What are good books to read for a beginner to learn about Zen? the market is flooded with books.
What are good books to read for a beginner to learn about Zen? the market is flooded with books.
Hello Catt,
Here you go, the suggested book and media list for Treeleaf Sangha:
http://www.treeleaf.org/forums/showt...REELEAF-SANGHA
Jundo marked with '**' those recommended for beginners. I hope you'll find it helpful
Gassho,
Andoitz.
SatToday.
太 Tai (Great)
陽 Yō (Sun)
Hi Catt
My own personal recommendations to people (in this order) tend to be:
Everyday Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi
Happy reading!
Gassho
Kokuu
#sattoday
Thank you Andoiz
Gassho,
Kyonin
#SatToday
Hondō Kyōnin
奔道 協忍
Charlotte Beck really hit me when I first read Everyday Zen. She got me deep in my heart.
Gassho
Sat Today
"Buddhism Plain and Simple" by Steve Hagen (which is on the list) was the book that started me on the path. Clear and no nonsense.
-satToday
Thanks,
Kaishin (開心, Open Heart)
Please take this layman's words with a grain of salt.
Last edited by Myosha; 09-28-2016 at 05:18 PM.
"Recognize suffering, remove suffering." - Shakyamuni Buddha when asked, "Uhm . . .what?"
Hi Catt,
all good recommendations here. So many good books out there! For a very basic overview of Buddhism in general, including but not limited to zen, I like "Buddhism For Dummies". I read it last winter and really enjoyed it. I happen to be a dummy, but you don't have to be one to read it. Happy reading!
Gassho
Byōkan
sat today
Mine too, except for the "Opening The Hand Of Though" (which I didn't read yet). I simply loved Joko Beck style (she made me long for having her as my teacher), and Suzuki Roshi impressions. Often I read this kind of books (made of compilations and transcriptions of Dharma talks) just after each Zazen, one chapter a day. It makes me feel like I were listening to them live.
"Buddhism Plain And Simple" catched me too. And maybe after them, from other traditions (Theravada) I like the "What The Buddha Taught" by Ven. Walpola Rahula. This last one I like very much. Both clear, direct and simple introductions to Buddhism.
Before them all, maybe the "Buddhism For Dummies", though sometimes I felt it very "technical", paradoxally. :P
#SatToday
Last edited by Kyosei; 09-30-2016 at 06:12 PM.
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Kyōsei
強 Kyō
声 Sei
Namu kie Butsu, Namu kie Ho, Namu kie So.