In this volume, The Buddhist Society presents Yoka Daishi's Realizing the Way, a T'ang Dynasty Chinese text known as Zhang Dao Ge, or Shodoka in Japanese. This 12th century Japanese edition has been translated by the Venerable Myokyo-ni and accompanied throughout by her own commentary on the text. The title, which is variously translated, is most commonly known as The Song of Enlightenment. With vivid imagery and striking turns of phrase, these verses weave in and out of the various Mahayana doctrines. Each section of the Song is accompanied here by extensive and illuminating commentary.

Yoka Daishi's Realizing The Way, Yoka Daishi, The Buddhist Society, Paperback, 288 pages, $17.95

The story of Yongjia's brief first encounter with Huineng is recorded in the Transmission of the Lamp.The tale tells of one of Huineng's students encountering Yongjia, and through conversation finding that his opinions were very similar to those of the great Zen teachers of the time. When asked who his teacher was, Yongjia replies that he had none, but rather he had attained his understanding from sutras, especially the Vimalakirti Sutra. Huineng's student then explains that one's understanding should be confirmed, to which Yongjia requests that he testify to his enlightenment.