Dear All,
I would like to recommend very much a recent book by Soto Zen teachers NORMAN FISCHER and SUSAN MOON, entitled "WHAT IS ZEN?". It is perhaps one of the best books explaining "the basics" for folks new to Zen Practice, but also goes on to offer Fischer Roshi's almost "rabbinical" wisdom on many many topics and questions of interest even to very experienced practitioners. Wonderful for everyone.
I will also go ahead an announce now that this book will be our next selection for Treeleaf's "BEYOND WORDS & LETTERS" BOOK CLUB once we complete our current readings from Okumura Roshi.
A description:
Some reviews ...
I just second all that, and look forward to going through the book with all of you in our "No Words Treeleaf Book Club" soon.
(It is available as an audio book too, but I rather recommend the written version ... as this is the kind of book that needs to be gone through at slower than conversational pace.)
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
I would like to recommend very much a recent book by Soto Zen teachers NORMAN FISCHER and SUSAN MOON, entitled "WHAT IS ZEN?". It is perhaps one of the best books explaining "the basics" for folks new to Zen Practice, but also goes on to offer Fischer Roshi's almost "rabbinical" wisdom on many many topics and questions of interest even to very experienced practitioners. Wonderful for everyone.
I will also go ahead an announce now that this book will be our next selection for Treeleaf's "BEYOND WORDS & LETTERS" BOOK CLUB once we complete our current readings from Okumura Roshi.
A description:
An accessible and enjoyable introduction to Zen Buddhist practice—in a reader-friendly question-and-answer format—by two highly regarded teacher-writers.
The question-and-answer format makes this introduction to Zen especially easy to understand—and also to use as a reference, as you can easily look up just the question you had in mind. The esteemed Zen teacher Norman Fischer and his old friend and teaching colleague Susan Moon (both of them in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind) give this collaborative effort a playful tone: Susan asks a question on our behalf, Norman answers it, and then Sue challenges him. By the time you get through their conversations, you’ll have a good basic education in Zen–not only the history, theory, and practice but also the contemporary issues, such as gender inequality, sexual ethics, and the tension between Asian traditions and the modern American reality.
...
This unique introduction to Zen teaching and practice takes the remarkably accessible form of question-and-answer—making it a most useful reference for looking things up. But whether you're a neophyte or a seasoned practitioner, you'll want to read the whole thing. The questioner (Susan Moon) and the answerer (Norman Fischer) are old friends, each with a unique gift for articulation, and their friendly conversation covers not only the basics but a range of issues unique to Zen in America in the twenty-first century, including:
• What is zazen and how do you do it?
• Where did Zen start and where did it come from?
• Will I have an enlightenment experience?
• What is the law of karma in a nutshell?
• What do Zen Buddhists say about rebirth?
• How do you recognize a good, solid Zen teacher?
[and much more]
The question-and-answer format makes this introduction to Zen especially easy to understand—and also to use as a reference, as you can easily look up just the question you had in mind. The esteemed Zen teacher Norman Fischer and his old friend and teaching colleague Susan Moon (both of them in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki, author of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind) give this collaborative effort a playful tone: Susan asks a question on our behalf, Norman answers it, and then Sue challenges him. By the time you get through their conversations, you’ll have a good basic education in Zen–not only the history, theory, and practice but also the contemporary issues, such as gender inequality, sexual ethics, and the tension between Asian traditions and the modern American reality.
...
This unique introduction to Zen teaching and practice takes the remarkably accessible form of question-and-answer—making it a most useful reference for looking things up. But whether you're a neophyte or a seasoned practitioner, you'll want to read the whole thing. The questioner (Susan Moon) and the answerer (Norman Fischer) are old friends, each with a unique gift for articulation, and their friendly conversation covers not only the basics but a range of issues unique to Zen in America in the twenty-first century, including:
• What is zazen and how do you do it?
• Where did Zen start and where did it come from?
• Will I have an enlightenment experience?
• What is the law of karma in a nutshell?
• What do Zen Buddhists say about rebirth?
• How do you recognize a good, solid Zen teacher?
[and much more]
The best intro to zen thought and practice I've ever read. The back and forth critical dialogue gives you a deeper sense of the questions that everyone who practices zen --whether you're just starting out, or have practiced for many years--is bound to encounter. But it doesn't dictate; the discussion encourages you to explore the issues for yourself. At the same time, this is a book that I can go back to again and again, for instruction, dialogue, and support along the path. I appreciate the heartfelt care and thought that's been put into the book.
...
Although a Zen practitioner for over 50 years, I found this book a mind-opening revelation for pesky questions I've harbored for decades but hadn't the awareness or clarity to articulate, let alone suggest (multi-leveled) answers. Thanks, Sue, for prompting such a bone-honest dialogue, and Norm, for your sublimely contextual and personally compassionate responses.
...
Although a Zen practitioner for over 50 years, I found this book a mind-opening revelation for pesky questions I've harbored for decades but hadn't the awareness or clarity to articulate, let alone suggest (multi-leveled) answers. Thanks, Sue, for prompting such a bone-honest dialogue, and Norm, for your sublimely contextual and personally compassionate responses.
(It is available as an audio book too, but I rather recommend the written version ... as this is the kind of book that needs to be gone through at slower than conversational pace.)
Gassho, Jundo
SatTodayLAH
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