Experts Talk about Zen.

Author: Lu Wenzhong (Editor)
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2004-06-01
Features: What is Zen? What is the true meaning and essence of Zen? In the mid-20th century, the two scholars Hu Shi and D.T. Suzuki, who shared common research interests, established an academic friendship. However, they also engaged in a fierce debate over their differing interpretations of the true essence of Zen, a debate that remained unresolved until their deaths. This century-old academic dispute can indeed illustrate that grasping the essence of Zen is truly not an easy task. The Huineng school of Zen advocates "not relying on words" and "transmitting outside of teaching," which has consequently led to a series of ambiguities, misunderstandings, and disputes. In reality, the phrase "not relying on words" does not mean abandoning words. Otherwise, how can we explain the existence and preservation of the countless millions of words of Zen historical texts to this day?