Readings of the Gateless Barrier

Jimmy Yu is Sheng Yen Professor of Chinese Buddhist Studies at the Florida State University. His recent books include Sanctity and Self-Inflicted Violence in Chinese Religions, 1500–1700 (2012) and Reimagining Chan Buddhism: Sheng Yen and the Creation of the Dharma Drum Lineage of Chan (2021). Known as Guo Gu in Buddhist circles, he is also a Chan teacher and publishes under that name.

• A Note to the ReaderIntroduction: The Gateless Barrier in Context, by Jimmy Yu1. The Gong’an Tradition in the Gateless Barrier as a “Special Transmission Outside the Teaching,” by Albert Welter2. Dahui Zong’gao and His Impact on the Gateless Barrier, by Jimmy Yu3. The Gateless Barrier and the Locus of Truth, by Jin Y. Park4. Paradox in the Gateless Barrier, by Robert H. Sharf5. Testing, Contesting, Besting: Ambiguity in Gong’an Dialogues, by Steven Heine6. A Gate of Their Own?: Women in Wumen’s World, by Natasha Heller7. Public Cases in Korean Sŏn Buddhism, byJuhn Y. Ahn8. From Secrecy to Openness: The Gateless Barrier in Premodern Japanese Zen, by Marta Sanvido9. Kōan Kufū: Embodying the Kōan in Rinzai Zen Practice, by Meido Moore10. On Kōan Training, by Jan Chozen BaysTranslation of the Gateless BarrierA Survey of English Translations of the Gateless BarrierCross-Reference to Citations of the Gateless BarrierCharacter GlossaryBibliographyContributorsIndex

The essays collected here—as lucid as they are learned—open up one of the most enigmatic works of religious literature for readers to explore a text that is equal parts lyrical, intriguing, infuriating, and funny. Readings of the Gateless Barrier is to be studied and savored.