Summary
"This is a pivotal work on a pivotal period in Chinese Buddhism. It exhibits rare insights into the inner workings of the great T'ien-tai master Chi-i, who greatly changed the course of Far Eastern Buddhism with his unique interpretation of key Mahyamika doctrines. The analisys of Chi-i's principal works is precise, incisive and brilliant. The work sets a high standard on probing Buddhist hermeneutics as well as for future depth studies in Chinese Buddhism."
- Kenneth K. Inada, State University of New York at Buffalo.

Summary
Commentary on Buddhist canonical text ascribed to Asaçnga

Summary
"The author elucidates in the course of his inquiry that Zen, shown of its institutionalized practices, is essentially a pointer to an insight into the simple truth of living - a path, yet not of time, that is basically the same as the direct approach which has been so clearly indicated by J. Krishnamurti. "Zen Buddhism can be described as a school seeking to find the 'self', rather than in ceremony or doctrine, the path to wisdom, and has its inner message; the less done, the clearer is reality; the less said, the more direct our apprehension." (From the back cover of the book).

Summary
From The Critics
Three quarters of this collection of articles by an outstanding philosopher of the Kyoto school is devoted to elucidating Zen for the West. The level of treatment presupposes some experience in Zen meditation as well as a solid background in philosophy and religion. Readers possessing these will find Abe's expositions of Mu , nirvana, purity, Emptiness, Buddha-Nature in Dogen as well as comparisons with Nietzsche, Whitehead, Tillich, Christianity, and science very valuable. The final section, which urges the necessity of transcending nationalism in order to realize a true world community bound together in egoless compassion, is especially timely as well as accessible to educated nonspecialists. Highly recommended. Astrid M. O'Brien, Humanities Div., Fordham Univ., Coll. at Lincoln Ctr., New York . Library Journal.