The Koans in the Soto sect of Zen

Assuming you solve ''Amban's Addition'', the last koan of the book ''Zen Flesh, Zen Bones'', you also solve the koan which precedes it, ''One road of Kembo''.

ON ZEN AND THE PLASMATIC SPHERES

  ''Υπάρχει μια φράση: 'Ρίξε μια σφαίρα σε ένα ορμητικό ρεύμα και δεν θα σταματήσει ποτέ'. Τούτο σημαίνει ότι αν ρίξεις μιά σφαίρα στα ορμητικά νερά ενός ποταμού, θα κινηθεί επιπλέοντας στα κύματα και δε θα σταματήσει πουθενά.''

("THE UNFETTERED MIND'' by Takuan Soho, 1995)

AS TO A COMPARATIVE RELIGION STUDY

''It has been said that no man understands any one religion until he has studied two. It might be further said that no man understands any one religion until he has reasonably studied all, and compiled from them a 'common denominator' of essential principles.''

 

(From CHRISTMAS HUMPHREY's  'Studies in the Middle Way',

1984, The Buddhist Society London)

Zoroastrianism

'' The most important of all outstanding facts of Iranian history is the religious reform brought about Zarathustra. He was the first man we know who gave a definitely moral character and direction to religion, and at the same time preached the doctrine of monotheism, which offered an eternal foundation of reality to goodness as an ideal of perfection...

   When I conceived of Thee, O Mazda, as the first and last, as the most adorable One, as The Father of Good Thought, as the creator of Truth and Right, as the Lord Judge of our actions in life, then I made a place for Thee in my very eyes.''

(THE DIVINE SONGS OF ZARATHUSTRA, 
D.J. Irani and Sir Rabindranath Tagore, 

First published in 1924, Kessinger Publishing)