Master of Zen

Extraordinary Teachings from Hui Neng's Altar Sutra

Adapted by Tze-si Huang / Illustrated by Demi / Translated by Tze-si Huang
Published by World Wisdom
Distributed by Simon & Schuster
LIST PRICE $24.95

About The Book

Recognized as one of the greatest masterpieces of Buddhist literature, the teachings of Hui Neng have brought joy and inspiration to countless people since they were first written down in the sixth century. An illiterate woodcutter who was instantly enlightened, Hui Neng went on to become the Sixth Patriarch of Zen Buddhism. As a founding father of Zen, his profound, yet simple, teachings speak from a fullness of heart and mind.

About The Illustrator

Demi is the award-winning author of over 300 bestselling children’s books, including Jesus, Mary, Moses and the Ten Commandments, The Psalms of King David, and The Wisdom of Solomon. Her titles have sold over two million copies. The Empty Pot was selected by former First Lady Barbara Bush in 1990 as one of the books to be read on the ABC Radio Network Program Mrs. Bush’s Story Time, sponsored by the Children’s Literacy Initiative. Demi’s book Gandhi was named a New York Times Best Illustrated Book and received an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Platinum Award. Major exhibitions of her work have been held in numerous museums in the U.S., including the Time/Life Gallery in New York, the Botolph Galleries in Boston and Cambridge, and the Los Angeles County Museum. Demi won a Fulbright Scholarship to India, and in addition she represented the U.S. at the First International Children’s Book Conference in Beijing, China, in 1992. She lives in Yarrow Point, WA. 

Product Details

  • Publisher: World Wisdom (August 16, 2012)
  • Length: 180 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781936597185

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Raves and Reviews

From instant enlightenment to conscious departure, the Sixth (and last) Patriarch of Ch’an (Zen) Buddhism, Hui Neng, is the subject of Master of Zen. From the seventh Century AD, these stories, illuminating the Buddhist ‘middle way,’ come to life with fresh translations by Tze-si Huang, a native of China and long-time Buddhist; black-and-white line drawings accompany the text on facing pages, illustrated by Huang’s wife, noted children’s book illustrator, Demi. The deceptively simple, though not necessarily easy, text and drawings trace the wisdom journey of Hui Neng in the ‘Altar Sutra.’ Although poor and untutored, Hui Neng came into enlightenment in a marketplace when he overheard a monk chanting the Diamond Sutra. It’s an inviting introduction for all spiritual seekers to drop deeply into the lessons of an enlightened master, considered the ‘father’ of Zen.

– Foreword Reviews

Master Of Zen: Extraordinary Teachings From Hui Neng's Altar Sutra receives fine drawings by the famous artist Demi - some ninety black and white illustrations - to accompany the survey of an illiterate woodcutter who became the Sixth Patriarch of Chan (Zen) Buddhism. This contains his discourses and blends in a revealing autobiography, creating a fine and inspiring set of vignettes and reflections highly recommended for any Zen holding

– Midwest Book Review

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