventh century, in Korea from the twelfth century, and in Japan from the fourteenth century.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAlso included in this collection is \u003ci\u003eAbsorption in the Treasury of Light\u003c\/i\u003e, written by Dogen’s main student, Ejo (1198–1282). Born into an ancient noble family, Ejo became a Buddhist monk at the age of eighteen. Reflecting Ejo’s background in the esoteric branch of Tendai Buddhism as well as his classical Zen studies, this work shows how to focus on the so-called Dharmakaya, or Reality Body teaching of Buddhism, underlying a wide variety of symbolic expressions. This type of meditation, using scriptural extracts, poetry, and Zen koans (teaching stories) to register a specific level of consciousness, is called \u003ci\u003esanzen\u003c\/i\u003e. There is a great deal of Zen literature deriving from centuries of sanzen, among which Ejo’s \u003ci\u003eAbsorption in the Treasury of Light\u003c\/i\u003e represents a very unusual blend of complexity and simplicity, depth and accessibility.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Shambhala","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47686003621977,"sku":"9781590306857","price":21.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Ebook","offer_id":47686003654745,"sku":"9780834824867","price":17.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0742\/6981\/8969\/files\/9781590306857.jpg?v=1787678953"},{"product_id":"way-of-korean-zen","title":"The Way of Korean Zen","description":"The power and simplicity of the Korean Zen tradition shine in this collection of teachings by a renowned modern master, translated by Martine Batchelor. 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Drawing on over thirty years of practice and teaching, Richard Shrobe (himself a recognized Zen Master) has selected twenty-two cases from \u003ci\u003eThe Blue Cliff Record, Book of Serenity,\u003c\/i\u003e and \u003ci\u003eWu-men-kuan\u003c\/i\u003e that he has found to be deeply meaningful and helpful for meditation practice. In \u003ci\u003eElegant Failure,\u003c\/i\u003e he provides a wealth of background information and personal anecdotes for each koan that help to illuminate its meaning without detracting from its paradoxical nature. As Shrobe reminds us, “The main core of Zen teaching is the bare bones of what is there. 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