The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) - Hardcover

Aitken, Robert

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0865474419 ISBN 13: 9780865474413

Publisher: NORTH POINT PR, 1990

Synopsis

The Gateless Barrier is generally acknowledged to be the fundamental koan collection in the literature of Zen. Gathered together by Wu-men (Mumon), a thirteenth-century master of the Lin-chi (Rinzai) school, it is composed of forty-eight koans, or cases, each accompanied by a brief comment and poem by Wu-men.

Robert Aitken, one of the premier American Zen masters, has translated Wu-men's text, supplementing the original with his own commentary -- the first such commentary by a Western master -- making the profound truths of Zen Buddhism accessible to serious contemporary students and relevant to current social concerns.

About this title

Review:

"Aitken Roshi poses these koans in a manner accessible to Westerners through his depiction of his personal struggles with them (as a student) and his approach to them as a teacher. His commentary allows the transformative power of this traditional koan collection to come alive for modern students."--Joko Beck, author of "Everyday Zen"

"[Aiken] has cultivated the moon of Zen for over half a century. I trust the rich and juicy harvest . "The Gateless Barrier" will be the door to open the Treasure House which has neither inside nor outside."--Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi, Abbot, Zen Center of Los Angeles

Aitken Roshi poses these koans in a manner accessible to Westerners through his depiction of his personal struggles with them (as a student) and his approach to them as a teacher. His commentary allows the transformative power of this traditional koan collection to come alive for modern students. "Joko Beck, author of Everyday Zen"

[Aiken] has cultivated the moon of Zen for over half a century. I trust the rich and juicy harvest . "The Gateless Barrier" will be the door to open the Treasure House which has neither inside nor outside. "Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi, Abbot, Zen Center of Los Angeles""

"Aitken Roshi poses these koans in a manner accessible to Westerners through his depiction of his personal struggles with them (as a student) and his approach to them as a teacher. His commentary allows the transformative power of this traditional koan collection to come alive for modern students." --Joko Beck, author of Everyday Zen

"[Aiken] has cultivated the moon of Zen for over half a century. I trust the rich and juicy harvest . The Gateless Barrier will be the door to open the Treasure House which has neither inside nor outside." --Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi, Abbot, Zen Center of Los Angeles

From the Back Cover:

The 'Gateless Barrier' is generally acknowledged to be the fundamental koan collection in the literature of Zen. Gathered together by Wu-men (Mumon), a thirteenth-century master of the Lin-chi (Rinzai) school, it is composed of forty-eight koans, or cases, each accompanied by a brief comment and poem by Wu-men.

About this edition

• Publisher: NORTH POINT PR
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0865474419
• ISBN 13: 9780865474413
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 332