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    Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen
    Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen
    Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen
    Ebook55 pages41 minutes

    Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen

    By Albert Low

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    About this ebook

    Hakuin Zenji is one of Japan’s most celebrated Zen masters. Tradition tells us that he single-handedly revived Rinzai Zen in Japan. He was an artist, calligrapher and writer, as well as being a Zen master. He said that writing is verbal prajna and his writings are vigorous, courageous, and always to the point. The Chant in Praise of Zazen, Zazen Wasan, is justifiably one of his best-known works.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherAlbert Low
    Release dateOct 29, 2009
    ISBN9780986631849
    Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen
    Author

    Albert Low

    Albert William Low was an authorized Zen master, an internationally published author, and a former human resources executive. He lived in England, South Africa, Canada, and the United States was the Teacher and Director of the Montreal Zen Center from 1979 until his passing in January 2016.Albert Low held a BA degree in Philosophy and Psychology, and was a trained counselor. In 2003, he was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws for scholastic attainment and community service by Queen’s University, in Kingston, Ontario.As an internationally acclaimed author, he had fourteen books published, some of which have been translated into French, Spanish, Portuguese, German and Turkish.

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      Book preview

      Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen - Albert Low

      Hakuin’s Chant in Praise of Zazen

      with commentaries by Albert Low

      rev 2017.06.08

      Copyright © 2009 Albert Low

      Smashwords Edition

      http://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/zenAuthor

      http://www.albertlow.ca

      License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

      Thank you for purchasing this ebook. When you are finished reading, won't you please take a moment to rate it and write your review on the retailers website where you purchased it? Reviews help other readers like yourself make more informed purchase decisions. Thank you.

      Table of Contents

      MASTER HAKUIN'S CHANT IN PRAISE OF ZAZEN

      About the Author

      MASTER HAKUIN'S CHANT IN PRAISE OF ZAZEN

      Hakuin Zenji (1686–1768) is one of Japan’s most celebrated Zen masters. Tradition tells us that he single-handedly revived Rinzai Zen in Japan. He was an artist, calligrapher and prolific writer, as well as being a Zen master and philanthropist. He said that writing is verbal prajna and his writings are vigorous, courageous, and always to the point. The Chant in Praise of Zazen, Zazen Wasan, is justifiably one of his best-known works. It is chanted repeatedly in Zen monasteries in Japan. In the Harada Roshi/Yasutani Roshi tradition that the Montreal Zen Center follows, it is chanted at the close of each evening’s meditation as well as before the teacher gives his teisho, or Dharma talk, during retreats.

      The Chant has three parts: The first tells of how we have fallen into darkness and confusion; the second, which starts with The gateway to freedom, extols the virtue of zazen Samadhi; and the third, which begins with But, if you turn inward, speaks of the wonders of awakening. One should also note that the Chant opens with From the beginning all beings are Buddha and closes with this very body, the body of Buddha. In other words, the Chant is like a circle that begins and ends at the same point, which is Buddha.

      The version that I am using is the version developed by the Rochester Zen Center and is used with the kind permission of Venerable Bodhin Kjolhede

      Hakuin Zenji’s Zazen Wasan

      From the beginning all beings are Buddha.

      Like water and ice, without water no ice,

      Outside us no Buddhas.

      How near the truth, yet how far we seek.

      Like one in water crying I thirst.

      Like a child of rich birth

      wandering poor on this earth,

      we endlessly circle the six worlds.

      The cause of our sorrow is

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