Sayings and Tales of Zen Buddhism

The word ''Zen'' is considered by many to be an abbreviation for Zen Buddhism. However, today Zen is not tied to any particular group: it is a way of life, discipline and thinking. Zen practitioners use sayings and scriptures to help them uncover the secrets of the universe. The most often used is the Koan, a nonsensical question given to students for meditation. The answer to one of the best-known Koans ''What is the sound of one hand clapping?'' is, of course, ''silence'', the silence that permeates the universe. And for most of us unattainable without a good deal of practice, here is a treasury of such jewels of thought.