---
product_id: 12190655
title: "The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi"
brand: "burton watson"
price: "$68.33"
currency: USD
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 8
url: https://www.desertcart.us/products/12190655-the-zen-teachings-of-master-lin-chi
store_origin: US
region: United States of America
---

# The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi

**Brand:** burton watson
**Price:** $68.33
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi by burton watson
- **How much does it cost?** $68.33 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
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## Description

The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi

## Images

![The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51nYpgSGC3L.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Zen straight...no chaser
  

*by J***L on Reviewed in the United States on February 9, 2010*

The teachings of Lin-chi can be a rough ride for those who are attracted to the more flowery descriptions of paths to enlightenment and nirvana encountered elsewhere.  The reader is more likely to be confronted with Lin-chi's infamous shouts and blows that may resemble Cher slapping Nicholas Cage in the movie Moonstruck and telling him to "snap out of it!" more than the airy, comforting words used by some of today's teachers and practitioners.  This is not to suggest that Cher is an enlightened Zen master, but metaphors often come from unexpected places!  Lin-chi himself does not hesitate to resort to extreme hyperbole, violent metaphor and scatological references in order to emphatically make a point.It was Lin-chi who borrowed the Taoist term "chen-jen" (buji-nin in Japanese) to describe the "Natural or True Man of No Rank."  Bu and chen refer to the unparticularized and uncontrived, while nin and jen literally mean man or person.  His emphasis on being natural and "doing nothing" is often misinterpreted as being a slacker rather than his stated intention in pointing out the potential pitfalls of becoming entangled in the rituals and trappings of overly conceptualized practices.  Unfortunately, today's institutionalized Zen schools have misappropriated the term "Buji-Zen" and apply it in a derogatory manner to those who are lazy or frivolous in their approach to individual practice.The reader will realize early on that the "father of Rinzai Zen" was neither frivolous nor lazy.  His teaching is strong medicine, with no sugar offered to help the medicine go down.  Highly recommended.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 5.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    Five Stars
  

*by J***D on Reviewed in the United States on June 27, 2016*

If you place faith in these one-size-fits-all, fill-out-the-form reviews of books, you will get what you deserve.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4.0 out of 5 stars







  
  
    you know you don't need this, but that doesn't make it bad
  

*by R***T on Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2011*

While this is no Zen Teachings of Huang Po, there are statements made herein that strike the brain faster and harder than most other teachings. I was reluctant to buy it, because Huang Po would have hit me for doing so, and Lin Chi likely would have done the same. Regardless, I wanted to see what Lin Chi had to say about Real stuff, and I was repaid for my curiosity.This book is short and is divided into several sections. Some are the usual - Zen master is asked a question, Zen master hits questioner or shouts or does something other than provide a direct, conceptual reply. Questioner walks away puzzled and reader falls asleep with half empty beer in hand. One section, on the other hand, consists of Lin Chi giving actual brain-shaking speeches that are even more forceful and direct than Huang Po himself. This section (Section Two) makes this book worth the purchase price, even if you are a true simpleton who understands that any advice is simply better than current ignorance but nowhere near real comprehension.I find it hard to recommend a book on Zen when I myself never plan on reading it again myself, but it works better than the 4 million Zen teachers who make a living writing books on how Zen applies to cleaning your house. I guess that's worth something.

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Zen Teachings of Master Lin-Chi: A Translation of the Lin-chi lu
- ZEN TEACHING OF HUANG PO

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*Product available on Desertcart United States of America*
*Store origin: US*
*Last updated: 2026-03-07*