Zen category: 918 books

The sacred radiance of our original nature never darkens. It has shined forth since beginningless time. Do you wish to enter the gate that leads to this? Simply do not give rise to conceptual thinking. Zen Master So Sahn (1520–1604) is a towering figure in the history of Korean Zen. In this...

Here is a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism for those who don't know how or where to begin, nor what to expect once they have started practicing. It includes the fundamentals of meditation practice (posture, technique, clothing), descriptions of the basic teachings and major texts, the teacher-student...

Quiet Room is a collection of Zen poetry by 14th century Zen master Jakushitsu-widely considered to be one of the finest poets of the genre. The poetry of Rinzai Zen master Jakushitsu remains as fresh and resonant today as when it was written centuries ago. Now his brilliant, poignant zen poetry,...

A book of Zen teachings is a conundrum because Zen is beyond words. Zen cannot be understood by the mind, because it is about becoming aware of the mind itself. Zen wisdom is not a clever theory, it is medicine. We suffer from the illness of the illusion of separateness and Zen is the cure.

Drawn from the archives of major Zen centers in America and interviews with some of the most seminal figures of American Zen, including Philip Kapleau, Bernie Glassman, Gary Snyder, and Walter Nowick, One Bird, One Stone presents the notable encounters between teachers and students, the moments of...

Unleash the song of your soul with Zen Guitar, a contemplative handbook that draws on ancient Eastern wisdom and applies it to music and performance. Each of us carries a song inside us, the song that makes us human. Zen Guitar provides the key to unlocking this song—a series of life lessons...

This unique introduction to Zen teaching and practice takes the remarkably accessible form of question-and-answer—making it a most useful reference for looking things up. But whether you're a neophyte or a seasoned practitioner, you'll want to read the whole thing. The questioner (Susan Moon) and...

This book of Zen poetry and art blends simple, haiku-like poetry with bold minimalist ink brush drawings. The unique books of Paul Reps have attracted countless readers since they were first published in the 1950s. His classic Zen Flesh, Zen Bones remains one of the most popular books on Zen...

An excellent, practical introduction to Zen meditation. Written in a warm and easily accessible style, this book appeals to anyone with an interest in meditation, Zen, or, as is often the case today, a combination of the two. The book emphasizes the importance of receiving good instruction and of...

Kensho is the transformative glimpse of the true nature of all things. It is an experience so crucial in Zen practice that it is sometimes compared to finding an inexhaustible treasure because it reveals the potential that exists in each moment for pure awareness free from the projections of the ego....

A Zen poem is nothing other than an expression of the enlightened mind, a handful of simple words that disappear beneath the moment of insight to which it bears witness. Poetry has been an essential aid to Zen Buddhist practice from the dawn of Zen—and Zen has also had a profound influence on the...

This guide to Zen Buddhism helps explain classic Zen koans in a unique and fascinating manner. For Westerners, Zen Buddhism is shrouded in the mysterious. Attempts at explanation are lost to double meanings and unanswerable questions. This fascinating book uses dot-to-dot simplicity to unravel...

Samurai Zen brings together 100 of the rare riddles which represent the core spiritual discipline of Japan's ancient Samurai tradition. Dating from thirteenth-century records of Japan's Kamakura temples, and traditionally guarded with a reverent secrecy, they reflect the earliest manifestation of...

Founded by Bodhidharma centuries ago in China, Zen and its teachings have since spread widely, exerting a tremendous cultural influence not only across Asia, but also the modern West. To this day, Zen inspires young and old, from all walks of life, to see the world with fresh eyes—beyond our usual...