When this book was published in 1957, it became a guide for an entire generation of Western seekers who had just begun to explore Zen philosophy. In the following years, it became a source of inspiration for prominent Zen teachers, students, and practitioners worldwide. The popularity of Zen philosophy is now greater than ever before. This book contains an astonishing collection of the most important sources that will allow readers to understand the meaning of Zen philosophy for themselves. Among these sources are the 101 Book, which contains the experiences of Chinese and Japanese Zen masters over more than five centuries, the Book which presents a large collection of Koan puzzles, and the Book which is a 12th-century commentary on the stages of consciousness that lead to enlightenment, and the Book whose roots trace back to India and which some consider to be the origins of Zen philosophy.