Hoofprint of the Ox

This book offers a comprehensive introduction to the Chan (Japanese, Zen) Buddhist Path. The author, Chan Master Sheng-yen, is a revered figure in the Chinese Buddhist diaspora who divides his time between institutions in Taipei and New York. Although Zen Buddhism originated and evolved in China and is experiencing a revival there today, most Westerners are far more familiar with its Japenese manifestation as popularised by D.T. Suzuki. Master Sheng-yen hopes this book will rectify this situation. Most of the book is given over to normative instructions on the Buddhist path, intended for readers with a personal interest in Buddhist thought and practice. Sheng-yen offers readers a course that blends academic learning, study of Buddhist doctrine, and rigorous meditation practice. The title of the book refers to the Ten Ox-herding Pictures - a set of diagrams used by Buddhists in East Asia since at least the 12th century to chart the stages of spiritual progress on the Chan Path. In the early stages of practice, the learner has to follow the "hoofprints of the ox", which represents the teachings offered by scripture and oral tradition. The ox itself is the Buddha nature, which the practitioner must first recognise and ultimately master. The final chapter of the book consists of an exegesis of these famous diagrams. Throughout the book, master Sheng-yen takes care to place Chan within its proper context in relation to other traditional froms of Buddhist teaching and practice.