Daily Zen Library


The Lankavatara Sutra: Translation and Commentary

The Lankavatara Sutra is the holy grail of Zen. Zen’s first patriarch, Bodhidharma, gave a copy of this text to his successor, Hui-k’o, and told him everything he needed to know was in this book. Passed down from teacher to student ever since, this is the only Zen sutra ever spoken by the Buddha. Although it covers all the major teachings of Mahayana Buddhism, it contains but two teachings: that everything we perceive as being real is nothing but the perceptions of our own mind and that the knowledge of this is something that must be realized and experienced for oneself and cannot be expressed in words. In the words of Chinese Zen masters, these two teachings became known as “have a cup of tea” and “taste the tea.”

Fir and Walnut design

Display only.  Inquire for pricing. 7 3/4" long x 4 1/2" wide x 2 1/2" high This lovely box is a lovely balance of the lighter Douglas fir and the rich walnut and features box joints of each wood also.  The walnut handle provides s...

Details »