Alan Cole is an independent scholar who has taught at Lewis & Clark College, Harvard University, the University of Illinois, the University of Oregon, and the National University of Singapore.

"As perceptive as it is erudite, and [Cole's] prose is uncommonly readable.... This gem of cogent, provocative scholarship belongs in all collections."

• Preface A Note on References to the Chinese Buddhist Canon Introduction: Chan-What Is It? 1. Making History: Chan as an Art Form 2. Plans for the Past: Early Accounts of How Perfect Truth Came to China 3. Portable Ancestors: Bodhidharma Gets Two New Families 4. More Local Buddhas Appear: Jingjue, Huineng, Shenhui 5. Truth, Conspiracy, and Careful Writing: A New Version of Huineng 6. The Platform Sutra and Other Conspiracy Theories 7. Chan "Dialogues" from the Tang Dynasty 8. Chan Compendiums from the Song Dynasty 9. Rules for Purity: Handbooks for Running Chan Monasteries 10. Koans and Being There Conclusions: Chan, a Buddhist Beauty Bibliography Glossary Index

Alan Cole is an independent scholar who has taught at Lewis & Clark College, Harvard University, the University of Illinois, the University of Oregon, and the National University of Singapore.

"As perceptive as it is erudite, and [Cole's] prose is uncommonly readable.... This gem of cogent, provocative scholarship belongs in all collections."

• Preface A Note on References to the Chinese Buddhist Canon Introduction: Chan-What Is It? 1. Making History: Chan as an Art Form 2. Plans for the Past: Early Accounts of How Perfect Truth Came to China 3. Portable Ancestors: Bodhidharma Gets Two New Families 4. More Local Buddhas Appear: Jingjue, Huineng, Shenhui 5. Truth, Conspiracy, and Careful Writing: A New Version of Huineng 6. The Platform Sutra and Other Conspiracy Theories 7. Chan "Dialogues" from the Tang Dynasty 8. Chan Compendiums from the Song Dynasty 9. Rules for Purity: Handbooks for Running Chan Monasteries 10. Koans and Being There Conclusions: Chan, a Buddhist Beauty Bibliography Glossary Index

Alan Cole is an independent scholar who has taught at Lewis & Clark College, Harvard University, the University of Illinois, the University of Oregon, and the National University of Singapore.

"As perceptive as it is erudite, and [Cole's] prose is uncommonly readable.... This gem of cogent, provocative scholarship belongs in all collections."

• Preface A Note on References to the Chinese Buddhist Canon Introduction: Chan-What Is It? 1. Making History: Chan as an Art Form 2. Plans for the Past: Early Accounts of How Perfect Truth Came to China 3. Portable Ancestors: Bodhidharma Gets Two New Families 4. More Local Buddhas Appear: Jingjue, Huineng, Shenhui 5. Truth, Conspiracy, and Careful Writing: A New Version of Huineng 6. The Platform Sutra and Other Conspiracy Theories 7. Chan "Dialogues" from the Tang Dynasty 8. Chan Compendiums from the Song Dynasty 9. Rules for Purity: Handbooks for Running Chan Monasteries 10. Koans and Being There Conclusions: Chan, a Buddhist Beauty Bibliography Glossary Index