If you have to pick one zen book, what is it?

[shikantazen]

Recently a colleague of mine who was brand new to meditation and buddhism asked me to suggest one book that he can read to know more and may be start practicing.

He asked me this a bit suddenly and I just picked these two

Zen: Zen mind Beginner's Mind
Theravada / Vipassana: Mastering the core teachings of buddha by daniel ingram (author made it freely available on his website: https://www.integrateddaniel.info/book)

I have read the second one and it is very practical and pretty good. The first one though I didn't read. I started reading it and to my surprise found it was not very practical and hard to understand (especially for those new to zen). It is a series of talks compiled into book. I regret suggesting that book. I then started wondering what would be one such book that you would suggest.

I can think of below but please suggest your picks

- opening hand of thought (I'm a bit skeptical as they don't use breath counting etc as is traditionally used in zen)
- practical zen (not popular but read it in a library and found it to be very practical and good https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1848193637)

Gassho,
Sam
st

[Geika]

Funny enough, my first thought was Zen Mind Beginner's Mind: everytime I read it something chimes.

My second choice is hard... either Instructions to the Cook by Glassman or Taking the Path of Zen by Aitken.

EDIT: My answers are based on my own personal collection of books and not necessarily the right choices for a beginner. I realize that Aitken is tricky if you're studying Soto as a newcomer. And the Glassman book is just a book I really enjoy written from a Zen perspective. But neither are good beginner books for a student of Soto for study.

Gassho
Sat today, lah

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[Jundo]

Oh, that is easy!

THE ZEN MASTER’S DANCE


A Guide to Understanding Dōgen
and Who You Are in the Universe


by

Jundo Cohen

... due out from Wisdom Publications this coming summer!

Gassho, Jundo Cohen

STLah

[Jundo]

In all seriousness, anything by Daniel Ingram will mess up someone's life. That guy is simply a meditation extremist seeking to push the envelope of weird meditation experiences to explore the brain at its limits. He admits it in various interviews I have heard with him. It is one of the last things I would recommend to anyone. In my understanding, his recommendations are considered quirky even in the Theravada/Insight neck of the woods.

I would recommend "Opening the Hand of Thought" and "Instructions for the Cook (aka "From The Zen Kitchen To Enlightenment: Refining Your Life by Eihei Dogen")" both by Uchiyama Roshi (not to be confused with the like titled book by Bernie Glassman that Geika recommends. That Glassman book is not really a book about "how to" Zen, and more about his social work projects, so I am not sure why Geika listed that. Am I confused about that, Geika, as it has been awhile since I read it?) As a Soto fellow, I cannot really recommend "Taking the Path of Zen" by Aitken Roshi either, because it is centered on the Koan Introspection style of the Sambokyodan with its heavy emphasis on Kensho, and I think it mispresents aspects of Shikantaza.

"Hardcore Zen" by Bro. Brad Warner is really good.

"WHAT IS ZEN?" by Norman Fischer and Susan Moon - 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.

"Simple Guide to Zen Buddhism" by Diana St. Ruth (Jundo Review: For folks who are completely new, puzzled and perplexed about Zen Buddhism's history and practices of various flavors. It is detailed in its explanation, balanced and quite comprehensive in the many topics it covers. I would not recommend the book for anyone who had been practicing for even a few months, but it may still answer some questions and be good to give to your dad or sister who is completely confused by what we are doing here ... and may think that we are wearing bed sheets while dancing in drum circles with the Dalai Lama during the Soltice. As with any book, it is not perfect. It could still do even a better job in explaining the various different approaches of Soto and Rinzai, Koan Centered Zazen and Shikantaza ... but they are touched upon. But compared to most other books on the subject, it is well researched, comprehensive, very balanced and gets it right.)

Yes, "Zen Mind Beginners Mind" is also good, but it is not really a "How To" Zazen book, and more a record of Suzuki Roshi's talks. As well, because he struggled with English, it is something of a rambling and twisty thing more than people sometimes want to admit, and not always so clear. I agree in your assessment, Sam.

I do not know the Skinner book. It is not often mentioned for some reason. **

By the way ...

- opening hand of thought (I'm a bit skeptical as they don't use breath counting etc as is traditionally used in zen)

Don't be skeptical. It is a classic. One of the best explanations of how to sit Shikantaza.

Gassho, J

STLah

** I just looked through the Skinner book briefly. He is from the OBC Lineage but, boy, he recommends quite some unique things in that book as I see, including a Koan Introspection Practice that the Soto based OBC is not known for, and something called "Soft Ointment Meditation." I am thinking that the book is not often cited because it does not look that standard.

*** Ah, sorry, I mispoke ... Rev. Skinner began with OBC, but then trained and was made a teacher in a Rinzai lineage. That explains the meditation techniques and discussion in the book ("soft ointment/melting butter" is something that Hakuin Zenji sometimes practiced). I cannot comment because it is a Rinzai based practice.

[Hoseki]

Recently a colleague of mine who was brand new to meditation and buddhism asked me to suggest one book that he can read to know more and may be start practicing.

He asked me this a bit suddenly and I just picked these two

Zen: Zen mind Beginner's Mind
Theravada / Vipassana: Mastering the core teachings of buddha by daniel ingram (author made it freely available on his website: https://www.integrateddaniel.info/book)

I have read the second one and it is very practical and pretty good. The first one though I didn't read. I started reading it and to my surprise found it was not very practical and hard to understand (especially for those new to zen). It is a series of talks compiled into book. I regret suggesting that book. I then started wondering what would be one such book that you would suggest.

I can think of below but please suggest your picks

- opening hand of thought (I'm a bit skeptical as they don't use breath counting etc as is traditionally used in zen)
- practical zen (not popular but read it in a library and found it to be very practical and good https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1848193637)

Gassho,
Sam
st

Hi,

I can’t speak to Jundo’s book as it’s not out yet. But personally I found Opening the Hand of Thought to be the book that I got the most out of. But like most things it sort of depends on where you are when you read it.

Not sure this helps as your already kind of skeptical about it but that was my experience.

Did you get the chance to check out the book list? Jundo has a number of them marked for beginners.

Gassho
Hoseki
Sattoday/lah


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[drew]

I'm new to zen and started with "Zen mind, beginner's mind" and found to be very "zen" I enjoyed the book, but it not one I would recommend for my wife. She would find it confusing and give up very quickly.

I've also read "Why Buddhism is True" by Robert Wright. I found it very interesting. He links dukkha to feelings and then feelings to our original coding to survive and expand our DNA into the next generation. That while those feeling and drives were very useful to early man and were even vital to survial that they are no longer valid and those feeling now cause the wrong actions or state of mind.

For my wife I feel the best introduction will be the series of 22 talks by Jundo. https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/show...-Begin-Here%21
of course until the book by Jundo is published.

Gassho,
Drew

[vanbui]

Hi Sam,

I found the book "The wholehearted way (aka Bendowa) with a commentary by Uchiyama roshi and translated by Shohaku Okumura" one of the best books I have ever read. It explains the practice of Shikantaza very well. After reading this book, I really believe if you want to understand Soto Zen, you have to study Bendowa as Dogen answered many common questions in this essay.

Jundo - I can't wait for your book. Any chance I can prebook? :-))))

Sattoday

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[Horin]

I would pick also kosho Uchiyama - opening the hand of thought!

Gassho

Ben

Stlah

Enviado desde mi PLK-L01 mediante Tapatalk

[Jundo]

Hi Sam,

I found the book "The wholehearted way (aka Bendowa) with a commentary by Uchiyama roshi and translated by Shohaku Okumura" one of the best books I have ever read. It explains the practice of Shikantaza very well. After reading this book, I really believe if you want to understand Soto Zen, you have to study Bendowa as Dogen answered many common questions in this essay.

Jundo - I can't wait for your book. Any chance I can prebook? :-))))

Sattoday

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I recommended the other two Uchiyama books (Opening the Hand of Thought and Instructions for the Cook) but, honestly, I found the "Wholehearted Way" to be suffering from the same troubles of meandering and English issues as Zen Mind Beginner's Mind. I read it twice several years ago, and found it not up to the other two. I would not recommend that one among the Uchiyama books as a starting place, although it is worth reading at some point and is a treasure. I will read it again sometime soon and see if my earlier impression changes.

Gassho, J

STLah

[Tairin]

Honestly I probably would suggest someone watch Jundo’s beginners series rather than read any specific book.

They are a highly accessible intro to Zen.


Tairin
Sat today and lah

[Shonin Risa Bear]

Tairin is right. _()_

Anything by Uchiyama works for me ... but I've been reading this stuff (without really acting on it until five years ago) since the fall of Rome. What was available back then was D.T. Suzuki mostly, along with whatever Snyder and Reps and Kapleau were going on about.

What about Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck? or Thich Nhat Hanh's The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching: “Why wander all over the world looking for something you already have?”

gassho
doyu sat and lah today

[Onka]

I wouldn't recommend any. Everyone is different and has different ways that they engage best with a subject. If your friend is fair dinkum about exploring Zen they'll find a book/video series/YouTube channel that speaks to them.
Gassho
Anna
st

[serenewolf]

I have not read many zen books but Jindo Shokai has one called "the search for self". It is well written and worth reading.
Gassho
David
Sat/lah

[Jundo]

I have not read many zen books but Jindo Shokai has one called "the search for self". It is well written and worth reading.
Gassho
David
Sat/lah

Ah, our Shokai did write a lovely book that I recommend to all who love him. It is not really a "how to" Zen book at all, but his personal biography from memories in his mother's kitchen, through a variety of careers ranging from Canada to Saudi Arabia to funeral director in Japan (!), all leading to Zen priest and one very cool dude. Such an interesting life, and such a good man:

https://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showthread.php?16056-On-writing-a-book

Gassho, Jundo

STLah

[Jundo]

PS - Sorry, I mispoke about the book Sam mentioned called "Practical Zen: Meditation and Beyond." The author, Rev. Skinner began with the Soto-baased OBC, but then trained and was made a teacher in a Rinzai lineage. That explains the meditation techniques and discussion in the book, including various Koan approaches developed by Hakuin Zenji such as the "soft ointment" meditation that he discusses. I cannot comment because it is a Rinzai based practice.