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PART I

Zen In Time

In the light of the moment we are Lost in eternal Now

As emptiness beckons mysteriously

—C. Alexander Simpkins

History is usually about dates and events of the past. Zen’s history, however, is much more. Dialogues with pivotal masters, their pronouncements, and important incidents are windows that can show a doorway to Zen enlightenment. Stories about the founding Zen fathers were transformed into koans, teaching tools that transmitted the original spirit of Zen to later generations of students. When you read about how Bodhidharma stunned Emperor Wu, or when Lin-chi answered a student’s question with a strike, or how Dogen heard enlightenment’s wisdom from a cook, you get a vivid glimpse into the minds of these great teachers. Throughout Part I, as you learn about Zen’s journey from its beginnings, you may begin your own journey on the Path to enlightenment.

Limestone/Budda, Chinese, sixth century