The Sh¿b¿genz¿ is the recognized spiritual masterpiece by the thirteenth-century Japanese S¿t¿ Zen Master Eihei D¿gen. It is comprised of discourses that he gave to his disciples, in person or in writing, at various times between 1231 and his death twenty-two years later at age fifty-three.
These discourses cover a wide range of topics pertinent to those in monastic life though often also relevant to those training in lay life. He discusses matters of daily behavior and religious ceremonial as well as issues involving the Master-disciple relationship. He also explores the deeper meaning that informs the so-called Zen k¿an stories, which often puzzle readers by their seeming illogicality and contrary nature.

Rev. Hubert Nearman was ordained into the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives of the S¿t¿ Zen tradition by Rev. Master Jiyu-Kennett in 1988, and in 1992 received Dharma Transmission from her. Subsequently, at her request, he devoted himself to translating major Buddhist works, including Keizan J¿kin's "Record of the Transmission of the Light" (Denk¿roku) and his "Instructions on How to Do Pure Meditation" (Zazen Yojin Ki), as well as "The Scripture of Brahma's Net" (Bomm¿ Ky¿), the dh¿rani from "The Scripture on Courageously Going On" (Shur¿ôg¿ma Sutra), Kanshi S¿san's "That Which is Engraved upon the Heart That Trusts to the Eternal" (Hsin Hsin Ming), Y¿ka Genkaku's "Song That Attests to the Way" (Cheng Tao Ko), "Bodhidharma's Discourse on Pure Meditation" (Kuan Hsin Lun), "The Scripture of the Buddha's Last Teachings"(Yuiky¿ Gy¿), "The Scripture on Fully Perfected Enlightenment" (Engaku Ky¿), along with the present work.
Rev. Hubert was named a Master of the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives in 2010, and died in 2016.
More information about Shasta Abbey can be found at www.shastaabbey.org and about the Order of Buddhist Contemplatives at www.obcon.org