No-Gate Gateway: The Original Wu-Men Kuan

… reviewing a core book on Zen would be totally lost on not-Zen people.For us insiders, it’s really good. Very pithy.

Working with koans, one tries to get to the heart of them, which includes becoming so much a part of them that one is transported back in time, face-to-face with the teachers and students of the past and a culture and language so different from ours. Hinton’s translations break through the language barrier. Just the translations of the names into what they actually mean instead of the meaningless Chinese and Japanese “sounds” that we are accustomed to is a pleasure and brings us closer to the heart and spirit of koan study and the worthies of old. This book is a must-read companion to anyone working with koans, or anyone who has done. My only complaint is that now I hunger for Hinton to translate both the Blue Cliff Record and the Book of Serenity, too! Thank you, Mr. Hinton.

The depth of insight into the ideograms brings living meaning to a western reader. Hinton's translating skills brings the power of these Chinese texts to the english language. Strongly recommended for those with an interest in Taoism and or Ch'an.

If you even possess a casual affinity for using koans as a trigger for non-dual immersive experience, David Hinton’s book should figure among your required reading. Like many a Zen student of the Boomer generation my lens for koans came almost exclusively though the Japanese tradition. Hintons book opens upon the public cases of Chinese Cha’an tradition fresh and accessible eyes—and heart. Highly readable for Western students of Zen.

David Hinton is a treasure. All his translations and writings are beautiful, clear, and deep. They open paths to the ancient Chinese spirit that we in the West and East need to understand today.

Very illuminating introduction about the relationship between Taoism and Buddhism.

as much as I enjoy Hinton's poetical approach to 'this matter', I found these translations to be confusing. It may work for those of a Daoist inclination, but I find them awkward and wholly dependent on serious explanation of word choice (partly addressed in the Intro)."A monk asked Master Visitation-Land: 'A dog too has Buddha-nature, no?''Absence,' Land replied.I still find such talk by Hinton fascinating and insightful, but in this case, perhaps a bit labored, perhaps...I can't help but think of the great Daoist Sengzhao and his conversion to the Buddhadharma.