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The collection presents essays that examine Zen as a practice and philosophy, treating enlightenment and ignorance, the experience of satori, and the historical development of Zen thought. It outlines practical methods of instruction, the organization and ideals of communal meditation, and interpretations of symbolic stages of practice represented in the cow-herding pictures. Interspersed are reflections on Zen's psychological implications and guidance for applying insight in daily life, accompanied by explanatory notes and an appendix. The tone balances descriptive history, philosophical analysis, and practical guidance aimed at making Zen intelligible to readers approaching it from modern perspectives.
CHINESE NOTES
(Note: Here are given all the principal Chinese characters and quotations in order to facilitate the identification of the original terms and passages found in the text where they are given in their Japanese pronunciation or in the mandarin dialect generally according to the Wade system. The sources of the Chinese quotations are also given for the benefit of those readers who wish to study the subject further in the original.)