Albert Welter has opened the gates to reveal the essential nature of the Zen Record of Linji (Rinzai) in this remarkable study.

Approaching this extremely influential Zen record from an objective, non-sectarian perspective, Welter offers the reader an in-depth, detailed overview of how—and why—this vastly important text was developed and refined by the great Chinese Linji (Rinzai) masters of the Song dynasty (960-1279)

The record of Linji is easily one of the half dozen or so most influential Zen texts in the massive corpus of Zen writings. Its importance spread far beyond the Linji sect and has been and continues to be deeply studied by all schools of Zen. Eihei Dogen, recognized as the founder of Soto Zen in Japan, was thoroughly familiar with the text and often quotes it as authoritative in many of his writings.

As the scholarship of recent decades continues to re-vise and clarify the reality of Zen’s history, teachings, and methods, Zen students are extremely fortunate to have the work of scholars like Albert Welter to help them sort out the authentic from the inauthentic. This study sheds light allowing the universal elements of Zen to be discerned from the sectarian, institutional, dogmatic, and superstitious, thus allowing students to more efficiently put the liberating teachings of Zen into practice in the world today.

 

Dale S. Wright, the author of the landmark book, Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism, aptly observes that Albert Welter’s “comprehensive and innovative” approach,

“…focuses directly on this classic text, showing how both the text and the image of the Zen master in it developed in the course of Chan history…”

As Prof. Wright goes on to say, Welter’s study, “sheds new light on classical Chan literature and the emergence of this fascinating form of Buddhism.”

While the fact that Linji did not compose this record himself has long been acknowledged, the true authors of the text—and their motives—have been largely ignored—until now. Welter takes the reader step by step through the development of the Linji lu—and shows how its evolution slowly, and drastically altered the image of Linji himself.

Steven Heine, author of a number of outstanding Zen studies, including, Dogen and the Koan Tradition, observes that this study:
“…helps us understand the formation of Chan writings from the Song dynasty dealing with eminent Tang patriarchs.”

The Linji Lu and the Creation of Chan Orthodoxy is a great book on the Record of Linji and its history, as well as the authentic teachings and techniques of Zen Buddhism.