Hsin Hsin Ming

"The Great Way is not difficult for those who have no preferences."--Seng-t'san The Hsin Hsin Ming, Verses on the Faith-Mind by Seng-t'san, the third Chinese patriarch of Zen, is considered to be the first Chinese Zen document. Lucidly translated here by Richard B. Clark, it remains one of the most widely-admired and elegant of Zen writings, and is as relevant today as it was when it was written. In a world where stress seems unavoidable, Seng-t'san's words show us how to be fully aware of each moment.

WE WILL BE ENTERING the beautiful world of a Zen Master’s no-mind. Sosan is the third Zen Patriarch. Nothing much is known about him – this is as it should be, because history records only violence. History does not record silence – it cannot record it. All records are of disturbance. Whenever someone becomes really silent, he disappears from all records, he is no more a part of our madness. So it is as it should be.

If there were one bookshelf that held history?s greatest masterpieces of spiritual writing, what would be on it? From his library of over 150,000 books, best-selling author and mystic Osho selected 168 titles that had served as his beacons of inspiration ?when nothing else was shining in the darkness.? 168 Books to Change Your Life is Osho?s invaluable guide to the most profound and spiritually illuminating literature ever written. The book features:? An eclectic and often surprising selection of books, including Whitman?s Leaves of Grass, Lao Tzu?s Tao Te Ching, and Richard Bach?s Jonathan Livingston Seagull? Essential details about each classic and its author, and why their writings have left a lasting impact on readers around the world? Osho?s own poetic commentary on the importance of these books in his life, with his insights on the deeper spiritual messages in every masterpiece on the list Osho created his list of classics to honor the writers who inspired him to become one of the most influential modern spiritual teachers. Spiritual seekers, recent graduates, and any lover of great literature will cherish 168 Books to Change Your Life as a trusted source of inspiration for years to come.

"The Book of Nothing, " or "Hsin Hsin Ming, " was written in the sixth century by Sosan, the third Zen patriarch. Long cherished by seekers on the path as a study in spiritual perfection, it is presented here in a new translation that is both beautifully illustrated and highly readable.

Poetry. This anthology gathers together over 1500 years of Chinese Zen (Ch'an) poetry from the earliest writing, including the Hsin Hsin Ming written by the 3rd Patriarch, to the poetry of monks in this century. Poets include Wang Wei, Li Po, Tu Fu, Yuan Mei, the crazy hermits Han-shan and Shih-te, as well as many anonymous monks and hermits.

The Supreme Way is not difficult If only you do not pick and choose. Neither love nor hate, And you will clearly understand. Be off by a hair, And you are as far from it as heaven and earth. These vivid lines begin one of the most beloved and commented upon of all Zen texts, the Hsin Hsin Ming ("Faith in Mind"), a sixth-century poem by the third Chan patriarch, Seng Ts’an. The Hsin Hsin Ming is a masterpiece of economy, expressing the profoundest truth of the enlightened mind in only a few short pages. Master Sheng Yen’s approach is unique among commentaries on the text: he views it as a supremely useful and practical guide to meditation practice. "I do not adopt a scholarly point of view or analytical approach," he says. "Rather, I use the poem as a taking-off point to inspire the practitioner and deal with issues that arise during the course of practice. True faith in mind is the belief grounded in realization that we have a fundamental, unmoving, and unchanging mind. This mind is precisely Buddha mind."