The Mountains and Waters Sutra: A Practitioner’s Guide to Dogen’s “Sansuikyo” by Shohaku Okumura Roshi 

• Jundo Roshi’s comment: I am putting this at the top of the list as one of the finest books on master Dogen’s teachings and Shikantaza practice that I have encountered in some 40 years of reading Zen books. However, I am not recommending it to newcomers, but more for folks already experienced and familiar with both Dogen Zenji and our ways. Perhaps no book in English has ever so perfectly captured our way of Dogen and Shikantaza, “Just Sitting that Hits the Mark” … but to truly appreciate these essays, the reader needs to have a mature understanding and feel for both deep down.

*Opening the Hand of Thought by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (2004 Edition)*

• Jundo Roshi’s comment: The first and best book I recommend for people new to Shikantaza, and any of us from time to time. 

*Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi *
Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi 

• See Jundo’s little caution on these popular books here

Zen Is Right Here by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi 
A Heart To Heart Chat On Buddhism With Old Master Gudo by Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi (Jundo Cohen, Translator. New Edition released 2015)
To Meet the Real Dragon, Gudo Wafu Nishijima Roshi
Hardcore Zen” and Sit Down and Shut Up by Brad Warner
*Nothing Special: Living Zen by Charlotte Joko Beck *
*Everyday Zen: Love & Work by Charlotte Joko Beck *
*Inside the Grass Hut: Living Shitou’s Classic Zen Poem by Ben Connelly *
 The Art of Simple Living: 100 Daily Practices from a Japanese Zen Monk for a Lifetime of Calm and Joy by Shunmyo Masuno
*Realizing Genjokoan: The Key to Dogen’s Shobogenzo by Shohaku Okumura Roshi *
*Bringing the Sacred to Life: The Daily Practice of Zen Ritual by John Daido Loori Roshi *

• A wonderful short book on Buddhist practices. Please see our Treeleaf recommended  At Home Practice >>

Street Zen, The Life and Work of Issan Dorsey by David Schneider
The Song of the Wind in the Dry Tree by Philippe Rei Ryu Coupey
Zen, Simply Sitting by Philippe Rei Ryu Coupey
No Death, No Fear by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh
Asking about Zen: 108 Answers Rev. Jiho Sargent
The Art of Just Sitting edited by John Daido Loori (2004 edition)

• with Jundo’s caution regarding certain essays featuring a very aggressive form of Shikantaza from the Yasutani-Harada lineage

Returning to Silence by Dainin Katagiri Roshi
You Have to Say Something by Dainin Katagiri Roshi
The Zen Teaching of “Homeless” Kodo by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (new edition recently issued!)
To You: [Further] Zen Sayings of Kodo Sawaki by Uchiyama Roshi,
Deepest Practice, Deepest Wisdom: Three Fascicles from Shobogenzo with Commentary
Commentary on the Song of Awakening: [Master Kodo Sawaki’s] Commentary on the Seventh Century Poem by the Chinese Ch’an Master Yung-chia Hsuan-chueh, translated by Tonen O’Connor
One Robe One Bowl by Ryokan
Sky Above, Great Wind: The Life and Poetry of Zen Master Ryokan translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi
Bankei Zen: Translations from The Record of Bankei translated by Peter Haskel
Mud and Water: The Teachings of Zen Master Bassui translated by Arthur Braverman
The Zen Teaching of Huang Po translated by John Blofeld (in combination with reflections on the history, misunderstandings, context and philosophical perspectives of this text: “Philosophical Meditations on Zen Buddhism” by Dale S. Wright)
Buddhism Plain and Simple by Steve Hagen
Meditation Now or Never by Steve Hagen
Zen Seeds, Reflections of a Female Priest by Shundo Aoyama
Zen Women: Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens and Macho Masters by Grace Schireson
Zen and the Brain by Dr. James Austin (a series of very thick, often dense books on medical research on meditation)
Lotus In The Fire: The Healing Power of Zen by Jim Bedard

• a painful “hell and back” diary of the author, a Zen practitioner’s journey through chemotherapy. Jundo Roshi’s review is here

Snow falling in Moonlight by Tai Sheridan.
Living Zen: The Diary of an American Zen Priest by Daiho Hilbert.
Subtle Sound: The Zen Teachings of Maurine Stuart
Training in Compassion: Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong by Norman Fischer
The Essence of Chan: A Practical Guide to Life and Practice according to the Teachings of Bodhidharma by Guo Gu

• Chinese Chan comes in many flavors, as does Zen in general. This book presents teachings very much echoing our Shikantaza Ways, and comments on one of the few writings that historians believe may actually have been composed by Bodhidharma.

Just This Is It: Dongshan and the Practice of Suchness by Taigen Dan Leighton
My Christian Journey with Zen by Gustav Ericsson

• This is by Jundo’s Dharma Brother Gustav, fellow student of Nishijima Roshi, and Lutheran Priest

*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 topics and questions of interest even to very experienced practitioners. Wonderful for everyone.

*Buddhism For Dummies by Jonathan Landaw & Stephan Bodian *

• Jundo: I have been looking for a very long time for a book for people very new to Buddhism who want to know basic information and all the many flavors of Buddhist schools, their beliefs, and practices. Despite the silly title, this is a very smart, well written, comprehensive and detailed yet easy (and fun) to read, humorous and serious guide, covers most of the major bases and in quite some detail, gives fair treatment to the many flavors of Buddhism, is very down to earth about the more magical aspects of Buddhism (it tries to present a more psychological than literal take on Karma and Rebirth, for example) …. and it covers everything and the kitchen sink. I learned a thing or two. I just wish they would change the title. If I have one criticism, I wish they had done a better job in contrasting the various approaches of Zen. I recommend this book primarily for people very new to Buddhism in general.

*Simple Guide to Zen Buddhism by Diana St. Ruth *

• Jundo: 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 has 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 approaches of Soto and Rinzai, Koan Centered Zazen and Shikantaza … but they are touched upon. Compared to most other books on the subject, it is well researched, comprehensive, very balanced, and gets it right.

*The Buddhist Religion: A Historical Introduction by Richard H Robinson *

• Jundo: a good panoramic look at the whole history of Buddhism, right up to modern times. It is a serious history book, very detailed, but quite readable. It covers an amazing amount of topics and history in its pages. It can be rather dense, and tries to tell the story from the traditional religious interpretation as well as what historians may believe differs. I would recommend the book to folks newer to Buddhism but who are looking for a more detailed treatment of the entire sweep of Buddhist history, as well as folks already familiar with our history but who would like to read a comprehensive review. 

*The Zen Master’s Dance: A Guide to Understanding Dogen and Who You Are in the Universe by Jundo Cohen *

• Jundo: Sorry, I have to put my book at the top. It is meant as a good introduction to Dogen for folks new to his writings or who struggle to get the old master’s sound and style. I hope readers will learn to dig Dogen’s wild jazz and dance along!

Readings of Dōgen’s ‘Treasury of the True Dharma Eye’ by Prof. Steve Heine

• Jundo review: This book, quite simply, may be the single best detailed survey and explanation of what Dogen was on about that I have ever read by an academic. Dogen cannot be presented more completely and, most importantly, accurately in an intellectual study than Steven has done in this book. It is bound to become one of the main “go to” guides for serious explorers of Dogen’s bottomless depths. That said, the book may be difficult for readers very new to Dogen, or who otherwise struggle in attempting the master’s writings, so I do not recommend it for people who are very new to Dogen or who don’t get the old master’s sound and style (for them, see my book, Zen Master’s Dance, immediately above). On the other hand, anyone who already cherishes and has some handle on Dogen will savor this as a tour de force, and it should be on the shelf of every true student of Dogen. Personally, if anyone comes to me in the coming years as to what they should read for a comprehensive explanation of Dogen and Shobogenzo, especially if it is someone who already has established some solid appreciation of Dogen, I will quickly point them to this book … besides the sitting cushion, of course!

Essential Dogen by Peter Levitt and Kaz Tanahashi
*From The Zen Kitchen To Enlightenment: Refining Your Life by Eihei Dogen; Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (Translator) *
*Nothing Is Hidden: Essays on Zen Master Dogen’s Instructions for the Cook by Shohaku Okumura Roshi *
How to Raise an Ox and Sounds of the Valley Streams, both by Francis Cook (translations of Shobogenzo sections, both books with essays by the author that are excellent introductions to Dogen and his teachings)
*A Talk On Pursuing The Truth by Gudo Nishijima Roshi *

• Jundo: A celebration of Zazen and Master Dogen’s classic ‘Bendowa,’ an invitation to Zazen for all of us, based on a series of lectures by my Teacher, Gudo Wafu Nishijima.

The Wholehearted Way, A Commentary on Dogen’s Bendowa by Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (also published with the title, “Master Dogen’s Zazen Meditation Handbook.”)
Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo-Zuimonki available online here
Enlightenment Unfolds (the essential teachings of Dogen) by Kazuaki Tanahashi
Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen by Kazuaki Tanahashi **
Beyond Thinking: A Guide to Zen Meditation by Kazuaki Tanahashi

• This is Tanahashi Sensei’s collection of Dogen’s writings, a selection from his complete Shobogenzo “Treasury of the True Dharma Eye”

Treasury of the True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo by Kazuaki Tanahashi

• Jundo: A Triumph! … but still quite pricey for the new practitioner. The above editions of Tanahashi are recommended instead. Also, please read this comparison of various available Shobogenzo editions.

*Zen questions, Zazen, Dogen, and the spirit of Creative Inquiry by Taigen Dan Leighton *
Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist, Revised, Third Edition (Paperback) by Hee-Jin Kim
Dogen on Meditation and Thinking by Hee-Jin Kim
Visions of Awakening Space and Time by Taigen Dan Leighton (to be read with Reeve’s translation of the Lotus Sutra)
The Zen Poetry of Dogen, Steven Heine
Dogen’s Pure Standards for the Zen Community (Eihei Shingi), Leighton/Okumura
Dogen’s Extensive Record (Eihei Koroku), Leighton/Okumura
Dogen’s Manuals of Zen Meditation, Carl Bielefeldt
Dogen’s Genjokoan: Three Commentaries
Receiving the Marrow: Teachings on Dogen by Soto Zen Women Priests
Entire 4-Volume Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo translated by Nishijima Roshi and Chodo Cross, available ONLINE for free here

*The Posture of Mediation by Will Johnson *

• Jundo: Please read this review of the book and some cautions, here

Buddhist Thought, A Complete Introduction to the Indian Tradition Paul Williams and Anthony Tribe.

• Jundo: Although meant as an introductory textbook, it is still wonderfully detailed, despite the writing being poor in places. I recommend this, somewhat ahead of the next two books, by Walpola Rahula and David Kalipahana, for both readability and the presence of less of a personal religious ideology that tends to cloud the impartiality of those other books.

Understanding Our Mind, by Thich Nhat Hanh
Concerning Birth by Ajahn Buddhadasa

• Jundo: Although not the best written book, Buddhadasa expresses a rather skeptical view of literal post-death rebirth and Karma, unusual for a Theravadin teacher.

Buddhist Revivalist Movements: Comparing Zen Buddhism and the Thai Forest Movement by Alan Robert Lopez (A book finding common ground, amid differences, between Zen Buddhism and the teachings of the Theravadan Teacher, Ajahn Chah)
Advaita Vedanta and Zen Buddhism: Deconstructive Modes of Spiritual Inquiry (A book finding common ground, amid differences, between Soto Zen Buddhism and the teachings of Advaita Vedanta.)

*Living by Vow: A Practical Introduction to Eight Essential Zen Chants and Texts by Shohaku Okumura *
The Heart Sutra: A Comprehensive Guide to the Classic of Mahayana Buddhism by Kazuaki Tanahashi
The Heart Sutra by Red Pine (Bill Porter)
Heart of Understanding: Commentaries on Heart Sutra by Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh
The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma, Translated by Red Pine
*The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch by Hui-neng and Philip Yampolsky *

• The earlier, simpler ‘Dun Huang’ Version, recommended by Jundo, is available at the end of the Yampolski book. As well, a later, more elaborate version from the 13th century, in which many more writers had a hand, is available online.

Cultivating the Empty Field, The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi Taigen Dan Leighton
Soto Zen Ancestors in China (The Recorded Teachings of Shitou Xiqian, Yaoshan Weiyan and Yunyan Tansheng) by James Mitchell (writings and stories attributed to these root ancestors of the Soto tradition)
Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Talks on the Sandokai by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Trust In Mind by Mu Soeng (Comments on the Xin Xin Ming)
The Lotus Sutra translated by Gene Reeves (the most readable translation of the wild Mahayana story book)
The Diamond Sutra translated by Red Pine
The Diamond Sutra Thich Nhat Hanh
The Fundamental Wisdom of the Middle Way: Nagarjuna’s Mulamadhyamakakarika by Nagarjuna and Jay L. Garfield
Mulamadhyamakakarika of Nagarjuna: The Philosophy of the Middle Way by Nagarjuna and David J. Kalupahana
The Vimalakirti Sutra translated by Burton Warson
The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti translated by Robert Thurman
The Lankavatara Sutra translated by Red Pine (a wonderful, informative new translation of this Sutra highly valued in early Chan Buddhism. I would recommend this over the following much older and rougher translation by Suzuki (although masterful too)
The Lankavatara Sutra translated by D.T.Suzuki (in a pair with “Studies in the Lankvatara Sutra” by D.T.Suzuki, considered very dated and a poor translation).
A Treasury of Mahayana Sutras translated by Garma C.G. Chang

*The Circle of the Way – A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World by Barbara Hoetsu O’Brien (See the Jundo Roshi’s review here) *
Zen Buddhism, Volume 1: A History (India & China) by Heinrich Dumoulin
Zen Buddhism, Volume 2: A History (Japan) by Heinrich Dumoulin
The Record of Transmitting the Light (Keizan Zenji’s Denkoroku) F. Cook
Living and Dying in Zazen (Biographies of Sawaki Roshi, Uchiyama Roshi, and others associated with Antai-ji) by Arthur Braverman
*Zen Master Who? by James Ford (telling the story of the various Zen Lineages in the West, though mostly the U.S. Look for Jundo Cohen on page 140!) *
Zen Ritual, Studies in Zen Buddhist Theories in Practice ed. by Steven Heine (various scholars essays on the history of various Zen Rituals)
How Zen Became Zen by Morten Schlütter
Seeing Through Zen, Encounter, Transformation, and Genealogy in Chinese Chan Buddhism John R. McRae
Soto Zen in Medieval Japan William M. Bodiford
The Other Side of Zen, A Social History of Soto Zen Buddhism in Tokugawa Japan by Duncan Ryuken Williams
Once-Born, Twice Born Zen by Conrad Hyers (Essay contrasting “Hard” Rinzai-style Koan Practice and “Just Sitting” Soto Practice)
Eat Sleep Sit by Kaoru Nonomura (Diary of a young monk’s year of training at Eiheiji monastery)
Two Shores of Zen: An American Monk’s Japan by Jiryu Mark Rutschman-Byler. (a fascinating diary of a fellow’s overly idealistic attempt to find the “real Zen” in Japan. However, ahead of this book, I highly recommend the following very funny book, which is much the same story … but with more of a needed sense of humor: Thank You and Okay: An American Zen Failure in Japan by David Chadwick]

The Mind of Clover: Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics by Robert Aitken Roshi
Opening to Oneness by Nancy Mujo Baker
Being Upright: Zen Meditation and Bodhisattva Precepts by Reb Anderson
The New Social Face of Buddhism: A Call to Action by Ken Jones
The New Buddhism by David Brazier
At Hell’s Gate by Claude Anshin Thomas
The Heart of Being, Moral and Ethical – Teachings of Zen Buddhism by John Daido Loori
Waking Up to What You Do by Diane Eshin Rizzetto
Living with the Devil: A Buddhist Meditation on Good and Evil by Stephen Batchelor (a wonderful, rich series of essays and reflections on wrestling with good and bad. Lovely, and to be read in small bites.)
A New Buddhist Path by David Loy
Money, Sex, War, Karma: Notes for a Buddhist Revolution by David Loy
The Great Awakening: A Buddhist Social Theory by David Loy
A Buddhist History of the West by David Loy
Zen at War by Brian Victoria (With a warning about gross historical inaccuracies and fabrications in the book)
A much more reliable, scholarly, and insightful discussion of how Zen and other Japanese Buddhists ended up supporting war in WWII is Imperial-Way Zen: Ichikawa Hakugen’s Critique and Lingering Questions for Buddhist Ethics by C. Ives, although it is not light reading.

The Treeleaf Zendo Podcast
Jundo & Kirk’s Zen Of Everything Podcast, also available everywhere in the 10 Directions

The following are Podcasts and Dharma Talks by some other Zen Teachers which may be of interest to check out:

Norman Zoketsu Fischer and others at Everyday Zen

Steve Hagen and others at Dharma Field

Shohaku Okumura at Sanshin

A variety of Teachers from San Francisco Zen Center

Folks from Austin Zen Center

Taigen Dan Leighton and others at Ancient Dragon Zen Gate

Berkeley Zen Center and the great Mel Weitsman

Various folks at Valley Streams Zen Sangha

Talks by our friend, Koun Franz at Thousand Harbors Zen

Our other friend, Tonen O’Connor, and her friends at The Milwaukee Zen Center

The late Kobun Chino is still here

The late Daido Loori is always lovely and powerful

Jisho Warner and others from Stone Creek Zen Center

Mary Mocine and others from Vallejo Zen Center

Sosan Theresa Flynn and others at Clouds In Water

Santa Cruz Zen Center has talks by Katherine Thanas, Kokyo Henkel and other Soto folks

Ocean Gate Zen Center, featuring Daijaku Kinst and Shinshu Roberts

Gaelyn Godwin and our friends at Houston Zen Zenter

Although often very mixed and eclectic in content beyond Soto Zen, so many of the talks at Upaya Zen Center are interesting

Gay Buddhist Sangha has many recorded talks from a variety of teachers

Hartford Street Zen Center has talks by a variety of teachers from various traditions, mostly Soto, many by Myo Lehy

Various folks at Jikoji Zen Center

And, of course, talks by Myozan at the Dublin Zen Center (in video) and the podcast

Soto Teacher Domyo Burk has a weekly talk.

• The Life and Letters of Tofu Roshi, by Susan Moon
• Thank You and Ok, An American Zen Failure in Japan, David Chadwick
• Zen Speaks, a wonderful and fun series of Zen Stories and bits of Chinese Wisdom, Highly recommended. It is in Chinese with English subtitles.