To my knowledge there are no anthologies of Ch’an poetry in Chinese, Japanese or English which describe in detail the method of practice and the experience of Ch’an Furthermore, there are few prose sources in English dealing with the same topics On the other hand, there are numerous books in English that relate the episodes of the kung-ans(koans)The prevailing view that comes from reading these stories is that the practice of Ch’an is methodless, and since there is no way to describe the experience of Ch’an, it is suggested that we just go ahead and practice by studying the kung-ans The purpose of these poems is different in that they specifically show you how to practice, what attitudes to cultivate and what pitfalls to beware of Finally, they attempt to describe the ineffable experience of Ch’an itself These poems flow directly from the minds of the enlightened Ch’an masters; we get a glimpse into their experience at the time of, and after their enlightenment In contrast, in reading a kung-an we get an objective story of what happened and we don’t really know what was in their minds. It is my hope that this collection of poems will give those who are interested in the practice a new way of looking at Ch’an and a more balanced view of the scope of Ch’an literature The present selection is offered to make this tradition available to Western readers who may otherwise not be aware of their existence.
◆ 觀音,如何從眾菩薩中脫穎而出,成為最具中國特色的信仰文化?◆ 水月觀音、白衣觀音、送子觀音……所展現的本土化、女性化等藝術象徵,反映出那些歷史現象與社會心理意義?◆ 佛教經典、大悲懺儀、觀音傳說、文學藝術與地方傳統……◆ 在普陀山朝聖文化的孕育過程中,如何與觀音信仰保持創造性互動?觀音菩薩是佛教中慈悲的化身,在印度、東南亞與西藏,亦是象徵神聖王權的男性神祇,然而在中國,「他」卻變成了「她」,成為循聲救苦的「慈悲女神」,並擁有截然不同的歷史與身世,深刻地影響了國人的生活與信仰。于君方教授投注十多年的心血,以結合文化、藝術、社會、歷史等跨學科領域的創新研究方法,探討觀音經歷此戲劇性演變的原因與過程。除了佛經之外,本書將感應錄、朝聖故事、寺志與山志、民間文學、田野調查,以及反映觀音形象變化的藝術造型等全面納入討論範圍,是深入研究觀音信仰的突破性著作。◎「《觀音》是未來數十年內無人可匹敵的精心力作。」──太史文(Stephen F. Teiser),知名中國佛教學家,普林斯頓大學教授◎「本書對於幫助我們了解東亞佛教中的觀音有重大貢獻……,為這位大悲菩薩及此『慈悲女神』相關的宗教修行,提供了最清晰的解釋與觀點。」──狄百瑞(William Theodore de Bary),知名漢學家,哥倫比亞大學榮譽退休副校長◎「……本書無疑是未來研究觀音的新起點。于君方鉅細靡遺地探討了觀音複雜且輝煌的各個面向,在佛教研究中自成一類。」──梅維恆(Victor H. Mair),知名漢學家,賓夕法尼亞大學教授
作者簡介
于君方美國哥倫比亞大學(Columbia University)宗教學博士,專攻漢傳佛教研究。1972至2004年間任教於羅格斯大學宗教學系(Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey),現任哥倫比亞大學宗教學系、東亞語言文化學系,以及「聖嚴漢傳佛學講座」教授,致力於指導漢傳佛教的博士研究生。她的第一本著作《中國的佛教復興:袾宏與晚明的宗教融合》(The Renewal of Buddhism in China: Chu-hung and the Late Ming Synthesis , Columbia University Press 1981),是研究唐代以後佛教最早的英文著作之一,另合編有《中國的香客和聖地》(Pilgrims and Sacred Sites in China)。《觀音》一書的英文版於2001年由哥倫比亞大學出版社出版。
譯者簡介
陳懷宇生於江西。曾求學北京師範大學、北大、普林斯頓大學。現任教於亞利桑那州立大學。主要研究中國宗教史和思想史,著有The Revival of Buddhist Monasticism in Medieval China,並發表中英論文十餘篇。姚崇新1966年生,歷史學博士,中國中山大學人類學系副教授,哥倫比亞大學訪問學者。研究領域包括佛教考古與佛教社會史、中外文化交流考古等。代表性論著有《廣元唐代石窟造像分期研究》等。林佩瑩目前於英國倫敦大學攻讀宗教學博士。由於對佛教浩瀚之思想與融入民間發展之生命力深受感動,自台灣大學政治系國際關係組畢業後,開始邁入佛教歷史研究之領域。
From The Preface By Dan Stevenson EN. SHENG YEH is a master in the Caodong and Linji lineages of Chan〈Zen〉 school, who for twenty five years now has been guiding students from Taiwan, the United States, and Europe in the practice of Chan Buddhism. Hoofprint of the Ox provides a systematic introduction ─ in Sheng yen,s own words ─ to the principles that inform his particular style of Chan training.... In the final analysis, it is an unabashedly normative work ─ a book on Chan practice addressed to an English speaking audience with a personal interest in Buddhism. To the extent that this audience is also primarily Western, Hoofprint is more than passive report of Sheng yen,s personal convictions. It situates those convictions in responsive relation to specific expectations about Chen practice current among Western students, with specific points to be made.