Way of Zen

by WATTS, ALAN W.

• ISBN13: 9780679723011
• ISBN10: 0679723013
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 1989-08-01
• Publisher: Vintage

Summary

The Way of Zen begins as a succinct guide through the histories of Buddhism and Taoism leading up to the development of Zen Buddhism, which drew deeply from both traditions. It then goes on to paint a broad but insightful picture of Zen as it was and is practiced, both as a religion and as an element of diverse East Asian arts and disciplines. Watts's narrative clears away the mystery while enhancing the mystique of Zen. Since the first publication of this book in 1957, Zen Buddhism has become firmly established in the West. As Zen has taken root in Western soil, it has incorporated much of the attitude and approach set forth by Watts in The Way of Zen, which remains one of the most important introductory books in Western Zen. "No one has given us such a concise . . . introduction to the whole history of this Far Eastern development of Buddhist thought as Alan Watts, in the present, highly readable work." --Joseph Campbell

Table of Contents

Preface	vii
The Pronunciation of Chinese Words	xv
Part One: BACKGROUND AND HISTORY
The Philosophy of the Tao	3	(26)
The Origins of Buddhism	29	(28)
Mahayana Buddhism	57	(20)
The Rise and Development of Zen	77	(38)
Part Two: PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE
``Empty and Marvelous''	115	(19)
``Sitting Quietly, Doing Nothing''	134	(20)
Za-zen and the Koan	154	(20)
Zen in the Arts	174	(29)
Bibliography	203	(8)
Chinese Notes	211	(16)
Index	227
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS
Bodhidharma. By Hakuin Zenji (1683--1768).
Two views of the rock and sand garden at Ryoanji, Kyoto.
Bodhidharma and Hui-k'e. By Sesshu (1420--1506).
Haboku Landscape. By Sesshu (1420--1506).
between pages 190 and 191