Book of Equanimity

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 (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

• Cleary, Thomas. The Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 9781590302491.
• Wick, Gerry Shishin. The Book Of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 9780861713875.

See also

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

References

1. Buswell Jr., Robert E.; Lopez Jr., Donald S. (2013). The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. Princeton University Press. p. 197. ISBN 9781400848058.
2. O'Brien, Barbara. "Introduction to Koans". About.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-13. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
3. Wick, Gerry Shishin. The Book Of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans. Wisdom Publications. p. 2. ISBN 9780861713875.
4. Leighton, Taigen Dan (2000). Cultivating the Empty Field: The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi. Tuttle Publishing. p. 5. ISBN 9780804832403.
5. Hamill, Sam. "Reviews: Book of Serenity / The Gateless Barrier". Tricycle: The Buddhist Review.
6. Okumura, Shohaku. Realizing Genjokoan. Wisdom Publications. p. 158. ISBN 9780861716012.
7. "Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues". Shambhala Publications. Archived from the original on 2013-03-05. Retrieved 2013-04-16.
8. "BG 109: Koan Training and the Different Styles of Zen". Buddhist Geeks. Archived from the original on 2013-04-15. Retrieved 2013-04-16.

External links

• Shōyōroku (Book of Equanimity)
• Poems reflecting the Book of Equanimity Archived 2016-03-05 at the Wayback Machine
• 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)