In early medieval China hundreds of Buddhist miracle texts were circulated; inaugurating a trend that would continue for centuries. Each tale recounted extraordinary events involving Chinese persons and places―events seen as verifying claims made in Buddhist scriptures; demonstrating the reality of karmic retribution; or confirming the efficacy of Buddhist devotional practices. Robert Ford Campany; one of North America’s preeminent scholars of Chinese religion; presents in this volume the first complete; annotated translation; with in-depth commentary; of the largest extant collection of miracle tales from the early medieval period; Wang Yan’s Records of Signs from the Unseen Realm; compiled around 490 C.E.In addition to the translation; Campany provides a substantial study of the text and its author in their historical and religious settings. He shows how these lively tales helped integrate Buddhism into Chinese society at the same time that they served as platforms for religious contestation and persuasion. Campany offers a nuanced; clear methodological discussion of how such narratives; being products of social memory; may be read as valuable evidence for the history of religion and culture.Readers interested in Buddhism; historians of Chinese religions; culture; society; and literature; scholars of comparative religion: All will find Signs from the Unseen Realm a stimulating and rich contribution to scholarship.
#3747421 in Books University of Hawaii Press 2002-06-01Original language:JapanesePDF # 1 .65 x 5.52 x 8.92l; .85 #File Name: 0824823834204 pages
Review
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful. Taking away the self to find the selfBy John C. Marshell Jr.I first encounterd Hisamatsu's name while reading The Other Side of the Mountain: The End of the Journey (Journal of Thomas Merton); volume seven in Thomas Merton's journal collection. It is a brief but positive reference in his May 30; 1968 entry written shortly before his trip to Asia. With a growing interest in the Kyoto school; and an approving appraisal by one of the great spiritual writers of the twentieth century; I began looking for material to read by Hisamatsu. This book of sermons; or to use Hisamatsu's term "teiko;" meaning "bringing out guiding principles;" was available through University of Hawaii Press; and I quickly purchased it. Happy I did.This collection is taken from retreats given in the early 1960's. There is a detailed chronology in the Forward written by Kitahara Tyutaro. I am inclined to believe Merton was reading them; or perhaps similar material written by Hisamatsu at that time. Merton's references to "standing on our own two feet" made late in his life and spiritual quest may have found some of their inspiration from Hisamatsu and the Zen tradition. Merton's probing of the "true self" and interest in spontaneity echo the teiko printed here.These teiko are largely concerned with the writings of Linji. Hisamatsu explains his Zen principles based on Linji's work and life story. You will find comments on the true self; or Orignal Face; the formless self; One True Person without Rank; the One Great Matter; the experience of "body and mind dropping off;" the Great Doubt; and genuine Awakening. I found the writing very readable and understandable. There are 104 endnotes to assist the reader with technical terms and additional information.Hisamatsu is always concerned with avoiding meditation that is superficial and prone to a delusion of Awakening that is not the Great Awakening. There is a strong element of double negation in his writing (the mystery within mystery; to borrow language from a friendly Taoist quarter) that makes his teiko energetic and challenging; inspiring the reader to dig deeper into his nature and not find refuge in the psychological. Hisamatsu's true self is rigorously formless. Merton's brief entry makes mention of it. There is a difference between a psychological self and Ultimate Self. The meditator is not to settle for a mindful anesthesia of sentient contentment but find in Zen practice a new way of living without attachments. A self lost to complacency and disassociation does not reflect genuine Zen.I found this book very useful and inspiring. Not only did it give me a better idea of what Merton was reading before his trip to Asia; but it provided me with valuable insights into many Zen ideas and terms. If you want a better sense of the world of Zen and the writing of Linji; this book is recommended. Hisamatsu does a fine job of "bringing out the guiding principles."
