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

[Ryushi]

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

I recently had the opportunity to do this. Coincidentally (or not!), I recommended the same as Jundo.

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

It's not a universal method. Strange to throw out a whole book because of a simple aspect of technique.

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.

Agreed. While this was my first book, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone else as a starting book for reasons Jundo gave.

[Ryumon]

For a real beginner, someone totally new to Zen, I'd recommend one of Steve Hagen's books. I don't have them handy, but either Buddhism Plain and Simple or Buddhism Is Not What You Think. I don't recall there being a lot of meditation instruction, but these books cover the basics.

Gassho,

Kirk

SAT

[Myoku]

Interesting question Sam,
took me a while but finally came to

Njanatiloka - the words of the buddha

which is not strictly "zen-book" but theravada. It is a really to the core summarization of buddha's words from different scriptures. I would say you find many if not all concepts of zen philosophy covered, just partly with different terminology.
Gassho
Myoku
sat

[Daitetsu]

Not Soto but “Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teachings of Zen Master Seung Sahn” is a fun one.

This is also one of my all time favourites - however, I would not recommend it as a first read. (all these mentions of stick hitting... )

Someone completely new to the Zen world (esp. Soto) would probably have a nice introduction with "Hardcore Zen" or "Sit down and shut up" by Brad Warner.

Gassho,

Daitetsu

#sat2day

[aprapti]

Who am i to disagree with Jundo, but i think "Taking the Path of Zen" by Aitken Roshi is a very good book to begin with. It gives a lot of information and techniques about why and how to sit, in eight interesting chapters. And than, indeed, one chapter about koans, so i don't think it's centered on the Koan Introspection...

But of course we are all waiting for the book that will make all other zen book superfluous : THE ZEN MASTER’S DANCE ..



aprapti

std

[Shinshi]

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

I am quite fond of Everyday Zen. It was one of the first Zen books I encountered. There is also Steve Hagen's book: Buddhism Plain and Simple

Gassho, Shinshi

SaT-LaH

[Heisoku]

I always find that books have a way of presenting themselves when you most need them.
In this vein I have enjoyed every one of my zen books, but I always go back to the one that started me off back in ‘88’ when I didn’t have a clue. It has become a touchstone for me ever since and resulted in a trip that ended on the Pacific coast of Japan and a wife and family.
No other than, ‘Moon in a Dewdrop’ - Dogen, Ed. K. Tanahashi’.

Gassho
Heisoku
Stlah
PS. Still don’t have a clue.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

I know Treeleaf has been with Brad Warner. He recommends members of our Zendo and all members ofall Sangas in each of all Western Cultures are becoming leaders in the Zen World. Jundo Choen our teacher has been honored with the title Jundo Roshi, and I trust Jundo explicitly with my growth and direction. I am 68-years old, and I have been told I will live into my 80s; durning that time I intend to be Jundo’s student. If he should die before me I will stay with Treeleaf and study with whoever becomes priest or priests of Treeleaf Zendo. I am inconsistent in my practice because if health issues. I have regained much good health in the last five years. I hope my doctor is right and I am healthier than I have been in a long time. Because we live far from a Soto Zendo, I find Treeleaf good and excellent in my practice. I have come to care about the people in our computer Zendo.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Kyōsen]

Beautiful, Tai Shi! Thank you for sharing your inspiration and aspiration, I feel the same way.

I think it's good for each of us to become leaders (by leading-through-example) in our respective cultures and countries and communities. The best way to lead is by example, of course. Leading doesn't mean you have to lead a group or conduct ceremonies - it means living in accordance with your values and doing so without worrying what others may think of that. You show people the way by walking it yourself and supporting those who want to walk with you in whatever way you can, even if it's just words of encouragement. The best leaders are those who don't think of themselves as such, but who also acknowledge what role they play in others' stories, I think.

In any case, I am grateful to be learning from and practicing Jundo-Roshi as well as all the Unsui and Precept-Holders and everyone else who is part of this Sangha: Past, present, and future. The Sangha is very precious

Gassho
Kyōsen
Sat|LAH

[Jundo]

Gassho
Kyōsen
Sat|LAH

Not "Kyosen" yet. ... until the Ceremony next week. :-)

Gassho J

stlah

[TyZa]

Haven't finished the book yet but Realizing Genjo Koan by Shohaku Okumura is amazing and it has really helped me to make some sense of this practice. I would recommend it to everyone.

My first ever book on Zen was either There is No God and He is Always with You by Brad Warner or Work: How to Find Joy and Meaning in Each Hour of the Day by Thich Nhat Hanh. The "Work" book is short and really helped me to learn to try to develop compassion for those who bring me discontent and focusing on the moment. A little more "mindfulness" based then I currently like, but nonetheless a really good entry level for dealing with workplace stress. Brad's book would be for someone like me (who at that time) was struggling with agnosticism when coming from a theistic religious upbringing and wanted to learn more about Zen.

Gassho,
Tyler

SatToday

[Tai Shi]

In Chinese practice before Dogen, work formed an important part of practice, and in some Zendo monks were expected to work 3 hrs a day as part of practice in the walls of the monastery. Dogen also explains the necessity of work in practice. I am retired from the word of physical labor. Yet, I am a sponsor in AA with three men:! This by itself forms my work. The remainder is family, and attention to my practice. Before I joined Treeleaf I was often out of balance giving attention to one or the other too much. But since my great personal upheaval about 9 yrs ago, attention to all parts of life have been important to me. Before giving personally to the three men I sponsor, I volunteered in a coffee shop at a senior center and for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The point being. The world of work is so important to practice, look at our teacher who works as translator and attorney. All find great satisfaction in work well done. In Western Zen, that’s us, many find work necessary to practice AND to make livelihood. My wife and I are both retired, and have pulled back from the world of labor, but we both find great satisfaction b in our personal work. You will often see me end my “sat” with “lAH” and this means lend a hand. My work is with the men in AA, a small amount of money to NAMI, our Zendo, and for me and my wife yearly to The Nature Conservancy, so both of us practice. She supports my attention to Sangha, to Interbeing. Plumb Village! We even exercise three b times a week at the local gym: we make our Zen life together.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[Tai Shi]

This above neglected my favorite Zen book, I like very much Opening the Hand of Thought written by a senior Zen master. This incorporates all the parts I wrote of above. Plus, it gives direction for sitting practice. I can no longer “sit,” I am 68 with two artificial knees, and advanced arthritis, but all parts of this book by master Uchiyama, apply to me. I just sit in a chair or recline on a recliner focus on the breathe, posture, and mind just as Jundo instructs me. Jundo and Uchiyama are in complete agreement. So as a senior, and a married practitioner, I sit as Uchiyama instructs, and try to find balance in my life this is the middle way as the Buddha instructs.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[TyZa]

In Chinese practice before Dogen, work formed an important part of practice, and in some Zendo monks were expected to work 3 hrs a day as part of practice in the walls of the monastery. Dogen also explains the necessity of work in practice. I am retired from the word of physical labor. Yet, I am a sponsor in AA with three men:! This by itself forms my work. The remainder is family, and attention to my practice. Before I joined Treeleaf I was often out of balance giving attention to one or the other too much. But since my great personal upheaval about 9 yrs ago, attention to all parts of life have been important to me. Before giving personally to the three men I sponsor, I volunteered in a coffee shop at a senior center and for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The point being. The world of work is so important to practice, look at our teacher who works as translator and attorney. All find great satisfaction in work well done. In Western Zen, that’s us, many find work necessary to practice AND to make livelihood. My wife and I are both retired, and have pulled back from the world of labor, but we both find great satisfaction b in our personal work. You will often see me end my “sat” with “lAH” and this means lend a hand. My work is with the men in AA, a small amount of money to NAMI, our Zendo, and for me and my wife yearly to The Nature Conservancy, so both of us practice. She supports my attention to Sangha, to Interbeing. Plumb Village! We even exercise three b times a week at the local gym: we make our Zen life together.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Thank you for your practice.

Gassho,
Tyler

SatToday

[Washin]

In Chinese practice before Dogen, work formed an important part of practice, and in some Zendo monks were expected to work 3 hrs a day as part of practice in the walls of the monastery. Dogen also explains the necessity of work in practice. I am retired from the word of physical labor. Yet, I am a sponsor in AA with three men:! This by itself forms my work. The remainder is family, and attention to my practice. Before I joined Treeleaf I was often out of balance giving attention to one or the other too much. But since my great personal upheaval about 9 yrs ago, attention to all parts of life have been important to me. Before giving personally to the three men I sponsor, I volunteered in a coffee shop at a senior center and for the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The point being. The world of work is so important to practice, look at our teacher who works as translator and attorney. All find great satisfaction in work well done. In Western Zen, that’s us, many find work necessary to practice AND to make livelihood. My wife and I are both retired, and have pulled back from the world of labor, but we both find great satisfaction b in our personal work. You will often see me end my “sat” with “lAH” and this means lend a hand. My work is with the men in AA, a small amount of money to NAMI, our Zendo, and for me and my wife yearly to The Nature Conservancy, so both of us practice. She supports my attention to Sangha, to Interbeing. Plumb Village! We even exercise three b times a week at the local gym: we make our Zen life together.
Tai Shi
sat/lah
Gassho

Washin
st-lah