Books › The Compass of Zen
The Compass of Zen 1997
The Compass of Zen is a book of teachings written by Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim, compiled from talks he gave beginning in 1977 and later edited by his student Hyon Gak (Paul Muenzen). Originally intended as an introduction to Mahayana, Hinayana, and Zen traditions, the material was first drafted in the early 1970s by Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim. The text went through a more basic version before being published in 1997 by Shambhala Publications. Much of the content had already been incorporated into the Kwan Um School of Zen curriculum prior to publication. The Compass of Zen avoids academic tone, instead using simple language for its audience. In addition to the core teachings, the book includes Seung Sahn Soen Sa Nim's "The Ten Gates", a glossary, and his lineage chart. These "Ten Gates" form part of his kong-an teaching method within his Kwan Um tradition, with each gate followed by his commentary in the text. Today, the curriculum has expanded to include Twelve Gates. Compass of Zen, Preface
Details
- Publisher
- Shambhala Publications
- ISBN
- 9781570623295
- Pages
- 394
- Format
- Print (Paperback)
