---
product_id: 297560851
title: "The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) Paperback – 1 January 1991"
brand: "robert aitken"
price: "206 Lei"
currency: RON
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 5
url: https://www.desertcart.ro/products/297560851-the-gateless-barrier-the-wu-men-kuan-mumonkan-paperback-1
store_origin: RO
region: Romania
---

# The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) Paperback – 1 January 1991

**Brand:** robert aitken
**Price:** 206 Lei
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

## Quick Answers

- **What is this?** The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) Paperback – 1 January 1991 by robert aitken
- **How much does it cost?** 206 Lei with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.ro](https://www.desertcart.ro/products/297560851-the-gateless-barrier-the-wu-men-kuan-mumonkan-paperback-1)

## Best For

- robert aitken enthusiasts

## Why This Product

- Trusted robert aitken brand quality
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## Description

Full description not available

## Images

![The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan) Paperback – 1 January 1991 - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71YO0V15ytL.jpg)
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## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Helpful for Zen students, with good context and illuminating contemporary parallels
  

*by V***S on Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 31 July 2019*

Helpful signposts to the non-rational depths of the core Zen koan Mumonkan collection. Aitken, a major figure in Western Zen, also gives excellent historical context and many illuminating contemporary parallels.Koun Yamada's commentary on the same koans in his book, The Gateless Gate, is deeper, with a clearer eye, but Aitken's careful readings are also excellent.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    Five Stars
  

*by S***. on Reviewed in Canada on 26 July 2016*

Nice ebook

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 







  
  
    but at that time my understanding was pretty muddled, and he had not yet done his ...
  

*by A***N on Reviewed in the United States on 4 December 2014*

I practiced zen with Aitken Roshi during the late 70s and early 80s for about 7 years. Recently I have been returned to my zen practice, so I thought I would buy a copy of his book. I clearly remember working with Roshi on the Mumonkan koans, but at that time  my understanding was pretty muddled, and he had not yet done his translation. Reading this book some thirty years later has provided me with a much deeper understanding of these koans. Each koan is lovingly examined in depth. There are pearls of wisdom scattered on every page along with wonderful stories of people who dedicated their lives to understanding their true nature. There are endless hints to help you find the answers you seek.The book is written by a renowned zen master and unlike  other translations is translated into readily accessible English. I recommend this book unreservedly and enthusiastically to all.Here is one koan/story:The priest Hsiang-yen said,"It is as though you were up in a tree hanging from a branch with your teeth.Your hands and feet can't touch any branch. Someone appears beneath the tree and asks, 'What is the meaning of Bodhidharma's coming from the West?' If you do not answer you evade your responsibility.If you do answer you lose your life. What do you do?"What do you do in such a situation?

## Frequently Bought Together

- The Gateless Barrier: The Wu-Men Kuan (Mumonkan)
- The Gateless Gate: The Classic Book of Zen Koans
- The Blue Cliff Record

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*Product available on Desertcart Romania*
*Store origin: RO*
*Last updated: 2026-02-22*