--- product_id: 7652480 title: "The Ceasing of Notions: An Early Zen Text from the Dunhuang Caves with Selected Comments" price: "127.77 DT" currency: TND in_stock: true reviews_count: 10 url: https://www.desertcart.tn/products/7652480-the-ceasing-of-notions-an-early-zen-text-from-dunhuang store_origin: TN region: Tunisia --- # The Ceasing of Notions: An Early Zen Text from the Dunhuang Caves with Selected Comments **Price:** 127.77 DT **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Ceasing of Notions: An Early Zen Text from the Dunhuang Caves with Selected Comments - **How much does it cost?** 127.77 DT with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.tn](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/7652480-the-ceasing-of-notions-an-early-zen-text-from-dunhuang) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Among the writings from the Dunhuang Caves, discovered in the mid-twentieth Century, are the Zen equivalent of the Dead Sea Scrolls--ancient texts unknown for centuries. The Ceasing of Notions is one such text. It takes a unique form: a dialogue between two imaginary figures, a master and his disciple, in which the disciple tenaciously pursues the master's pity utterances with follow-up questions that propel the dialogue toward ever more profound insights. And these questions prove to be the reader's very own. Soko Morinaga brings alive this compact and brilliant text with his own vivid commentary. This volume also includes a generous selection from Morinaga's acclaimed autobiography, Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of my Own Stupidity . Review: An Important Contribution to the Practice of Zen Teachers and Students. - Myokyo-ni and Michelle Bromley are owed the thanks of practitioners of Zen Buddhism for this translation of the ancient Chinese texts known as the The Jue-Yan lun [The Ceasing of Notions], a dialogue about the practice of the Buddhism between a novice, Emmon (Chinese: Yuanmen), and his teacher, the monk Nyuri (Chinese: Ruli). The text is known in several ancient variants that accumulate emendations and elaborations as various teachers of this early school of Chan (Chinese for the Japanese term Zen) Buddhism made many anonymous contributions. The practice of extending a revered text was not a hoax, but a manner of honouring an past teacher of the tradition. The result is this important contribution not only to our historical understanding of early Chinese Zen, but a real contribution Zen's present day teachers and students. Review: Grow up along with two Zen Buddhists - Did you ever try to extract the nut meat from a hard hickory nut? If so, you have a clue to the challenge of the text and commentary of "The Ceasing of Notions; An Early Zen Text from the Dunhuang Caves"; first published in 1988 by the Zen Trust and The Buddhist Society, London; printed in 2012 by Wisdom Publications, Boston, with a new Introduction by Martin Colcutt of Princeton University. The translation of the early Chinese Zen text derives from a German translation by Ursula Jarand, which then was translated into English by Venerable Myokyo-ni and Michelle Bromley. Selected Comments on the text are by Soko Morinaga Roshi. Martin Colcutt's Introduction deals with the world of early Chinese Buddhism; the emergence in China of Zen as a form of Buddhist practice; textual origins and development; the interpretation and place of the text in subsequent times and places; and the meaning of Chinese words central to the text. Repeated recourse to The Introduction is helpful as one studies the text. The text consists of a series of questions asked by Emmon, a young Buddhist, and of answers given by Master Nyuri, his Zen spiritual guide. Emmon has many doubts, and many fixed views. Master Nyuri again and again cuts to the heart of what human delusion is, as he prods and lures Emmon to understand the Way. Closely interwoven with sections of the Zen text are the Selected Comments by Soko Morinaga Roshi. The Comments generally clarify the meaning of specific Chinese characters, words and phrases in the text. To a certain degree, the Comments try to explicate the nature of Emmon's assumptions and difficulties (as a student of Zen Buddhism) and the nature of Master Nyuri's own enlightenment and progress in the Way. The writer's explications may seem as opaque as the text Text and commentary alike will challenge the understanding of the honest practitioner in the Way of the Buddha. The awful demand and the awful depth of the text slowly will make sense to the Buddhist practitioner who is humble, patient, and careful - important virtues, you will recall, when you take the hickory nut, crack it, extract the nut meat from the shell, and encounter the nut's unique flavor. The text and commentary are such a challenge and offer such nourishment. Text and commentary are such that a reader who has little experience of Buddhist practice, or merely is curious or indifferent. will be confounded or bored, and will move to other activity. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #127,428 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #53 in Buddhist Sacred Writings (Books) #115 in Buddhist Rituals & Practice (Books) #143 in Zen Spirituality | | Customer Reviews | 4.8 out of 5 stars 39 Reviews | ## Images ![The Ceasing of Notions: An Early Zen Text from the Dunhuang Caves with Selected Comments - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71dYmJzlVcL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ An Important Contribution to the Practice of Zen Teachers and Students. *by S***E on May 15, 2018* Myokyo-ni and Michelle Bromley are owed the thanks of practitioners of Zen Buddhism for this translation of the ancient Chinese texts known as the The Jue-Yan lun [The Ceasing of Notions], a dialogue about the practice of the Buddhism between a novice, Emmon (Chinese: Yuanmen), and his teacher, the monk Nyuri (Chinese: Ruli). The text is known in several ancient variants that accumulate emendations and elaborations as various teachers of this early school of Chan (Chinese for the Japanese term Zen) Buddhism made many anonymous contributions. The practice of extending a revered text was not a hoax, but a manner of honouring an past teacher of the tradition. The result is this important contribution not only to our historical understanding of early Chinese Zen, but a real contribution Zen's present day teachers and students. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Grow up along with two Zen Buddhists *by J***S on September 4, 2014* Did you ever try to extract the nut meat from a hard hickory nut? If so, you have a clue to the challenge of the text and commentary of "The Ceasing of Notions; An Early Zen Text from the Dunhuang Caves"; first published in 1988 by the Zen Trust and The Buddhist Society, London; printed in 2012 by Wisdom Publications, Boston, with a new Introduction by Martin Colcutt of Princeton University. The translation of the early Chinese Zen text derives from a German translation by Ursula Jarand, which then was translated into English by Venerable Myokyo-ni and Michelle Bromley. Selected Comments on the text are by Soko Morinaga Roshi. Martin Colcutt's Introduction deals with the world of early Chinese Buddhism; the emergence in China of Zen as a form of Buddhist practice; textual origins and development; the interpretation and place of the text in subsequent times and places; and the meaning of Chinese words central to the text. Repeated recourse to The Introduction is helpful as one studies the text. The text consists of a series of questions asked by Emmon, a young Buddhist, and of answers given by Master Nyuri, his Zen spiritual guide. Emmon has many doubts, and many fixed views. Master Nyuri again and again cuts to the heart of what human delusion is, as he prods and lures Emmon to understand the Way. Closely interwoven with sections of the Zen text are the Selected Comments by Soko Morinaga Roshi. The Comments generally clarify the meaning of specific Chinese characters, words and phrases in the text. To a certain degree, the Comments try to explicate the nature of Emmon's assumptions and difficulties (as a student of Zen Buddhism) and the nature of Master Nyuri's own enlightenment and progress in the Way. The writer's explications may seem as opaque as the text Text and commentary alike will challenge the understanding of the honest practitioner in the Way of the Buddha. The awful demand and the awful depth of the text slowly will make sense to the Buddhist practitioner who is humble, patient, and careful - important virtues, you will recall, when you take the hickory nut, crack it, extract the nut meat from the shell, and encounter the nut's unique flavor. The text and commentary are such a challenge and offer such nourishment. Text and commentary are such that a reader who has little experience of Buddhist practice, or merely is curious or indifferent. will be confounded or bored, and will move to other activity. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The Heart of Zen practice. *by M***7 on July 11, 2013* This marvelous work cuts through all the "red tape" of Zen/Chan psychological perspectives and leads the reader to the core of Zen practice. I do feel that it is geared for the mature Zen practitioner and might cause confusion or even dismay in the novice zennist. that being said, I recommend it highly. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.tn/products/7652480-the-ceasing-of-notions-an-early-zen-text-from-dunhuang](https://www.desertcart.tn/products/7652480-the-ceasing-of-notions-an-early-zen-text-from-dunhuang) --- *Product available on Desertcart Tunisia* *Store origin: TN* *Last updated: 2026-09-17*