Introduction to Zen

Reading List Compiled by Janet Cooke

Aitken, Robert, Taking the Path of Zen, (San Francisco: North Point Press, 1982). A useful guide to practice that includes an overview of some basic Buddhist concepts. Robert Aitken and his wife Anne, are the founders of the Diamond Sangha Zen organization in Hawaii.

Dogen, A Primer of Soto Zen, translated by Reiho Masunaga, (Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 1971) A collection of brief talks by the 13th century Japanese Zen Master Dogen, who is credited with transmitting Soto Zen to Japan. This is an excellent introduction to Dogen's work.

Hanh, Thich Nhat, Old Path White Clouds: Walking In the Footsteps of the Buddha (Berkeley: Parallax Press, 1991) A very readable narrative of the life of Gautama Buddha. Thich Nhat Hanh is a well known Vietnamese monk, who now resides in Plum Village Monastery outside of Paris and is the author of many books on Buddhism and Zen meditation. He was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 1967.

Johnson, Will, The Posture of Meditation: A Practical Manual for Meditators of All Traditions, (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1996) A comprehensive, step-by-step guide to the physical posture of meditation by a certified Rolfer and Buddhist meditation practitioner.

Katigiri, Dainin, Returning to Silence: Zen Practice in Daily Life, (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1988) Katigiri's teachings on the fundamentals of Zen Buddhism, drawn from talks he delivered to his American students over a period of more than ten years.

Schuhmacher, Stephan, ed., The Shambhala Dictionary of Buddhism and Zen (Boston: Shambhala Publications, 1991) translated by Michael H. Kohn. Excerpted from The Encyclopedia of Eastern Philosophy and Religion. An indispensable reference source.

Suzuki, Shunryu, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice (New York: Weatherhill, 1970). A collection of talks on Zen practice by Shunryu Suzuki, the founding teacher of the San Francisco Zen Center. These talks were delivered over a period of several years and recorded and edited for publication by one of his students, Trudy Dixon.

Uchiyama, Kosho, Opening the Hand of Thought: Approach to Zen, (New York: Penguin, 1993) Translated by Shokaku Okumara and Tom Wright, edited by Jisho Cary Warner. A practical and rational approach to the reality of Zen practice and everyday life.

Watts, Alan W., The Way of Zen (New York: Random House, 1957) Includes an overview of the history of Buddhism, an introduction to the philosophical roots of Zen and some brief notes on practice.

Young-Eisendrath, Polly and Rafe Martin, Awakening To Zen: The Teachings of Roshi Philip Kapleau (New York: Scribner, 1997) A collection of talks, interviews, and writings by the founder of the Zen Center of Rochester, N.Y.