Editorial Reviews  
Book Description  
Tranlated by Taigen Daniel Leighton and Yi Wu Hongzhi -- the twelfth-century Chinese Zen master who was predecessor of the famous philosopher Dogen -- is celebrated in Zen literature as one of its most artistically graceful stylists. He was the first to articulate silent illumination, the nondual objectless meditation commonly known to modern Zen students as "just sitting." Previously available in English only in scattered fragments, Hongzhi's influential teaching is here presented comprehensively, not as a historical artifact, but as a timeless and inspiring guide to spiritual awareness in the contemporary world. Taigen Daniel Leighton provides an informative introduction that traces Hongzhi's life, important facets of his teaching, and his place in the Zen tradition. 

Synopsis  
Twelfth-century Chinese Zen Master Honhzhi is celebrated in Zen literature as one of its most artistically graceful stylists. Previously available in English onlu in scattered fragments, Hongzhi's influential teaching is here presented comprehensively as a timeless and inspiring guide to spiritual awareness in the contemporary world. Bibliography and lineage chart included. 

The author, Taigen Dan Leighton taigen@sirius.com , January 24, 1998 
poetic description of experience of objectless meditation  
Hongzhi uses nature metaphor & poetic prose to beautifully articulate the experience and awareness of silent illumination, the nondual objectless meditation commonly known as "just sitting." The intro includes a discussion of the five ranks and the dialectics of Zen philosophy. "Tricycle" called this "an inspiring book and an important document in the Zen tradition." When I was translating Hongzhi I attended HH Dalai Lama's teaching at San Jose on Dzogchen, a Tibetan form of objectless meditation. It was like he was reading Hongzhi's writing I'd translated the night before!