Back in the day, and I'm just talking about 1994, there were far fewer translations around of essential Zen texts. Now there are many, but I find myself returning again and again to some favorites from the last century. One that has always kept me supported in my practice is the Swiss scholar Urs App's translation of the Sayings of Yunmen.
Yunmen Wenyan is a familiar character to anyone who practices with koans. He lived in China in the 9th and 10th centuries. His most famous comment, which is the text for the first official Dharma talk from a newly transmitted teacher in my school of Zen, is "Every day is a good day."
Shambhala Publications has recently reissued a revised and updated version of App's book, which had originally been published by Kodansha International: Zen Master Yunmen; His Life and Essential Sayings. It's a beautiful production, and will, I have no doubt, be a wonderful companion to anyone who travels the Great Way.
Here is a quote from Yunmen's first talk in the Record. just to give you a taste:
"The knack of giving voice to the Dao is definitely difficult to figure out. Even if every word matches it, there still are a multitude of other ways; how much more so when I rattle on and on? So what's the point of talking to you right now?"
Indeed!
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