ZEN ROOTS: The First Thousand Years

by Red Pine

Literary Nonfiction. Asian & Asian American Studies. In ZEN ROOTS, Red Pine has assembled nine new translations of texts from the first thousand years of Zen. Dating from the middle of the second century BC to the middle of the ninth century AD, they include the Heart, the Diamond, and the Platform sutras, selections from the Vimalakirti and Lankavatara sutras, Bodhidharma's Principles & Practice, Sengcan's Trusting the Mind,  Yongjia's Song of Enlightenment, and Huangbo's Transmission of the Mind. The translations are accompanied by introductions and enough notes to explain what needs explaining but not so many as to get in the way. This is meant to be a companionable volume, something a reader would enjoy carrying around, taking on trips, introducing to the higher elevations, or the backyard. Published by Empty Bowl Press, the book is in a handy 5"x7" format, bound in Japanese silk, and the binding sewn so when open it lays fairly flat. And there's a ribbon, for marking your place. A regular trade edition is planned for publication in 2022.

Genres: Buddhism, Zen, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Religion

288 pages, Hardcover

Published February 1, 2021

About the author

Pen name of Bill Porter

Reviews

[Sean Farrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic short anthology of some of Zen's most important early primary texts bound in a beautiful hardcover edition. Red Pine never disappoints.

[Taylor Swift Scholar · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was excited to spend more time with Buddhism after reading a couple of Pure Land texts. I have learned that Pure Land and Zen are two very different things! For one, Pure Land Buddhism is meant to be talked and read about. Talking about zen, let alone writing/reading about it, is very challenging, and even discouraged throughout the text in favor of practice. So many pages of various sages saying in various nonsensical ways that x, y, and z are "nothing" and/or "empty." While I am eager to learn more about zen, I'm not sure that these texts got me very far.

[Christian · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great introduction to Zen! This is a wonderfully translated anthology. What I love about Red Pine is his ability to find the most concise words - they're clear and burst with the simple Truth presented. Immaculate! The texts themselves provide ample phrases and sections to begin a meditating practice.

[Malik Salam · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute treasure. All the most important texts of the zen tradition in a beautiful edition. The translation is clear and the footnotes are just helpful enough without being too explain-y. I’ll be going back to this again and again! Thank you Bill Porter.

[Addison Hart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Easily the clearest presentation of these texts I've found. If asked (nobody ever asks me, but if they did...) for the best introductions to this subject for beginners, I'd recommend this and also the volume of translation and commentary by the same author on The Heart Sutra (Counterpoint).

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a nonspecialist I thought this was a solid intro. I got enough breadth and depth with helpful footnotes without it being overwhelming.