Andy Ferguson

Andy Ferguson is a writer and businessman who lives with his family in Petaluma, CA. His book, "Zen's Chinese Heritage: The Masters and Their Techniques," is scheduled for release by Wisdom Books this spring. He is also the creator and publisher of the "Map of Zen Ancestors." A free version of the publication is downloadable from his website, www.zenancestors.com

Meditation Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Ordinary Mind Zen

Because the fundamental nature of consciousness, of mind itself, is without characteristics, Zen Buddhism teaches signlessness. Ordinary activity, reflected in the lives of monks or villagers, fully embodies this signless teaching about mind. This is the…

By Andy Ferguson

Jul 29, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Origins of the Wild Goose Pagoda

Tourist groups that visit the Terra Cotta Warriors inevitably visit Xian’s other famous landmark, the Wild Goose Pagoda, an icon central to the development of Chinese Buddhism. In this post I will explore why the Wild…

By Andy Ferguson

Jul 24, 2013

Teachings Consider the Source

Did Bodhidharma Invent the “Mu!” Koan?

A monk asked Zen master Zhaozhou, “Does a dog have buddha-nature?” Zhaozhou replied, “Mu!” “Mu!” is one of a handful of Zen stories from ancient China that have become famous. This koan has served as the…

By Andy Ferguson

Jul 15, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Are Baizhang’s Famous “Pure Rules” a Fake?

The ancient Chinese Zen master Baizhang established “pure rules” for the regulation of his monastery on Great Hero Mountain in China. The rules have served as the basis for monastic organization and practice for centuries, and…

By Andy Ferguson

Jul 10, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Why did the Ancient Zen Masters Seldom Mention Emptiness?

Early Chinese Zen masters seldom spoke about ideas like emptiness. Early writings also lack discussions about sutras, including texts like The Diamond Sutra, which is strongly linked to the Zen tradition. The Heart Sutra is hardly…

By Andy Ferguson

Jul 08, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Is the Buddha’s Hairdo Greek?

The brilliant scholar, writer, and postmodernist art critic Thomas McEvilley died in March of this year, but his scholarship may yet spawn a renaissance in our understanding of the ancient world. His epic work, The Shape of…

By Andy Ferguson

Jul 03, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Did a Chinese Sculptor Help Unify Japan?

In the 6th century, Japan was torn between warring factions, each struggling to unify the country under its rule. A great chieftain, Soga no Iname, ultimately led the Soga clan to become the most powerful of…

By Andy Ferguson

Jun 24, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Why is Bodhidharma Credited as the “First Ancestor” of the Chan (Zen) School?

Although Bodhidharma is honored as the “First Ancestor” of Zen Buddhism in China, historians know well that Zen not only preceded Bodhidharma, it was also widely practiced centuries before his arrival. So how did Bodhidharma acquire…

By Andy Ferguson

Jun 19, 2013

Consider the Source

Consider the Source: Why didn’t Chinese Zen dharma halls have Buddhist icons?

In traditional Chinese Zen, the dharma hall had a special status as the place where the Zen master expounded the dharma. It was purposefully separated from the Buddha hall, where statues of the Buddha and other…

By Andy Ferguson

Jun 17, 2013

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Andy Ferguson

Consider the Source: Ordinary Mind Zen

Consider the Source: Origins of the Wild Goose Pagoda

Did Bodhidharma Invent the “Mu!” Koan?

Consider the Source: Are Baizhang’s Famous “Pure Rules” a Fake?

Consider the Source: Why did the Ancient Zen Masters Seldom Mention Emptiness?

Consider the Source: Is the Buddha’s Hairdo Greek?

Consider the Source: Did a Chinese Sculptor Help Unify Japan?

Consider the Source: Why is Bodhidharma Credited as the “First Ancestor” of the Chan (Zen) School?

Consider the Source: Why didn’t Chinese Zen dharma halls have Buddhist icons?

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