No Barrier

Unlocking the Zen Koan

This collection of riddles, symbolic stories and mental exercises is the first English translation from the original Chinese of the Wumenguan - an ancient collection of Zen koans (known in Japanese as the Mumonkaa).

The text presents the fullest range of Zen teachings that can be presented in words.

Koans can be used to liberate the mind from its conditioned habits and assumptions - their very simplicity hides great sophistication. This translation also includes both the teaching stories of other Chinese sages inspired by the koans, and a commentary for Western readers.

Thomas Cleary is the author of "The Essential Tao" and "The Essential Confucius".