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Biographical note
Jimmy Yu is Sheng Yen Professor of Chinese Buddhist Studies at the Florida State University. His recent books include Sanctity and Self-Inflicted Violence in Chinese Religions, 1500–1700 (2012) and Reimagining Chan Buddhism: Sheng Yen and the Creation of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan (2021). Known as Guo Gu in Buddhist circles, he is also a Chan teacher and publishes under that name.The essays collected here—as lucid as they are learned—open up one of the most enigmatic works of religious literature for readers to explore a text that is equal parts lyrical, intriguing, infuriating, and funny. <i>Readings of the Gateless Barrier </i>is to be studied and savored.
- John Kieschnick, author of <i>Buddhist Historiography in China</i>,
This new translation of <i>The Gateless Barrier</i>, a classic of gong’an (public cases) literature in the Chan tradition used to train students in China, Korea, and Japan, is supplemented by chapters written by experts that provide historical, philosophical, and literary context. <i>Readings of the Gateless Barrier </i>is essential reading for anyone who wishes to learn about gong’an.
- Chun-fang Yu, author of <i>Chinese Buddhism: A Thematic History</i>,
<i>Readings of the Gateless Barrier </i>brings together the diverse voices of critical historians and contemporary practitioners, joined by a new, annotated translation, to provide a uniquely nuanced window on the life of a work that has traversed multiple cultures and long stood at the heart of the Chan and Zen Buddhist tradition.
- Daniel B. Stevenson, author of <i>The Meaning of the Lotus Sūtra’s Course of Ease and Bliss</i>,
An essential companion for students exploring Chan Buddhism, <i>Readings of the Gateless Barrier </i>serves as both an introduction for newcomers and a clear, insightful analysis for those who already know it, enriching the journey into the heart of Chan practice.
- James A. Benn, author of <i>Burning for the Buddha</i>,
<i>The Gateless Barrier </i>is a seminal text in the Chan/Zen tradition; the readings in this book offer the insights of leading scholars, the guidance of respected teachers, and the gift of an excellent new translation. It is essential reading for anyone interested in the history, theory, and practice of this tradition.
- Benjamin Brose, author of <i>Embodying Xuanzang: The Postmortem Travels of a Buddhist Pilgrim</i>,
Specialist contributors offer insights on historical context, literary structure, philosophical implications, and gendered dimensions, as well as the embodied practice and contemporary experience of the stories in the Gateless Barrier. By bringing together academic expertise with experiential insight from Zen teachers, this book provides a grounded and nuanced account of how the Gateless Barrier has been—and continues to be—practiced and lived in China, Korea, Japan, and the West.
An innovative and sophisticated study, this book is ideal for university classroom use, and it also makes the Gateless Barrier accessible to other first-time readers, Buddhist practitioners, and scholars.
Introduction: The Gateless Barrier in Context, by Jimmy Yu
1. The Gong’an Tradition in the Gateless Barrier as a “Special Transmission Outside the Teaching,” by Albert Welter
2. Dahui Zong’gao and His Impact on the Gateless Barrier, by Jimmy Yu
3. The Gateless Barrier and the Locus of Truth, by Jin Y. Park
4. Paradox in the Gateless Barrier, by Robert H. Sharf
5. Testing, Contesting, Besting: Ambiguity in Gong’an Dialogues, by Steven Heine
6. A Gate of Their Own?: Women in Wumen’s World, by Natasha Heller
7. Public Cases in Korean Sŏn Buddhism, byJuhn Y. Ahn
8. From Secrecy to Openness: The Gateless Barrier in Premodern Japanese Zen, by Marta Sanvido
9. Kōan Kufū: Embodying the Kōan in Rinzai Zen Practice, by Meido Moore
10. On Kōan Training, by Jan Chozen Bays
Translation of the Gateless Barrier
A Survey of English Translations of the Gateless Barrier
Cross-Reference to Citations of the Gateless Barrier
Character Glossary
Bibliography
Contributors
Index