Book Review: Zen: Simply Sitting

This concise yet deep book includes, as the title makes clear, commentaries on Dogen’s Fukanzazengi. The author also makes it clear that he is using the Koroku text (1242 – 1244). The Koroku or as the author refers to as the Rufubon text, was revised from Dogen’s earlier 1227 Tenpuku text.[1] The included commentaries were originally given as kusen, a form of spontaneous oral teachings, offered by Rei Ryu Philippe Coupe, a student of Taisen Deshimaru, during periods of zazen and which, according to the author, function as direct transmissions to the student’s unconscious.

For the rest of the review by Seiso Paul Cooper, visit Sweeping Zen.