Zen Lessons

This guide to enlightened conduct for people in positions of authority is based on the teachings of several great Zen masters of China. Drawing on private records, letters, and long-lost documents of the Song dynasty (tenth to thirteenth century), the book consists of short excerpts written in a language that is accessible to readers without any background in Eastern philosophy. In part, the teachings are a guide to recognizing genuine spiritual authority in a Zen teacher—guidance that has been much needed throughout the history of Zen, owing to the prevalence of imitators and false teachers. The book may also be read as a study of the personal qualities and conduct necessary for the mastery of any position of power and authority, whether religious, social, political, or organizational.