Zen Koans, Testing Verses, Mondos, Dialogues, Stories
Bibliography, Quotations, Notes, Resources
Compiled by Michael P. Garofalo
Here is a list of the books I own and have used to "study" the collections of recorded Taoist/Chan/Zen teaching examples. These collections of brief spiritual stories and questions have been available in English language translations and commentaries since the 1960's.
These popular "Koan Collections" include "Cases" of brief spiritual conversations, anecdotes, curious questions and answers, brief stories, dialogues, reports of puzzling encounters, tall tales, aphorisms, tests of basic understanding, pop quizzes, jokes, Dharma talks, poetry, summaries, etc.
I am interested in research in "Koan Collections" primarily from a literary, scholarly, philosophical, educational, and historical viewpoint. Taoist/Chan/Zen religious practices, attitudes, and training methods regarding koans cannot be ignored. Finally, I will share some of my own phenomenological experiences while dealing with the ideas, or no-mind non-ideas, of this enchanting Zen koan nexus.
You can purchase all of these books for under $500. My membership in the Dharma Rain Temple in Portland, Oregon, a Soto Zen Buddhist Sangha, costs me $30.00 per month. Learning requires monthly financial commitments, both in support of my own intellectual and spiritual progress, and in support of the work of others spreading the Good Dharma as authors or as local priests and lay teachers.
Here are the books I have used for trying to integrate and enrich my life with a study of these spiritual practices: Koans, Stories, Dialogues, Mondos, Testing Verses, Riddles, Taoist/Chan/Zen Directness, Non-Sequiturs, immediacy, Checking Verses, spontaneity, quiet sitting, martial arts, monks living together, lay Sanga members, etc:
1. Book of Equanimity/Serenity, 100 Koans
2. Blue Cliff Record, Hekiganroku, 100 Koans
3. Gateless Barrier, Mumonkan, 48 Koans
4. Dogen's Koans, 300 Koans
5. How to Study Koans, Mondos, and Checking Verses
6. Other Koan Collections
7. Related Links, Resources, References
1. Book of Equanimity/Serenity, 100 Koans
The Book of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans. Commentary and Introduction by Gerry Shishin Wick, Roshi, Ph.D. Roshi Wick was a Dharma Heir of Hakuyu Taizan Maezumi (1931-1995). The text was translated from the Japanese to English by Dana Fraser and Maezumi Roshi. Foreword by Bernie Glassman. Wisdom Publications, 2005, 360 pages. 100 Koans. VSCL, paperback.
Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues. Translation and commentary by Thomas Cleary. Shambhala, 2005, 512 pages. 100 Koans. VSCL, paperback.
Book of Serenity By Joan Sutherland, Roshi
2. The Blue Cliff Records (Pi Yen Lu, Hekiganroku)
100 Koans
In the Sung Dynasty (960-1279) Zen flourished in China. Zen Master Xuedou Zhongxian (Jap. Setcho) (980-1052) sorted through hundreds of Yulu collections of encounter dialogues, and came up with 100 good examples, or Cases, for Zen training purposes. His compilation was called The One Hundred Odes.
Odes to a Classic Hundred Standards by Xuedou Zhongxian
The Chinese Zen Master Yuanwu Kegin (Jap. Engo) (1063-1135) revised The One Hundred Odes. He added introductions/prefaces for each Case, added some all the recapitulation verses, added notes and added comments. After his efforts, his written document came to be titled The Blue Cliff Record, Pi Yen Lu, Hekiganroku by later users.
Blue Cliff Record - Wikipedia
Directory of Commentaries for Each Case of the Blue Cliff Record.
By Matthew Juksan Sullivan.
Two Zen Classics: Mumonkan and Hekiganroku. Translated with commentaries by Katsuki Sekida. Edited and introduced by A. V. Grimstone. New York, Weatherhill, 1977. Index, 413 pages. ISBN: 0834801302. 100 + 250 Koans. Extensive, detailed, and useful notes for each Case in both books. VSCL, Paperback.
The Garden of Flowers and Weeds: A New Translation and Commentary on the Blue Cliff Record. By Matthew Juksan Sullivan, Roshi. Monkfish Pubs., 2021, 580 pages. Index, glossary, bibliography, name lists, appendices. VSCL, Hardbound.
The Blue Cliff Record. Translated with commentary and notes by Thomas Cleary and J. C. Cleary. Foreword by Taizan Maezumi Roshi. Boston, Shambhala, 2005. Glossary, biographies, bibliography, 648 pages. ISBN: 9781590302323. VSCL, Paperback. Online Bootleg
3. Gateless Barrier, Mumonkan, 48 Koans
The Gateless Barrier: Zen Comments on the Mumonkan.
By Zenkai Shibayama. Shibayama Roshi (1894-1974). Translated by Sumiko Kudo. Introduction by Shibayama Roshi. Preface by Kenneth W. Morgan, Colgate University. Boston, Shambhala, 2000. Glossary, index, 361 pages. First compiled with commentary, published in 1228, by Zen Master Mumon Ekai (1183-1260) [Wumen Huikai]. Outstanding teishos (comments, explanations, reflections) by Shibayama Roshi on each of Mumon Ekai's tripartite approach: koan case, commentary, and poem (capping verse). The Gateless Barrier, a path of no-gate, is expressed in 48 Cases. VSCL, Paperback.
Two Zen Classics: Mumonkan and Hekiganroku. Translated with commentaries by Katsuki Sekida. Edited and introduced by A. V. Grimstone. New York, Weatherhill, 1977. Index, 413 pages. ISBN: 0834801302. 100 Koans. VSCL, Paperback.
The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans. Commentary and translation by Koun Yamada. Foreword by Ruben L. F. Habito. Wisdom Publications, 2004. 336 pages.
4. Dogen's Koans, 301 Koans
Master Dogen's Shinji Shobogenzo: 301 Koan Stories. Translation and commentary by Gudo Nishijima. Edited by Michael Luetchford and Jeremy Pearson. 2020, 397 pages. VSCL, Amazon Kindle EBook is hard to use.
5. How to Study Koans, Mondos, and Checking Verses
Sitting with Koans: Essential Writings on Zen Koan Introspection. Edited by John Daido Loori. Introduction by Tom Kirchner. Wisdom Publications, 2005, 368 pages. VSCL - Used paperback.
