Historical Origins of The Gateless Gate The Gateless Gate (Mumonkan in Japanese) is one of Zen Buddhism’s most enduring classics[1]. Compiled in 1228 during China’s Song dynasty, it was the work of the Chinese Chan (Zen) master Wumen Huikai (known in Japanese as Mumon...
Zen is best understood as a school of Buddhism, but how it is practised and perceived can make it seem like a religion, a philosophy, or even a way of life, depending on context. 1. As a Religion Zen is a branch of Mahayana Buddhism, particularly influential in Japan,...
Zen Buddhism and the way of the samurai may seem like an unlikely pairing at first glance—one is a spiritual tradition emphasizing compassion and enlightenment, the other a warrior culture skilled in the art of killing. Yet in Japan’s history these two paths famously...
Zen Buddhism is famously described as a “special transmission outside the scriptures,” yet the tradition has a rich corpus of texts that inform its teachings and practices. Classical Zen literature spans Mahayana sutras, recorded teachings of Zen masters, koan...
