Dongshan's Five Ranks: Keys to Enlightenment

As preparation for a retreat soon to be led by Jack Duffy Roshi, I purchased Dongshan's Five Ranks: Keys to Enlightenment. Little did I understand at first the brilliant clarity of Bolleter's prose. But later on when I also realized that this book is an explication of the brilliant "Song of the Jewel Mirror Samadhi" that I have chanted with great feeling at the monastery for many years, I was delighted. That "Song" is an attempt by a number of Zen masters, over a span of centuries, to provide a clear synopsis of Dongshan's "Five Ranks". As such, I think this book is a treasure. Nine full bows to you from me, too, Ross Bolleter.Dave Gordon, author of "Into Light and Shadow", a novel

Academically rich, full of heart and expresses the depth of the way. A good place to start meeting life on life's terms.

Bolleter roshi deserves 5 stars but the material,unfortunately, does not rise to the occasion. Nevertheless I'm grateful for the first published work on the topic. It was sad to learn from the notes section that there are unpublished manuscripts of the blue cliff record and book of serenity by Robert Aitken Roshi . I hope he will consider working to get that material published in the future.

Essential reading for all Zen students – and a life expanding experience for readers in any tradition or no tradition.If our experience of emptiness has been genuine, it informs our engagement with the differentiated world. As the experience of emptiness fades, we don’t attempt to recreate it. Instead we enter our life fully, uniting with circumstances and facing up to challenges as they inevitably present themselves. This is the realm where we deepen our awakening through our engagement with others in the midst of a suffering world.Dongshan’s Five Ranks, p.77Not only is this is the first (thus only) comprehensive treatment of the classic Zen expression, Dongshan’s Five Ranks (inclusive of the ‘Cycle’ or ‘Five Modes of Merit) in English, it is a comprehensive presentation of authentic Zen in the 21st century.Robert Aitken once said to me, “The Way is founded in true experience and poetry.” The need to clarify the Way for oneself, and to find ways of conveying it to others, inspires poetry.Dongshan’s Five Ranks, p.77In his profoundly insightful treatment of the Five Ranks Zen teacher Ross Bolleter demonstrates an astonishingly clear way “of conveying it to others.” Indeed, Bolleter delivers nothing less than the Lion’s Roar of the Five Ranks, complete with a grand overview of Zen doctrine and methodology. Veteran Zen practitioners will find enough knowledge and insight in this book to merit it space on the ‘frequent access’ shelf, while first time Zen readers will come away with a reliable understanding of the fundamental characteristics Zen.Besides in depth commentary on the form and essence of the Five Ranks and Cycle of Merit, this book provides a wealth of background information and source material for allowing readers to appreciate the full context of Dongshan’s Five Ranks from an informed and accurate perspective. This information and material includes such things as sections on ‘The Philosophical Heritage of the Five Ranks’ (discussing essential Zen sources like Nagarjuna, the I-Ching, and Huayen Buddhism), ‘Working With the Five Ranks’ (discussing approaches for ‘study’ and ‘practice’ including their role in koan training, as well as possible approaches for shikantaza practitioners), and ‘The Five Modes of Time and Timelessness’ (discussing the nature of ‘time’ in Zen/Buddhism). This book also includes two translations of two of the classic treatises on the Five Ranks, one by Caoshan Benji (840-901), and one by Linji Yixuan (d. 866).One particular characteristic of Ross Bolleter’s expression is his rare insight into the nature and role of language in Zen practice-enlightenment. Unlike many Zen writers, Bolleter does not shy away from the fact (or worse, deny it) that Zen language is not independent of Zen itself. For instance he writes:…the Five Ranks are not simply expedient teachings. They are a direct presentation of the inexpressible, essential Way. It is true that this is the default mode for all language and communication, but, especially with regard to the Five Ranks, I feel that Dongshan consciously and deliberately crafted them to focus, and as far as possible, to directly present the timeless essential realm. The essential cannot be expressed in words; rather, it is expressed as words.Dongshan’s Five Ranks, p.77In short, Dongshan's Five Ranks: Keys to Enlightenment, is the best treatment of the Five Ranks available in English, and it is the best Zen book by a contemporary Zen teacher I have seen in a long, long time.Thank you Ross Bolleter – Nine Full Bows

Ross Bolletter does a phenomenal job of bringing this cryptic and poetic Chan ("Zen") map of awakening to life!

This work require meticulous efforts to achieve. Never found its equivalents in Chinese. There are several Japanese books on the topic but I can't read. Some Chinese scholar simply dismissed the "Five Ranks" as unimportant guide for those who have no ideas about Ch'an. However, after one reads this book. Its importance will undoubtedly reveal itself. Thanks the author for this marvelous book!

I don't know why the author wrote this book, he doesn't actually understand the five ranks.He also doesn't seem to understand that emptiness is unimportant as a concept, it's merely a tool that cuts out attachments.For those who are impatient, here is a summary of the five ranks:1) Without distraction, deep in meditation, you achieve realization2) With your eyes open, looking around, you are still able to remain awake3) At this point, you are stable enough to teach those who want to learn from you without being knocked over4) In the fourth stage you can return to the world, where even the worst unbeliever, the worst devil can't disturb your enlightened state5) In the fifth stage, your anger and emotion have fully burned out, the three poisons are gone.Enlightenment is relieving all suffering by removing desire.

Morning Starthrough branches of eucalypt - piercingly bright

ALWAYS GOING ONRoss Bolleter takes us through a wonderful poetic journey via dongshans five ranks . For me this is a journey of a lifetime which has no beginning and no end. It's always going on always becoming Buddha although I cannot comprehend all the nuancer that the five ranks convey, they still leave me with many openings,always so much more to learn from them. Ross makes it all more real by bringing in another from zen folk stories, friends and poems, which engage us with the here and now, not just flight of fancy. The path is endless, so thanks Ross for these stepping stones. Robert Aikton and Anne must be chuckling away in there golden eternity.With spring passingThe last crimson ray fadesJust as clouds appear