GIVINGLife TO

TWELVE KEY GOLDEN AGE

ANCESTORS

JANET J IRYU ABELS

B UDDH I SM / Z EN / E A S T E RN R E L I G I ON

H I S B O O K T R A C E S T H E L I F E S T O R I E S

of twelve key Chinese Zen masters who, taken together, shaped

what was to become known as Zen’s Golden Age. Abels vividly

portrays the humanity of these Zen ancestors and tells their stories in

a lively and engaging manner, shedding light on their paradoxical teachings

with clarity and simplicity. By holding up these twelve Golden Age masters

as mirrors in which we can each see ourselves, Abels shows us how to walk

our own path—and truly make Zen our own.

“Making Zen Your Own gives us a strong presentation in spirited prose of the lives of the

founding teachers of Chinses Zen. Janet Abels clearly presents the personalities of these

teachers, their place in history, and the individual’s

contribution to Zen practice.”—Father Robert Kennedy, author of Zen Spirit, Christian Spirit

“Abels writes about the Zen Ancestors with clarity and a depth of knowledge that comes

from long practice and study.”—Andy Ferguson, author of Zen’s Chinese Heritage

“Through excellent narratives and her own deep understanding, Abels has revealed the

profound teachings of these great masters for present day students of the Way.”

—Gerry Shishin Wick, author of The Book of Equanimity

J A N E T J I RY U A B E L S is the founder of Still Mind Zendo in New York City, and the

guiding teacher of Plum Blossom Zendo in Pittsburgh.She received Dharma Transmission

as a Zen teacher in the Soto White Plum lineage of Taizan Maezumi Roshi in 2000. She is

a member of the White Plum Asanga as well as the Lay Zen Teachers Association.

ISBN 978-0-86171-702-6 US$16.95Wisdom Publications • Boston

wisdompubs.org

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