Discover the most influential Buddhist sutra in the Mahayana Buddhism tradition—from one of the world’s preeminent translators of religious texts.Simplified organization, helpful glossaries, and word-for-word analysis make understanding Buddhist scripture easier than ever.The Heart Sutra is Buddhism in a nutshell. It has had the most profound and wide–reaching influence of any text in Buddhism. This short text covers more of the Buddha’s te...

**WINNER OF THE 2018 THORNTON WILDER PRIZE FOR TRANSLATIONA masterful translation of the Diamond Sutra, an essential Zen Buddhist scripture—with insightful commentary and helpful historical context**Zen Buddhism is often said to be a practice of mind–to–mind transmission without reliance on texts—in fact, some great teachers forbid their students to read or write. But Buddhism has also inspired some of the greatest philosophical writings of any religion, and two such works ...

A preeminent translator of Chinese poetry and Buddhist texts explores the traditions of Chinese hermits in the aftermath of the Cultural Revolution.A fascinating slice of Chinese life for armchair travelers—with insights into the history of Taoism, Buddhism, and Zen in modern China.In 1989, Bill Porter, having spent much of his life studying and translating Chinese religious and philosophical texts, began to wonder if the Buddhist hermit tr...

An accessible translation of Hui-neng’s autobiography and teachings, completing the classic triumvirate of Zen (Ch’an) Buddhist sutrasIt 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. 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 Pat...

9 translations of Zen Buddhist sutras and sacred texts from the first 1,000 years of Zen—presented in a travel-friendly package for on-the-go reading or contemplation!Dating from the middle of the second century B.C. to the middle of the ninth century A.D., Zen Roots includes:• The Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Platform Sutra• Selections from the Vimalakirti and Lankavatara sutras• Bodhidharma’s Principles & Practice...

A fifth-century Indian Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma is credited with bringing Zen to China. Although the tradition that traces its ancestry back to him did not flourish until nearly two hundred years after his death, today millions of Zen Buddhists and students of kung fu claim him as their spiritual father.While others viewed Zen practice as a purification of the mind or a stage on the way to perfect enlightenment, Bodhidharma equated Zen with buddhahood and believed that it had a p...

Red Pine: recipient of fellowships from the National Endowment of the Arts and Guggenheim Memorial FoundationWinner of multiple honors, most recently the Thornton Wilder Prize for Translation from the Academy of Arts and Letters (2018)Regarded as one of the best translators of Chinese works; has translated works from 1983 to 2021This volume includes 24 B&W imagesThis volume includes Chinese history and poems by popular Chinese poets Cold Mounta...

"A travel writer with a cult following."-The New York Times"There are very few westerners who could successfully cover so much territory in China, but Porter pulls it off. Finding Them Gone uniquely draws upon his parallel careers as a translator and a travel writer in ways that his previous books have not. A lifetime devoted to understanding Chinese culture and spirituality blossoms within its pages to create something truly rare."-The Los An...

A pocket-sized presentation of the three most venerated Buddhist sutras of Zen Buddhism: the Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Platform Sutra, featuring easy-to-understand translations and helpful footnotes—all from a legendary practitioner and translator of Buddhist teachingsThree classic Buddhist sutras—often linked to form a trio of texts that have been revered and studied for centuries—are now available together in this single volume. Red Pine, whose acclaimed tr...

Navigating the uncertainty of a divided China wracked by warfare and corruption, Tao Yuanming’s poetry—expertly translated by Red Pine—chooses the path walked by China’s ancient sages, finding joy in living a simple life.The latest work in Red Pine’s rich career of translation, Choosing to be Simple: Collected Poems of Tao Yuanming, is a definitive portrait of the early Chinese politician and poet. Thoroughly researched and beautifully translated, this bil...

After a failed push for political reform, the T’ang era’s greatest prose-writer, Liu Tsung-yuan, was exiled to the southern reaches of China. Thousands of miles from home and freed from the strictures of court bureaucracy, he turned his gaze inward and chronicled his estrangement in poems. Liu’s fame as a prose writer, however, overshadowed his accomplishment as a poet. Three hundred years after Liu died, the poet Su Tung-p’o ranked him as one of the greatest poets of the T’ang, along with...

A lively and plainspoken translation of the Buddhist sutra known as the ‘holy grail of Zen’—with “plentiful notes, explanations, and study questions” (Library Journal)The first English translation of the original text used by Bodhidharma—the source upon which all Chinese Zen masters have relied ever sinceHaving translated The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra, and following with The Platform Sutra, Red Pi...