The Essence of Zen

Drawing on his knowledge and long practice of Buddhism, the author reflects on four lines representing fundamental principles of the Zen or Ch'an school of Buddhism: A special transmission outside the scriptures, No dependence on words and letters, Direct pointing to the mind, and Seeing into one's own nature and realizing Buddhahood. He sets out to communicate the essence of each, and to indicate how its meaning can be applied to Western conditions.