Hakuin Zenji

Description
The book "Hakuin Ekaku Zenji" by Ronald Allen (2022) is a compilation of the life and teachings of Hakuin Ekaku, a highly influential figure in Japanese Zen Buddhism. Born in 1686 in Hara, Japan, Hakuin was a devout Nichiren Buddhist, inspired by a lecture he heard on the topic of the Eight Hot Hells. He became a monk at the age of fifteen, first at Shōin-ji and then at Daishō-ji, where he studied Buddhist texts, including the Lotus Sutra. However, he found the Lotus Sutra disappointing and eventually left Daishō-ji for Zensō-ji, where he was disheartened by the story of the murdered Chinese Ch'an master Yantou Quanhuo. After travelling and studying with various scholars, Hakuin had an enlightening experience at Eigen-ji, but his master refused to acknowledge it.
The book also includes quotes from Hakuin, as well as three stories, including "The Dog and Buddha Nature," and the "Shōju Rōjin" story. In addition, the book covers Hakuin's teachings on Zazen Wasan Song of Zazen and koan practice, as well as four poems by Hakuin. The book provides a comprehensive overview of Hakuin's life and teachings, providing insight into his role in reviving the Rinzai school of Zen Buddhism and his contributions to the practice of meditation and koan study.
Hakuin's teachings and practices had a profound impact on the Rinzai school of Zen, and he is regarded as one of the greatest Zen masters in Japanese history. His approach to Zen emphasized the importance of personal practice and the integration of meditation and koan study. He also emphasized the need to move beyond the duality of words and concepts, and to experience the unity of self and the world.
In addition to his contributions to Zen, Hakuin was also a talented artist and calligrapher. He is best known for his paintings of Zen themes, such as the "Zen Circle" and the "Wind and Thunder". These works have become symbols of Hakuin's teachings and continue to be widely admired and studied today.