Chan Master Sheng Yen (1930-2009) was a widely respected Taiwanese Chan (Chinese Zen) master who taught extensively in the West during the last thirty-one y ears of his life, with twenty-one centers throughout North America, as well as dozens of others throughout the world. He has co-led retreats with the Dalai Lama, and he is the author of numerous books in Chinese and English, including Song of Mind, The Method of No-Method, and his autobiography, Footprints in the Snow.
     "With skill and authority, Master Sheng-yen's new commentary uses the sutra as a means of elucidating the essentials of Ch'an practice. His commentary bears eloquent witness to the vitality of Ch'an tradition in our day. It is an excellent place to begin for anyone who wishes to learn what that tradition is all about." –Peter N. Gregory, Professor of Buddhist Studies, University of Illinois