Zen lineage charts 南浦紹明 (1235–1308), who received transmission in China from the monk Xutang Zhiyu 虚堂智愚 (Japanese "Kido Chigu," 1185–1269) in 1265, who then returned to Japan in 1267. It was then spread by his student Shuho Myocho (second generation) and Kanzan Egen (third generation), who made it an influential school. The two main schools today are Takujū and Inzan, which both descent from Hakuin. Although it is difficult to trace when the West first became aware of Zen as a distinct form of Buddhism, the visit of Soyen Shaku, a Japanese Zen monk, to Chicago during the World Parliament of Religions in
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones (Mahamudra) organisation, notes that the practice starts with studying and pondering the dharma, where-after the practice of meditation commences. The "Vigyan Bhairav Tantra" is a chapter from the "Rudrayamala Tantra". It was introduced to the west by Paul Reps, a student of Lakshman Joo. Reps brought the text to wider attention by including an English translation in his popular book "Zen Flesh, Zen Bones". Cast as a discourse between the god Shiva and his consort Devi or Shakti, it briefly presents 112 meditation methods or centering techniques ("dharana"s). Zen Flesh, Zen Bones Zen Flesh, Zen Bones is a 1957 publication