"Koans are at the very heart of Zen practice. This collection of informal koan talks brings the Zen student into the presence of Roshi Philip Kapleau, the famous author of The Three Pillars of Zen and one of the leading American Zen masters.".

"Here, Roshi Kapleau focuses on koans that illuminate fundamental issues of the spiritual life. While koans may be said to be uniquely Zen, in Kapleau's explorations they start to become as familiar, everyday, and relevant as the questions we ponder in one form or another all our lives: Why was I born? Why must I die? How can I find an end to suffering?"--BOOK JACKET.