How Zen Became Zen takes a novel approach to understanding one of the most crucial developments in Zen Buddhism: the dispute over the nature of enlightenment that erupted within the Chinese Chan (Zen) school in the twelfth century. The famous Linji (Rinzai) Chan master Dahui Zonggao (1089–1163) railed against "heretical silent illumination Chan" and strongly advocated kanhua (koan) meditation as an antidote. In this fascinating study; Morten Schlütter shows that Dahui’s target was the Caodong (Soto) Chan tradition that had been revived and reinvented in the early twelfth century; and that silent meditation was an approach to practice and enlightenment that originated within this "new" Chan tradition. Schlütter has written a refreshingly accessible account of the intricacies of the dispute; which is still reverberating through modern Zen in both Asia and the West. Dahui and his opponents’ arguments for their respective positions come across in this book in as earnest and relevant a manner as they must have seemed almost nine hundred years ago.Although much of the book is devoted to illuminating the doctrinal and soteriological issues behind the enlightenment dispute; Schlütter makes the case that the dispute must be understood in the context of government policies toward Buddhism; economic factors; and social changes. He analyzes the remarkable ascent of Chan during the first centuries of the Song dynasty; when it became the dominant form of elite monastic Buddhism; and demonstrates that secular educated elites came to control the critical transmission from master to disciple ("procreation" as Schlütter terms it) in the Chan School.
#16976689 in Books 1998-11Original language:English 9.50 x 6.50 x 1.00l; #File Name: 0824820657303 pages
Review
13 of 13 people found the following review helpful. Superb analysis of Japanese religionBy Daniel MetrauxProfessors Tanabe and Reader provide a superb analysis of Japanese religion. Tanabe and Reader are highly respected scholars in the field of Japanese and Asianb religions and their collective works could well provide the nucleus for any library on the subject. The authors amply demonstrate that there is a distinct commonality to Japanese religion that underlies the rich varieties and apparent contradictions of Japanese religious practice. They provide a myriad of examples and case studies to demonstrate the this-worldly nature end emphasis on personal gain / advantage aspects of Japanese religious culture.To put it simply; this is one of those books that make you say: "By Jove; I've got it." The authors cut through the complexities of Japanese religion to clearly exhibit the common core. I used this book as a text for my course on Japanese religion and the students really benefitted from the experience. I have also read Ian Reader's work on the Japanese sect; Aum Shinrikyo. He understands Aum far better than any other scholar and I commend his Aum books to both the scholar and general reader. Reader's books are written in a clear and lively manner.4 of 5 people found the following review helpful. Practical and theoretical benefits for religious knowledgeBy Bernhard ScheidAwareness of economic needs as well as a tendency to playfullness make modern religions in Japan (whether Buddhist or Shinto is not important in this case) much more successful than in most other industrialized nations. This book shows by a number of detailled cases and examples how that works and has always been working. At the same time Western observers begin to understand that praying for worldly benefits is not at variance with sincere religious belief; as a Western perception of religion often presupposes. Rather; it is an intrinsic part of religious activity; and the fact that it is not ridiculed in the Japanese context is probably one factor for the still dominant role of religion in this country.2 of 9 people found the following review helpful. WORST academic book ever writtenBy GagaPilotI am currently enrolled in a Japanese Culture Class and assigned this textbook. I'm sorry; but this is quite simply the WORST academic book ever written. The authors; Reader and Tanabe; simply repeat their personal opionated views over and over in each chapter. The introduction of the text is a nice summary of the book; but the chapters that follow are nothing but useless and repetitive. If you are a professor seeking a book for a class; keep looking. If you are a student assigned this book; I highly recommmend reading other factual works to at first learn the basics of the term "genze riyaku;" then read this book to gain an insight on how the authors interpret the meaning.
