Unfathomable Depths: Drawing Wisdom for Today from a Classical Zen Poem

Navigate a forgotten classic poem and enrich your practice with famed Zen master Sekkei Harada.

Three of the most pressing issues in any discussion of modern Zen are the true nature and function of Dharma transmission, how to appropriately practice with koans, and how to understand the "just sitting" of Soto Zen. Zen master Sekkei Harada uses the enigmatic "Ten Verses of Unfathomable Depth" as the basis of his practical and theoretical discussion of these concerns. Unfathomable Depths presents a concise treatment of Soto theory and practice, while delivering approachable and workable advice from one of Zen's most esteemed teachers. Rooting himself in Tong'an Changcha's classical poem, Harada intimately speaks to the world of Zen today.

Sekkei Harada is the abbot of Hosshinji, a Sōtō Zen monastery and temple in Japan. Born in 1926, he was ordained as a Zen priest in 1951 and recognized as a certified Zen master in 1976. Harada frequently travels abroad to teaching in Europe, the United States, and India. He also leads zazen groups within Japan, in Tokyo and Saitama.

Daigaku Rummé was born in 1950 in Mason City, Iowa. In 1976, he entered Hosshinji as a layman and was ordained by Harada Roshi in 1978. He lived and practiced at Hosshinji until 2003. On several occasions he accompanied Harada on his visits to Europe, India, and the United States, as his interpreter. Rummé has been head of the Soto Zen Mission in North America since 2010.