These writings from the Golden Age of Zen in China - the 9th and 10th centuries - are some of the key teachings of the Five Houses of Zen, by some of the masters in Zen history. This collection includes: poetry from the Cascade Collection , sayings from The Essential Method of Transmission of Mind , the sayings of Pai-chang (such as a day without work, a day without food );Sun-chi’s discussion of the circular symbol in Zen teaching; the admonitions of Kuei-shan; and Yung-Ming’s teachings on concentration and insight - two basic aspects of Zen meditation.