Bankei Zen: Translations from the Record of Bankei - Paperback

by Yoshito Hakeda (Editor), Peter Haskel (Translator), Mary Farkas (Foreword by)

The eccentric Bankei (1622-1693) has long been an underground hero in the world of Zen. At a time when Zen was becoming overly formalized in Japan, he stressed its relevance to everyday life, insisting on the importance of naturalness and spontaneity. This volume presents his teachings -- as refreshing and iconoclastic today as they were three hundred years ago -- in a fluent translation by Peter Haskel, accompanied by a vivid account of Bankei's life and times, illustrations, and extensive notes for the scholar.

Back Jacket

The eccentric Bankei has long been an underground hero in the world of Zen. At a time when Zen was becoming overly formalized in Japan, he stressed its relevance to everyday life, insisting on the importance of naturalness and spontaneity.

Author Biography

Haskel received his Ph.D. from Columbia University.