The Surangama Sutra (Leng Yen Ching): Chinese Rendering by Master Paramiti of Central North India at Chih Chih Monastery, Canton, China, AD 705; Commentary (abridged) by Ch?an Master Han Shan (1546-1623)

DETAILS : 

• Author : Leng Yen Ching and Charles Luk
  
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers
  
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ 31 December 2000
  
• Edition ‏ : ‎ New
  
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
  
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 262 pages
  
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 8121510023
  
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-8121510028
  
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 500 g

ABOUT THE BOOK

he Śūraṅgama Sūtra (often referred to by the Cantonese transliteration Leng Yen Ching) is one of the most important and profound texts in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition, particularly within Zen (Chan) and Pure Land schools. The version translated by Charles Luk (Lu K'uan Yü) is widely praised for its clarity and its ability to render deep "mind-only" philosophy into readable English.

Often called the "Sutra of the Indestructible," this text is primarily a manual for meditative practice and spiritual discernment. Key themes include:

• The Return of the Mind: The Buddha instructs his disciple Ananda on how to distinguish between the "false mind" (the shifting world of senses and thoughts) and the "true mind" (the eternal, luminous Essence of Mind).
• The Twenty-five Sages: A famous section where twenty-five enlightened beings describe the different methods they used to attain realization, culminating in Avalokiteshvara’s method of "turning the hearing inward."
• The Fifty Skandha Demons: A unique and vital warning system for meditators, detailing fifty different psychological delusions or "demonic" states that can arise during deep meditation.
• The Surangama Mantra: The sutra is the source of the powerful Surangama Mantra, which is chanted daily in Zen monasteries to protect the practitioner from spiritual obstacles.
  

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Charles Luk (1898–1978) was a pivotal figure in bringing the profound teachings of Chinese Chan (Zen) Buddhism to the West. A devoted disciple of the legendary Chan Master Xu Yun (Empty Cloud), Luk was tasked by his master with translating core Chinese Buddhist texts to ensure their survival and spread in the English-speaking world.

Luk’s translations are distinguished by:

• Practitioner’s Perspective: He did not translate as a mere academic, but as a lifelong meditator, ensuring that the "flavor" of Zen practice was preserved.
• Terminology: He was a pioneer in creating a specialized English vocabulary for Chan concepts, often providing extensive footnotes to explain the nuances of the original Chinese and Sanskrit terms.
• Legacy: Living in Hong Kong, he acted as a bridge between the ancient lineages of mainland China and the burgeoning interest in Zen in the United Kingdom and United States during the mid-20th century.