Hakuin on Kensho The Four Ways of Knowing

by Low, Albert; Hakuin

• ISBN13: 9781590303771
• ISBN10: 1590303776
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-09-12
• Publisher: Shambhala

Summary

Kensho is the Zen experience of waking up to one's own true natureof understanding oneself to be not different from the Buddha-nature that pervades all existence. The Japanese Zen Master Hakuin (16891769) considered the experience to be essential. In his autobiography he says: "Anyone who would call himself a member of the Zen family must first achieve kensho-realization of the Buddha's way. If a person who has not achieved kensho says he is a follower of Zen, he is an outrageous fraud. A swindler pure and simple." Hakuin's short text on kensho, "Four Ways of Knowing of an Awakened Person," is a little-known Zen classic. The "four ways" he describes include the way of knowing of the Great Perfect Mirror, the way of knowing equality, the way of knowing by differentiation, and the way of the perfection of action. Rather than simply being methods for "checking" for enlightenment in oneself, these ways ultimately exemplify Zen practice. Albert Low has provided careful, line-by-line commentary for the text that illuminates its profound wisdom and makes it an inspiration for deeper spiritual practice.

Author Biography

Albert Low holds degrees in philosophy and psychology, and was for many years a management consultant, lecturing widely on organizational dynamics. He studied Zen under Roshi Philip Kapleau, author of The Three Pillars of Zen, receiving transmission as a teacher in 1986. He is currently director and guiding teacher of the Montreal Zen Centre. He is the author of several books, including Zen and Creative Management and The Iron Cow of Zen.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(16)
Hakuin and the Importance of Awakening	1	(2)
On Koan Study	3	(1)
Hakuin's Practice	4	(2)
Hakuin's Awakenings	6	(2)
Hakuin and Zen Master Shoju	8	(3)
Hakuin's Writings	11	(1)
On the Diversity of the Spiritual Life	12	(5)
Introduction to the Text	17	(12)
Knowing, Knowledge, and Wisdom	17	(2)
Knowing and the Practice of Zen	19	(2)
The Jug and the Clay	21	(1)
The Origin of the Idea of Four Ways of Knowing	22	(2)
The Four Ways of Knowing as Four Ways of Asking, "Who Am I?"	24	(1)
Lay Practice	25	(3)
Note on the Layout of This Book	28	(1)
The Four Ways of Knowing of an Enlightened Person: Hakuin's Text	29	(12)
The Way of Knowing of the Great Perfect Mirror	29	(1)
The Way of Knowing Equality	30	(1)
The Way of Knowing by Differentiation	30	(1)
The Way of Perfection of Action	30	(1)
Great Faith, Great Doubt	31	(1)
The Gate of Inspiration	32	(1)
The Gate of Practice	33	(2)
The Gate of Awakening	35	(2)
The Gate of Nirvana	37	(4)
Commentary on The Four Ways of Knowing of an Enlightened Person	41	(80)
Are the Three Bodies Inherent?	41	(8)
Great Perfect Mirror Knowing	49	(9)
Knowing Equality	58	(4)
Knowing by Differentiation	62	(1)
The Way of Perfection of Action	63	(2)
The Importance of Continuing Practice after Awakening	65	(16)
The Gate of Inspiration	81	(10)
The Gate of Practice	91	(12)
The Gate of Awakening	103	(11)
The Gate of Nirvana	114	(7)
Notes	121	(4)
Index	125