The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind: The Significance of the Sutra of Hui-neng (Wei-lang)

D.T. Suzuki is arguably the most prolific popularizer of Zen in West from the early to mid twentieth century and The Zen Doctrine of No-Mind is among his best. Though criticized for his lack of experience in practice and his very Western education, I'd argue that this puts him in a strong position to provide scholarship to a Western audience unfamiliar with the often difficult and cryptic teachings of Zen Buddhism. In this work, Suzuki analyzes Hui-Neng's Platform Sutra, an early, pivotal Chan/Zan text that formalized the shift in thought and practice, away from practices and thinking promoting a gradualist view of awakening to those promoting sudden awakening. The dichotomy between these two paths would go on to characterize much of show more Zen thinking and practice up through the present day. show less

Zen Doctrine of No Mind: Of all the modern works on Zen, this book is unique. Through careful pacing, D.T. Suzuki generates the state of No Mind in the reader. To read this book is to not only understand it, but to directly contact the Zen Mind. This is not a hip or facile text, but one that stands on its own next to the great Sutras of earlier ages. Read as meditation, and meditating as one reads, this book is a mighty sword. Read for information alone, it will perhaps arouse the desire to meditate and attend to the art of mindfulfness

Dedicated largely to the teaching of Hui Neng, this volume covers the purpose and technique of Zen training, and goes further into the depths of Zen than any other work of modern times. Here we find no reliance on scripture or a Savior, for the student is shown how to go beyond thought in order to achieve a state of consciousness beyond duality.

'No Mind' doctrine is deep and dense.

One of the most famous Zen masters was Hui-neng (638-713) and this work is largely concerned with his teaching. However, this volume delves into the whole purpose and technique of Zen training, and in the view of many, goes further into the depths of Zen than any other work of modern times.

Within the realm of Zen Buddhism, we find no reliance on scripture or a savior, for the student is shown how to go beyond thought in order to achieve, a state of consciousness beyond duality. Clearly written, this book shows the wisdom and experience of the author, while elucidating the fundamentals of Zen.

Knowledge of Zen buddhism in the West is largely due to the work of the late D.T. Suzuki. He attained his Zen enlightenment in Japan at 27, taught show more and wrote for 65 years, and was a frequent visitor in the United States and Europe. Honored throughout the world for his rare combination of profound scholarship and personal enlightenment, Dr. suzuki will long be remembered as one of the outstanding minds in spiritual attainment of the 20th century.

Edited by Christmas Humphreys. show less

9.78088E 12

> L’esprit originel,
In: Revue 3e millénaire, n°37, Automne 1995 (p. 31)