Master Daie Soko was one of the most distinguished masters of the Sung dynasty. His teaching methods shaped the development of Rinzai Zen practice. This book is a selection of his letters to his disciples and the commentaries by Venerable Myokyo-ni bring these letters alive for modern day readers and practitioners of Zen.

Venerable Myokyo-ni (Irmgard Schlögl 1923-2007) trained at Daitoku-ji monastery in Kyoto, Japan for twelve years under Oda Sesso Roshi and Kannun Roshi. She was abbess of the London Zen Centre's two training temples, Shobo-an and Fairlight. She wrote many books on Zen training and translated several key Chinese Buddhist texts.