첫째, (제1장) ‘행록(行錄)’에서는 ‘옛 조사스님들의 깨달음의 기연(機緣)’이라는 부제목 하에, 열 여섯 분 조사스님들의 행록과 기연을 실었다. 둘째, (제2장) ‘상당(上堂)？시중(示衆)’에서는 ‘옛 조사스님들의 향기로운 법문 (法文)’이라는 부제목 하에, 50개의 법문을 실었다. 셋째, (제3장) ‘감변(勘辨)’에서는 ‘옛 조사스님들의 화두(話頭)？공안(公案)’이라는 부제목 하에, 52개의 화두？공안의 본칙(本則)을 실었다. 다만 각각의 화두？공안은 해석하거나 풀이하지 않았다. 이는 화두？공안을 해석하다 보면 화두의 생명력을 잃게 되거니와, 스스로 화두를 참구하여 자신의 깨달음으로 삼기 위함이다. 넷째, (제4장) ‘선시(禪詩)？게송(偈頌)’에서는 ‘옛 조사스님들의 깨달음의 노래’라는 부제목 하에, 32편의 선시와 게송을 실었다. 옛 조사스님들의 깨달음의 경지를 직접 음미해 보시길 바란다.

(제1장) 행록(行錄)································ 21 1. 보리달마(菩提達磨)···················································23 2. 육조혜능(六祖慧能)···················································27 3. 영가현각(永嘉玄覺)·················································· 34 4. 마조도일(馬祖道一)··················································· 38 5. 대주혜해(大珠慧海)·················································· 42 6. 방 거사(龐居士)·······················································45 7. 조주종심(趙州從？)···················································49 8. 임제의현(臨濟義玄)····················································57 9. 덕산선감(德山宣鑑)·················································· 66 10. 동산양개(洞山良价)··················································70 11. 향엄지한(香嚴智閑)··················································75 12. 설봉의존(雪峰義存)················································· 80 13. 법안문익(法眼文益)··················································91 14. 원오극근(圓悟克勤)················································· 96 15. 대혜종고(大慧宗？)·················································101 16. 청허휴정(淸虛休靜)················································· 108 (제2장) 상당(上堂)？시중(示衆)····················· 113 1. 즉심시불(卽心是佛) : 마음이 곧 부처다·································115 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 2. 식심견성(識心見性) : 마음을 보아 성품을 보다···························117 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 3. 평상심시도(平常心是道) : 평상심이 도(道)다·····························118 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 4. 선시불심 교시불어(禪是佛心 敎是佛語) : 선(禪)은 부처님의 마음이요 교(敎)는 부처님의 말씀이다···················································119 - 청허휴정(淸虛休靜) 5. 참선(參禪)은 조사의 관문(祖師關)을 뚫는 것이다······················· 120 - 무문혜개(無門慧開) 6. 직지인심 견성성불(直指人心 見性成佛) : 마음을 바로 가리켜 본래 성품을 보고 깨닫게 하다· ························································121 - 황벽희운(黃檗希運) 7. 참선(參禪)의 네 가지 특성············································ 122 - 목암선향(睦庵善鄕) 8. 언어도단 심행처멸(言語道斷 心行處滅) : 언어의 길이 끊어지고 마음의 자취 또한 끊기다····························································· 123 - 대주혜해(大珠慧海) 9. 모든 분별(四句)을 벗어나고 부정(百非)을 끊다···························125 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 10. 삼현삼요(三玄三要) · ··············································· 126 - 임제의현(臨濟義玄) 11. 사료간(四料簡) ···················································· 127 - 임제의현(臨濟義玄) 12. 파사현정(破邪顯正) : 사도(邪道)를 깨뜨리고 정도(正道)를 드러내다······ 128 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 13. 계행(戒行)이 없으면 마군의 도(魔道)를 이룬다························ 130 - 청허휴정(淸虛休靜) 14. 계행(戒行)이 없는 수행은 허공에 누각을 세우는 것과 같다··············· 131 - 환산정응(？山正凝) 15. 선지식(善知識) : 눈 밝은 스승······································· 133 - 박산무이(博山無異) 16. 언하대오(言下大悟) : 한 마디 말 끝에 크게 깨닫다····················· 134 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 17. 밀밀(密密)한 작용을 보아야 한다.···································· 135 - 숭악혜안(崇岳慧安) 18. 줄탁동시(？啄同時) : 병아리의 줄(？)과 어미닭의 탁(啄)이 동시에 일어나야··· ···································································137 - 경청도부(鏡淸道？) 19. 수처작주 입처개진(隨處作主 立處皆眞) : 어디를 가나 주인이 되면 자기가 있는 그 곳이 모두 참된 곳이다··········································· 138 - 임제의현(臨濟義玄) 20. 진정견해(眞正見解) : 참되고 올바른 견해····························· 140 - 임제의현(臨濟義玄) 21. 참선삼요(參禪三要) : 참선의 세 가지 요소····························· 142 - 고봉원묘(高峰原妙 22. 대사일번 절후소생(大死一番 絶後蘇生) : 한바탕 크게 죽은 후에 다시 살아나다· ···································································144 - 고봉원묘(高峰原妙) 23. 오직 한 가지 화두(話頭)를 참구하라··································145 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 24. 화두를 참구할 때 간절하게 의정(疑情)을 일으켜라······················147 - 박산무이(博山無異) 25. 천의만의지시일의(千疑萬疑只是一疑) : 천 가지 만 가지의 의심이 다만 모두 하 나의 의심이다······················································149 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 26. 대의지하 필유대오(大疑之下 必有大悟) : 크게 의심하면 반드시 크게 깨닫는다· ···································································150 - 백운경한(白雲景閑) 27. 타성일편(打成一片) : 몸과 마음이 화두와 한 덩어리가 되다···············151 - 무문혜개(無門慧開) 28. 여계포란 여묘포서(如鷄抱卵 如猫捕鼠) : 마치 닭이 알을 품듯하며 고양이가 쥐 를 잡듯 하다·······················································153 - 청허휴정(淸虛休靜) 29. 모름지기 활구(活句)를 참구할 것이요 사구(死句)를 참구하지 말라········154 - 보조지눌(普照知訥) 30. 잠깐이라도 속효심(速效心)을 내면 영원히 깨달을 수 없다················155 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 31. 좌선할 때는 졸거나(昏沈, 혼침) 들떠(掉擧, 도거) 있어서는 안 된다· ·······156 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 32. 편안하고 고요한 경계를 조심하라·····································157 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 33. 역경계(逆境界)와 순경계(順境界)에 떨어지지 말라······················158 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 34. 동중공부(動中工夫) : 시끄러움 속에서의 공부························· 160 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 35. 성성적적(惺惺寂寂) : 화두에 빈틈없이 깨어 있으라······················161 - 태고보우(太古普愚) 36. 화두 참구 시 힘을 얻는(得力) 자리· ·································· 163 - 몽산덕이(蒙山德異) 37. 오매일여(寤寐一如) : 깨어 있을 때나 잠을 잘 때나 화두가 한결같다······ 164 - 대혜종고(大慧宗？) 38. 정혜체일(定慧體一) : 정(定)과 혜(慧)가 한 몸이다.····················· 166 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 39. 일행삼매(一行三昧) : 행주좌와(行住坐臥) 일상 시에 항상 곧은 마음을 행하다·· ···································································167 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 40. 대요사인(大了事人) : 깨달음을 남김없이 요달한 사람··················· 169 - 원오극근(圓悟克勤) 41. 무념위종(無念爲宗) : 무념(無念)으로 종(宗)을 삼다·····················171 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 42. 무심도인(無心道人) : 깨달아서 무심(無心)의 경지에 이른 사람의 마음은 허공 과 같다····························································173 - 황벽희운(黃檗希運) 43. 무위진인(無位眞人) : 걸림없이 깨친 사람······························175 - 임제의현(臨濟義玄) 44. 번뇌즉보리(煩惱卽菩提) : 번뇌(미혹)가 곧 보리(깨달음)이다··············177 - 황벽희운(黃檗希運) 45. 산시산 수시수(山是山 水是水) : 산은 산이요 물은 물이다··············· 180 - 청원유신(靑原惟信) 46. 돈오돈수(頓悟頓修)(1) : 단박에 깨달아 더 닦을 것이 없다(1)·············181 - 대주혜해(大珠慧海) 47. 돈오돈수(頓悟頓修)(2) : 단박에 깨달아 더 닦을 것이 없다(2)·············182 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 48. 돈오점수(頓悟漸修)(1) : 단박에 깨달은 이후에도 지속적인 닦음이 필요하다(1)· ···································································183 - 영명연수(永明延壽) 49. 돈오점수(頓悟漸修)(2) : 단박에 깨달은 이후에도 지속적인 닦음이 필요하다(2)· ·································································· 184 - 보조지눌(普照知訥) 50. 오가칠종(五家七宗) : 선종(禪宗)의 다섯 가지 법맥(法脈)과 일곱 가지 종파(宗派)· ···································································185 - 법안문익(法眼文益)/천목중봉(天目中峰)/청허휴정(淸虛休靜) (제3장) 감변(勘辨)·······························189 1. 세존염화(世尊拈花) : 세존(世尊)이 꽃을 드니 가섭이 미소짓다············191 - 세존(世尊) 2. 무제문달마(武帝問達磨) : 양무제(梁武帝)가 달마에게 묻다···············192 - 보리달마(菩提達磨) 3. 달마안심(達磨安心) : 달마(達磨)의 ‘이미 너의 마음을 편안하게 했느니라’·· 194 - 보리달마(菩提達磨) 4. 불사선악(不思善惡) : 육조(六祖)의 ‘선(善)도 악(惡)도 생각하지 않을 때 너의 본 래면목(本來面目)은 무엇인가’··········································196 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 5. 비풍비번(非風非幡) : 육조(六祖)의 ‘바람도 깃발도 아니고 마음이 움직인다’·199 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 6. 즉심즉불(卽心卽佛) : 마조(馬祖)의 ‘마음이 곧 부처다’··················· 200 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 7. 마대사 야압자(馬大師 野鴨子) : 마(馬) 대사와 들오리···················· 201 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 8. 마대사 사구백비(馬大師 四句百非) : 마(馬) 대사와 사구백비(四句百非)···· 203 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 9. 일구흡진서강수(一口吸盡西江水) : 마조(馬祖)의 ‘한 입에 서강(西江)의 물을 다 마시면’····························································· 206 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 10. 마조(馬祖)의 ‘길다 짧다 말하지 말라’································ 207 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 11. 마대사불안(馬大師不安) : 마(馬) 대사가 몸져 눕다····················· 208 - 마조도일(馬祖道一) 11. 2200518486 12. 단하소불(丹霞燒佛) : 단하(丹霞)가 ‘목불(木佛)을 태우다’················210 - 단하천연(丹霞天然) 13. 남전참묘(南泉斬猫) : 남전(南泉)이 ‘고양이를 베다’······················211 - 남전보원(南泉普願) 14. 평상시도(平常是道) : 남전(南泉)의 ‘평상심이 도(道)다’···················214 - 남전보원(南泉普願) 15. 조주구자(趙州狗子) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘개에게는 불성(佛性)이 없다’·········216 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 16. 정전백수(庭前柏樹) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘뜰 앞의 잣나무’·····················219 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 17. 끽다거(喫茶去) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘차나 한 잔 마시게’······················ 220 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 18. 조주세발(趙州洗鉢) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘발우나 씻게나’···················· 222 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 19. 조주석교(趙州石橋) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘돌다리’··························· 224 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 20. 조주감파(趙州勘婆) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘오대산 노파를 완전히 간파했다’····· 225 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 21. 조주만법귀일(趙州萬法歸一) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘만법은 하나로 돌아가거니와’·227 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 22. 조주지도무난(趙州至道無難) : 조주(趙州)의 ‘지극한 도(道)는 어렵지 않다’·228 - 조주종심(趙州從？) 23. 백장야호(百丈野狐) : 백장(百丈)의 ‘불락인과(不落因果)？불매인과(不昧因果)’·· ·································································· 230 - 백장회해(百丈懷海) 24. 부모미생전 본래면목(父母未生前 本來面目) : 위산(？山)의 ‘태어나기 전의 본래 면목(本來面目)’·····················································232 - 위산영우(？山靈祐) 25. 향엄상수(香嚴上樹) : 향엄(香嚴)의 ‘입으로 가지를 물고 매달려 있을 때 어떻게 답할까’····························································233 - 향엄지한(香嚴智閑) 26. 삼좌설법(三座說法) : 앙산(仰山)의 ‘대승(大乘)의 법은 사구(四句)를 여의고 백비(百 非)를 끊는다’·································································234 - 앙산혜적(仰山慧寂) 27. 앙산일원상(仰山一圓相) : 앙산(仰山)의 ‘일원상(一圓相)’················ 236 - 앙산혜적(仰山慧寂) 28. 황벽주조한(黃檗酒糟漢) : 황벽(黃檗)의 ‘머저리 같은 놈’················ 237 - 황벽희운(黃檗希運) 29. 임제불법대의(臨濟佛法大意) : 임제(臨濟)에게 불법(佛法)의 큰 뜻을 묻다· 238 - 임제의현(臨濟義玄) 30. 동산한서회피(洞山寒暑廻避) : 동산(洞山)의 ‘추위와 더위가 없는 곳’····· 239 - 동산양개(洞山良价) 31. 구향용담(久響龍潭) : 용담(龍潭)이 등불을 ‘훅’ 불어끄니 덕산(德山)이 깨닫다·· ·································································· 240 - 덕산선감(德山宣鑑) 32. 덕산탁발(德山托鉢) : 덕산(德山)이 발우를 들고 되돌아 가다············ 242 - 덕산선감(德山宣鑑) 33. 설봉별비사(雪峰鼈鼻蛇) : 설봉(雪峰)의 ‘자라코 모양의 코를 가진 독사’··· 244 - 설봉의존(雪峰義存) 34. 경청초리한(鏡淸草裏漢) : 경청(鏡淸)의 ‘형편없는 놈’··················· 246 - 경청도부(鏡淸道？) 35. 운문답호병(雲門答？餠) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘호떡’· ························ 248 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 36. 운문시궐(雲門屎？) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘마른 똥 막대기’··················· 249 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 37. 운문일일시호일(雲門日日是好日) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘날마다 좋은 날’········ 250 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 38. 운문체로금풍(雲門體露金風) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘가을바람(金風)에 온 몸이 드러나다’· ···································································251 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 39. 운문진진삼매(雲門塵塵三昧) : 운문(雲門)에게 ‘진진삼매(塵塵三昧)를 묻다’···· ···································································252 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 40. 동산수상행(東山水上行) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘동산(東山)이 물 위로 간다’······253 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 41. 종성칠조(鐘聲七條) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘종소리가 나면 어찌하여 가사(七條)를 입는가’· ···································································· 254 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 42. 운문화타(雲門話墮) : 운문(雲門)의 ‘말에 떨어져 버렸군’·················255 - 운문문언(雲門文偃) 43. 동산마삼근(洞山麻三斤) : 동산수초(洞山守初)의 ‘마 삼 근’··············257 - 동산수초(洞山守初) 44. 파릉은완리(巴陵銀椀裏) : 파릉(巴陵)의 ‘은그릇 속에 눈이 가득 담기다’·· 258 - 파릉경감(巴陵顥鑑) 45. 파릉취모검(巴陵吹毛劍) : 파릉(巴陵)의 ‘취모검(吹毛劍)’·················259 - 파릉경감(巴陵顥鑑) 46. 향림서래의(香林西來意) : 향림(香林)의 ‘조사서래의(祖師西來意)’· ······· 260 - 향림징원(香林澄遠) 47. 현사접물이생(玄沙接物利生) : 현사(玄沙)의 중생제도··················· 261 - 현사사비(玄沙師備) 48. 이승권렴(二僧卷簾) : 법안(法眼)의 ‘일득·일실(一得一失)’··············· 264 - 법안문익(法眼文益) 49. 법안답혜초(法眼答慧超) : 법안(法眼)이 혜초(慧超)의 물음에 답하다· ···· 265 - 법안문익(法眼文益) 50. 구지수지(俱？竪指) : 구지(俱？)의 ‘한 손가락 선(一指頭禪)’············ 266 - 금화구지(金華俱？) 51. 문수전삼삼(文殊前三三) : 무착(無著)이 문수(文殊)에게 묻다············ 268 - 무착문희(無著文喜) 52. 간두진보(竿頭進步) : 석상(石霜)의 ‘백척간두(百尺竿頭)에서 어떻게 나아가겠는가’·· ······································································· 271 - 석상초원(石霜楚圓) (제4장) 선시(禪詩)？게송(偈頌)····················273 1. 달마(達磨) 대사의 게송·············································· 275 - 보리달마(菩提達磨) 2. 심왕송(心王頌)····················································· 276 - 부대사(傅大士) 3. 신심명(信心銘)······················································ 277 - 삼조승찬(三祖僧璨) 4. 신수(神秀) 대사의 게송·············································· 279 - 대통신수(大通神秀) 5. 혜능(慧能) 대사의 게송· ············································· 280 - 육조혜능(六祖慧能) 6. 증도가(證道歌)····················································· 281 - 영가현각(永嘉玄覺) 7. 남악나찬(南嶽懶瓚) 화상의 ‘낙도가(樂道歌)’··························· 284 - 남악나찬(南嶽懶瓚) 8. 석두(石頭) 화상의 ‘초암가(草庵歌)’··································· 286 - 석두희천(石頭希遷) 9. 방(龐) 거사의 오도송(悟道頌) : ‘심공급제게(心空及弟偈)’················ 289 - 방온거사(龐蘊居士) 10. 황벽(黃檗) 선사의 오도송(悟道頌)··································· 290 - 황벽희운(黃檗希運) 11. 백척간두(百尺竿頭) : ‘백 길 장대 끝’·································· 291 - 장사경잠(長沙景岑) 12. 향엄(香嚴) 선사의 오도송(悟道頌)··································· 292 - 향엄지한(香嚴智閑) 13. 영운지근(靈雲志勤) 선사의 오도송(悟道頌) : ‘영운도화(靈雲桃花)’······ 293 - 영운지근(靈雲志勤) 14. 천척사륜(千尺絲綸) : ‘천 길 되는 낚싯줄’ ····························· 294 - 선자덕성(船子德誠) 15. 동산(洞山) 선사의 오도송(悟道頌) : ‘과수송(過水頌)’ ·················· 295 - 동산양개(洞山良价) 16. 문수동자의 게송(文殊童子偈)······································· 297 - 문수동자(文殊童子) 17. 문수보살이 무착문희(無著文喜) 선사에게 설한 법문(게송)··············· 298 - 문수보살(文殊菩薩) 18. 소동파(蘇東坡)의 오도송(悟道頌) : ‘오도송 증동림총장로(悟道頌 贈東林總長老)· ·································································· 299 - 소식(蘇軾, 소동파) 19. 죽영(竹影) : ‘대나무 그림자’········································· 300 - 야보도천(冶父道川) 20. 본래성불(本來成佛) : ‘사람은 누구나 본래 부처다’····················· 301 - 야보도천(冶父道川) 21. 오조법연(五祖法演) 선사의 오도송(悟道頌)···························· 302 - 오조법연(五祖法演) 22. 원오(圓悟) 선사의 게송············································· 303 - 원오극근(圓悟克勤) 23. 어느 비구니의 오도시(悟道詩)······································· 304 - 모녀니(某女尼) 24. 굉지(宏智) 선사의 임종게(臨終偈)···································· 305 - 굉지정각(宏智正覺) 25. 만송행수(萬松行秀) 선사의 임종게(臨終偈)···························· 306 - 만송행수(萬松行秀) 26. 태고암가(太古庵歌)················································ 307 - 태고보우(太古普愚) 27. 청산가(靑山歌)···················································· 308 - 나옹혜근(懶翁慧勤) 28. 야운(野雲) 선사의 게송··············································310 - 야운각우(野雲覺午) 29. 서산(西山) 대사의 게송· ·············································311 - 청허휴정(淸虛休靜) 30. 서산(西山) 대사의 오도송(悟道頌)····································312 - 청허휴정(淸虛休靜) 31. 서산(西山) 대사의 임종게(臨終偈)·····································313 - 청허휴정(淸虛休靜) 32. 경허(鏡虛) 선사의 참선곡(參禪曲)·····································314 - 경허성우(鏡虛惺牛)