The Book of Equanimity
The Book of Equanimity is a well-regarded English language commentary on a classic compilation of Zen Koans, making them vividly relevant to spiritual seekers and Zen students in the twenty-first century. Using koans to experience the deepest truths of our being, Wick brings the art of the koan to life for those who want to practice Zen in their daily lives.
The koan collection Wick explores here is thought of as both literature and training material in Zen practice, in which koan-study is one of two paths a practitioner might take. This collection is used for training in many Zen centers in the Americas and in Europe and is now available for the first time with commentary from a contemporary Zen master. Wick’s Book of Equanimity includes new translations of the preface, main case and verse for each koan, as well as commentaries on the koans by the Zen master himself.
Koan Excerpt One From the Book of Equanimity
Dizang asked Fayan, “Where are you going?”
Fayan said, “I am wandering aimlessly.”
“What do you think of wandering?”
“I don’t know.” “Not knowing is most intimate.”
Fayan was suddenly awakened.
Koan Excerpt Two From the Book of Equanimity
PREFACE TO THE ASSEMBLY
By the activity existing before even a hint of this kalpa, a blind turtle faces
the fire. By the phrase that’s transmitted outside the scriptures, a mortar’s rim
spouts a flower. Tell me: is there something to receive, maintain, read, and
recite?
MAIN CASE
Attention! The ruler of a country in Eastern India invited the Twenty-Seventh Ancestor, Hannyatara, for a midmorning meal. The ruler asked him,
“Why don’t you read the sutras?” The Ancestor replied, “This poor follower
of the Way, when breathing in does not dwell in the realm of skandhas, and
when breathing out is not caught up in the many externals. Always do I thus
turn a hundred thousand million billion rolls of sutras.”APPRECIATORY VERSE
Cloud rhino sports with the moon and glows embracing its beams,-
wooden horse plays in the spring, unfettered and fleet.
Beneath his brows, two chill blue eyes—
what need to read sutras as though piercing oxhide!
Bright white mind transcends vast kalpas,
a hero’s strength tears through nested enclosures.
The subtle round hub-hole turns marvelous activities.
When Kanzan forgets the road whence he came,
Jittoku will lead him by hand to return.