The Platform Sutra
The Zen Teaching of Hui-neng
Catapult · Print & ebook · November 28, 2008
An accessible translation of Hui-neng’s autobiography and teachings, completing the classic triumvirate of Zen (Ch’an) Buddhist sutras It is often linked with The Heart Sutra and The Diamond Sutra to form a trio of texts that have been revered and studied for centuries.
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- Who it’s for
- An accessible translation pairs Hui-neng’s autobiography and teachings with commentary, notes, and the Chinese text.
- Genres
- Zen Buddhism, Buddhist Sacred Writings, Zen
- Published
- Catapult, November 28, 2008
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An accessible translation of Hui-neng’s autobiography and teachings, completing the classic triumvirate of Zen (Ch’an) Buddhist sutras It is often linked with The Heart Sutra and The Diamond Sutra to form a trio of texts that have been revered and studied for centuries.
Continue reading
However, unlike the other sutras, which transcribe the teachings of the Buddha himself, The Platform Sutra presents the autobiography of Hui–neng, the controversial 6th Patriarch of Zen, and his understanding of the fundamentals of a spiritual and practical life. Hui–neng’s instruction still matters—the 7th–century school of Sudden Awakening that he founded survives today, continuing to influence the Rinzai and Soto schools of contemporary Zen. Red Pine, whose translations of The Heart Sutra and The Diamond Sutra have been celebrated and widely received, now provides a sensitive and assured treatment of the third and final sutra of the classic triumvirate. He adds remarkable commentary to a translation that, combined with the full Chinese text, a glossary, and notes, results in a Mahayana masterpiece sure to become the standard edition for students and seekers alike.
Zen, Up Close
An accessible translation pairs Hui-neng’s autobiography and teachings with commentary, notes, and the Chinese text.
Come here for
- Hui-neng’s account of Zen in his own voice
- A classic text with commentary and practical teachings
Expect
- A layered look at Zen’s spiritual and practical foundations
- Glossary and notes alongside the full Chinese text
Where it sits
| Zen Buddhism | 97% |
|---|---|
| Buddhist Sacred Writings | 49% |
| Zen | 43% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- Zen
- Buddhist Sacred Writings
- Zen Buddhism
- Authors
- Red Pine, Hui-Neng
- Publisher
- Catapult
- Published
- November 28, 2008
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Reading lane
- Zen