Zen Flesh, Zen Bones : Paul Reps

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is an amazing book & it’s was fortunate on my part to be a part of all those who are in love with this book.
This book is actually a compilation by Paul Reps. He has simply translated the Zen stories & I should add that he has done a marvelous job.
I have seen many books on Zen but Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a mile-stone as far as the Zen philosophy is concerned,

The best thing about the book is this that Paul Reps has not added a single word from his side. He tried to be very fair ; in this regard even D. T. Suzuki has also failed.
Although Suzuki’s approach is no less than that of Zen master’s but still his work on Zen lags far behind from Paul Reps’s.

Apart from Zen stories this book also contains 112 meditative techniques of Lord Shiva. In Hindu mythology these techniques are compiled in a book called Vigyan Bhairav Tantra. Paul Reps when came to India visited a famous saint in Kashmir. The saint was Lakshmanju. From him Paul Reps came to know about the ancient hindu meditative techniques.

Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a very small book; pocket size.
Paul Reps picked up the name for his book from a very interesting story :
Bodhidharma, when asked his disciples about the Zen, the firs one replied that Zen is this world. Bodhidharma said you have skin of Zen. The second one replied that not only earth but also sky is Zen. Bodhidharma said you have Zen flesh. The third one replied that universe is made up of four elements & the fifth unknown element is Zen. Bodhidharma said you Zen bones. The fourth disciple did not said anything; he just kept quite. The Bodhidharma said you have Zen marrow.
So, the name Zen Flesh, Zen Bones comes from this story. The Zen marrow is not added in the title simply because it cannot be said.
That which cannot be spoken about, must be passed over in silence--- Ludwig Wittegenstein.

The Zen stories are one of the most complicated things in this world. Although, being an engineering student, complication was never a problem for me but speaking frankly Zen stories are even more complicated than cracking CAT or UPSC.
Just read some of them & one will find me correct.

But I will narrate a very simple story just to make the reader aware of the taste of Zen :

Once a warrior came to Hakuin ( famous Zen master).
He asked Hakhuin , ‘ Do you know anything about the heaven & hell ?’.
Hakuin said , ‘ Who are you ?’
He said, ‘ I am a warrior.’
Hakuin replied, ‘ Well, you look like a beggar instead of warrior.’
On hearing this the warrior felt offended & drew out his sword.
Hakuin said, ‘ Oh! So you have a sword too. From here my son, opens the gate to hell.’
Instantly the warrior felt that he was going to do something wrong. He placed the sword back & touched the feet of Hakuin.
Hakuin said, ‘ And from here my son, opens the gate to heaven.’

This book, I love a lot