Book of Equanimity explained

Book of Equanimity or Book of Serenity or Book of Composure (Chinese: 從容錄, Cóngróng lù; Japanese: 従容錄, Shōyōroku) is a book compiled by Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246), and first published in 1224. The book comprises a collection of 100 koans written by the Chan Buddhist master Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157), together with commentaries by Wansong. Wansong's compilation is the only surviving source for Hongzhi's koans.^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}

The full title is The Record of the Temple of Equanimity With the Classic Odes of Venerable Tiantong Jue and the Responsive Commentary of Old Man Wansong (Chinese: 萬松老評唱天童覺和尚 頌古從容庵錄, Wansong Laoren Pingchang Tiantong Jue Heshang Songgu Congrong An Lu, Taisho Tripitaka Vol. 48, No. 2004).

Along with The Gateless Barrier, the Book of Equanimity is considered one of the two primary compilations of Zen dialogue.^[5] Shohaku Okumura has called the collection "a classic text that is still studied by Zen students today."^[6] Reb Anderson has called it "an auspicious peak in the mountain range of Zen literature, a subtle flowing stream in the deep valleys of our teaching, a treasure house of inspiration and guidance in studying the ocean of Buddhist teachings."^[7] Gerry Shishin Wick, who published a translation of Book of Equanimity in 2005, says "although it was collected by a master in the Soto lineage, The Book of Equanimity, they are treated as Koans in the Rinzai, some Rinzai schools, and the Soto school studied them, but more as liturgy, rather than as Koans."^[8]

Kōans included in Book of Equanimity

• 1 The World-Honored One Ascends the Rostrum
• 2 Bodhidharma's "Vast and Void"
• 3 The Indian King Invites the Patriarch
• 4 The World-Honored One Points to the Ground
• 5 Seigen's "Price of Rice"
• 6 Master Ba's "White and Black"
• 7 Yakusan Ascends the Rostrum
• 8 Hyakujô and the Fox
• 9 Nansen Kills a Cat
• 10 An Old Woman near Taizan
• 11 Unmon's "Two Diseases"
• 12 Jizô Plants the Rice Field
• 13 Rinzai's "Blind Donkey"
• 14 Attendant Kaku Offers Tea
• 15 Kyôzan Thrusts His Hoe into the Ground
• 16 Mayoku Shook the Ring-Staff
• 17 Hôgen's "Hairsbreadth"
• 18 Jôshû's Dog
• 19 Unmon's "Mt. Sumeru"
• 20 Jizô's "Most Intimate"
• 21 Ungan Sweeps the Ground
• 22 Gantô's Bow to the Kaatz
• 23 Roso Faces the Wall
• 24 Seppô's "Look at the Snake"
• 25 Enkan's "Rhinoceros Fan"

• 26 Kyôzan Points to Snow
• 27 Hôgen Points to the Bamboo Blinds
• 28 Gokoku's "Three Disgraces"
• 29 Fuketsu's "Iron Ox"
• 30 Daizui's "Kalpa Fire"
• 31 Unmon's "Pillar"
• 32 Kyôzan's Mind and Objective World
• 33 Sanshô's "Golden Scales"
• 34 Fuketsu's "Speck of Dust"
• 35 Rakuho's Obeisance
• 36 Master Ba Is Ill
• 37 Isan's "Karma-Consciousness"
• 38 Rinzai's "True Person"
• 39 Jôshû's "Wash Your Bowls"
• 40 Unmon's "White and Black"
• 41 Rakuho at His Deathbed
• 42 Nan'yô and the Water Jug
• 43 Razan's "Appearing and Disappearing"
• 44 Kôyô's "Suparnin"
• 45 Four Phrases from the Engaku Sutra
• 46 Tokusan's "Study Accomplished"
• 47 Jôshû's "Oak Tree in the Garden"
• 48 Vimalakirti's "Not-Two"
• 49 Tôzan and the Memorial Service
• 50 Seppô's "What Is This?"

• 51 Hôgen's "Boat or Land"
• 52 Sôzan's "Dharma-body"
• 53 Ôbaku's "Drinkers"
• 54 Ungan's "Great Mercy"
• 55 Seppô in Charge of Cooking
• 56 Misshi and the White Rabbit
• 57 Gon'yô's One "Thing"
• 58 "Getting Despised" in the Diamond Sutra
• 59 Seirin's "Deadly Snake"
• 60 Tetsuma, the Cow
• 61 Kempô's "One Line"
• 62 Beiko's "Enlightenment"
• 64 Shishô's "Succession"
• 63 Jôshû Asks about "Death"
• 65 Shuzan's "Bride"
• 66 Kyûhô's "Head and Tail"
• 67 The Wisdom in the Kegon Sutra
• 68 Kassan Brandishes the Sword
• 69 Nansen's "Cats and Foxes"
• 70 Shinsan Asks about Nature
• 71 Suigan's "Eyebrows"
• 72 Chûyû's "Monkey"
• 73 Sôzan's Filial Fulfillment
• 74 Hôgen's "Form and Name"
• 75 Zuigan's "Everlasting Principle"

• 76 Shuzan's Three Verses
• 77 Kyôzan: As His Profession Requires
• 78 Unmon's "Rice Cake"
• 79 Chôsa Takes a Step
• 80 Suibi and the Chin Rest
• 81 Gensha Reaches the Province
• 82 Unmon's: "Voice" and "Color"
• 83 Dôgo's Nursing the Ill
• 84 Gutei's One Finger
• 85 The National Teacher's Gravestone
• 86 Rinzai's Great Enlightenment
• 87 Sozan: With or Without
• 88 "Non-Seeing" in the Ryôgon Sutra
• 89 Tôzan's "Place of No Grass"
• 90 Kyôzan Speaks Out
• 91 Nansen and the Peonies
• 92 Unmon's "One Treasure"
• 93 Roso Does Not Understand
• 94 Tôzan Unwell
• 95 Rinzai Draws a Line
• 96 Kyûhô Does Not Acknowledge
• 97 Emperor Dôkô's Helmet Hood
• 98 Tôzan's "Intimate with It"
• 99 Unmon's "Bowl and Pail"
• 100 Rôya's "Mountains and Rivers"

Translations

• Book: Cleary, Thomas . Thomas Cleary

. Thomas Cleary . The Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues . . 9781590302491 .

• Book: Wick, Gerry Shishin . Gerry Shishin Wick

. Gerry Shishin Wick . The Book Of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans . registration. Wisdom Publications . 9780861713875 .

See also

• 101 Zen Stories
• The Gateless Gate
• Blue Cliff Record

External links

• Shōyōroku (Book of Equanimity)
• Poems reflecting the Book of Equanimity
• Dharma Talks by Shugen Sensei on the Book of Equanimity
• Dharma Talks by Yamada Koun Roshi on the Book of Equanimity
• The text in Chinese (copy at the Internet Archive)

Notes and References

1. Book: Buswell Jr. . Robert E. . Lopez Jr. . Donald S. . The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism . Princeton University Press . 2013 . 9781400848058 . 197 .
2. Web site: O'Brien. Barbara. Introduction to Koans. About.com. 2013-04-16. 2013-04-13. https://web.archive.org/web/20130413061111/http://buddhism.about.com/od/chanandzenbuddhism/a/Introduction-To-Koans.htm. dead.
3. Book: Wick, Gerry Shishin . Gerry Shishin Wick

   . Gerry Shishin Wick . The Book Of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans . registration. 2 . Wisdom Publications . 9780861713875 .

4. Book: Leighton, Taigen Dan . Taigen Dan Leighton

   . Taigen Dan Leighton . Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi . 2000. registration. 5 . Tuttle Publishing . 9780804832403 .

5. Web site: Reviews: Book of Serenity / The Gateless Barrier. Hamill . Sam. .
6. Book: Okumura, Shohaku . Shohaku Okumura

   . Shohaku Okumura . Realizing Genjokoan . 158 . Wisdom Publications . 9780861716012 .

7. Web site: Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues. Shambhala Publications. 2013-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20130305023959/http://www.shambhala.com/book-of-serenity.html#. 2013-03-05. dead.
8. Web site: BG 109: Koan Training and the Different Styles of Zen. Buddhist Geeks. 2013-04-16. https://web.archive.org/web/20130415145409/http://www.buddhistgeeks.com/2009/02/bg-109-koan-training-and-the-different-styles-of-zen/#. 2013-04-15. dead.