Zen Roots: The First Thousand Years

9 translations of Zen Buddhist sutras and sacred texts from the first 1,000 years of Zen—presented in a travel-friendly package for on-the-go reading or contemplation!

Dating from the middle of the second century B.C. to the middle of the ninth century A.D., Zen Roots includes:

• The Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, and Platform Sutra
• Selections from the Vimalakirti and Lankavatara sutras
• Bodhidharma’s Principles & Practice
• Sengcan’s Trusting the Mind
• Yongjia’s Song of Enlightenment
• Huangbo’s Transmission of the Mind

These translations are accompanied by introductions and enough notes to explain what needs explaining but not so many as to get in the way. Zen Roots is the perfect companion for travel, to accompany one to the higher elevations, or just to read in the backyard.

Red Pine was born in Los Angeles in 1943 and attended graduate school at Columbia University. An acclaimed translator, his published works include four major Buddhist texts: The Lankavatara Sutra, The Platform Sutra, The Diamond Sutra, and The Heart Sutra. He is also the author of Zen Baggage and Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits. He has lived in Taiwan and Hong Kong and has traveled extensively in China, visiting Zen temples and seeking out hermits. He now lives in Port Townsend, Washington.