# Book of Equanimity

Book of Equanimity or Book of Serenity or Book of Composure (Chinese: 從容錄, Cóngróng lù; Japanese: 従容錄, Shōyōroku) is a book compiled by Wansong Xingxiu (1166–1246), and first published in 1224. The book comprises a collection of 100 koans written by the Chan Buddhist master Hongzhi Zhengjue (1091–1157), together with commentaries by Wansong. Wansong's compilation is the only surviving source for Hongzhi's koans.
The full title is The Record of the Temple of Equanimity With the Classic Odes of Venerable Tiantong Jue and the Responsive Commentary of Old Man Wansong (萬松老評唱天童覺和尚 頌古從容庵錄, Wansong Laoren Pingchang Tiantong Jue Heshang Songgu Congrong An Lu, Taisho Tripitaka Vol. 48, No. 2004).
Along with The Gateless Barrier, the Book of Equanimity is considered one of the two primary compilations of Zen dialogue. Shohaku Okumura has called the collection "a classic text that is still studied by Zen students today." Reb Anderson has called it "an auspicious peak in the mountain range of Zen literature, a subtle flowing stream in the deep valleys of our teaching, a treasure house of inspiration and guidance in studying the ocean of Buddhist teachings." Gerry Shishin Wick, who published a translation of Book of Equanimity in 2005, says "although it was collected by a master in the Soto lineage, The Book of Equanimity, they are treated as Koans in the Rinzai, some Rinzai schools, and the Soto school studied them, but more as liturgy, rather than as Koans."

## Kōans included in Book of Equanimity

* The World-Honored One Ascends the Rostrum
* Bodhidharma's "Vast and Void"
* The Indian King Invites the Patriarch
* The World-Honored One Points to the Ground
* Seigen's "Price of Rice"
* Master Ba's "White and Black"
* Yakusan Ascends the Rostrum
* Hyakujō and the Fox
* Nansen Kills a Cat
* An Old Woman near Taizan
* Unmon's "Two Diseases"
* Jizō Plants the Rice Field
* Rinzai's "Blind Donkey"
* Attendant Kaku Offers Tea
* Kyōzan Thrusts His Hoe into the Ground
* Mayoku Shook the Ring-Staff
* Hōgen's "Hairsbreadth"
* Jōshū's Dog
* Unmon's "Mt. Sumeru"
* Jizō's "Most Intimate"
* Ungan Sweeps the Ground
* Gantō's Bow to the Kaatz
* Roso Faces the Wall
* Seppō's "Look at the Snake"
* Enkan's "Rhinoceros Fan"
* Kyōzan Points to Snow
* Hōgen Points to the Bamboo Blinds
* Gokoku's "Three Disgraces"
* Fuketsu's "Iron Ox"
* Daizui's "Kalpa Fire"
* Unmon's "Pillar"
* Kyōzan's Mind and Objective World
* Sanshō's "Golden Scales"
* Fuketsu's "Speck of Dust"
* Rakuho's Obeisance
* Master Ba Is Ill
* Isan's "Karma-Consciousness"
* Rinzai's "True Person"
* Jōshū's "Wash Your Bowls"
* Unmon's "White and Black"
* Rakuho at His Deathbed
* Nan'yō and the Water Jug
* Razan's "Appearing and Disappearing"
* Kōyō's "Suparnin"
* Four Phrases from the Engaku Sutra
* Tokusan's "Study Accomplished"
* Jōshū's "Oak Tree in the Garden"
* Vimalakirti's "Not-Two"
* Tōzan and the Memorial Service
* Seppō's "What Is This?"
* Hōgen's "Boat or Land"
* Sōzan's "Dharma-body"
* Ōbaku's "Drinkers"
* Ungan's "Great Mercy"
* Seppō in Charge of Cooking
* Misshi and the White Rabbit
* Gon'yō's One "Thing"
* "Getting Despised" in the Diamond Sutra
* Seirin's "Deadly Snake"
* Tetsuma, the Cow
* Kempō's "One Line"
* Beiko's "Enlightenment"
* Shishō's "Succession"
* Jōshū Asks about "Death"
* Shuzan's "Bride"
* Kyūhō's "Head and Tail"
* The Wisdom in the Kegon Sutra
* Kassan Brandishes the Sword
* Nansen's "Cats and Foxes"
* Shinsan Asks about Nature
* Suigan's "Eyebrows"
* Chūyū's "Monkey"
* Sōzan's Filial Fulfillment
* Hōgen's "Form and Name"
* Zuigan's "Everlasting Principle"
* Shuzan's Three Verses
* Kyōzan: As His Profession Requires
* Unmon's "Rice Cake"
* Chōsa Takes a Step
* Suibi and the Chin Rest
* Gensha Reaches the Province
* Unmon's "Voice" and "Color"
* Dōgo's Nursing the Ill
* Gutei's One Finger
* The National Teacher's Gravestone
* Rinzai's Great Enlightenment
* Sozan: With or Without
* "Non-Seeing" in the Ryōgon Sutra
* Tōzan's "Place of No Grass"
* Kyōzan Speaks Out
* Nansen and the Peonies
* Unmon's "One Treasure"
* Roso Does Not Understand
* Tōzan Unwell
* Rinzai Draws a Line
* Kyūhō Does Not Acknowledge
* Emperor Dōkō's Helmet Hood
* Tōzan's "Intimate with It"
* Unmon's "Bowl and Pail"
* Rōya's "Mountains and Rivers"

## Translations

* Cleary, Thomas. The Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues. Shambhala Publications. ISBN 9781590302491.
* Wick, Gerry Shishin. The Book Of Equanimity: Illuminating Classic Zen Koans. Wisdom Publications. ISBN 9780861713875.