Zen Chants by Kazuaki Tanahashi

Zen Chants by Kazuaki Tanahashi

An introduction to Zen chanting practice, with new accurate and chantable translations of the texts used in Zen centers and monasteries throughout the English-speaking world-by the renowned translator of Dogen and Ryokan.

A Zen chant is like a compass that sets us in the direction of the awakened life; it is the dynamic, audible counterpart to the silent practice of zazen, or sitting meditation; and it is a powerful expression of the fact that practice happens in community. Here is a concise guide to Zen chants for practitioners, as well as for anyone who appreciates the beauty and profundity of the poetry in dharma. An introduction to the practice is followed by fresh and carefully considered translations and adaptations of thirty-five chants-some common and others less well known-along with illuminating commentary.

Ryokan (1758-1831) is, along with Dogen and Hakuin, one of the three giants of Zen in Japan. But unlike his two renowned colleagues, Ryokan was a societal dropout, living mostly as a hermit and a beggar. He is now regarded as one of the greatest poets of the Edo Period, along with Basho, Buson, and Issa. He was also a master artist-calligrapher with a very distinctive style, due mostly to his unique and irrepressible spirit.

Kazuaki Tanahashi, a Japanese-trained calligrapher, is the pioneer of the genre of one stroke painting as well as the creator of multicolor enso (Zen circles). His brushwork has been shown in solo exhibitions in galleries, museums, and universities all over the world. Tanahashi has edited several books of Dogen's writings and is also the author of Brush Mind.

SKU	Unavailable
ISBN 13	9781611801439
ISBN 10	1611801435
Title	Zen Chants
Author	Kazuaki Tanahashi
Condition	Unavailable
Binding Type	Paperback
Publisher	Shambhala Publications Inc
Year published	2015-08-25
Number of pages	208
Cover note	Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.