Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
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Product Description
Product Description
In the forty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics, much beloved, much reread, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basics—from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality—in a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page. It’s a book to come back to time and time again as an inspiration to practice, and it is now available to a new generation of seekers in this fortieth anniversary edition, with a new afterword by Shunryu Suzuki’s biographer, David Chadwick.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
78 of 78 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Classic is an overused word these days but it really does apply to this book. As other reviewers have pointed out it really isn't for beginners despite the title. If you are already involved in meditation practice this book will be helpful. It is a book written by someone from the Soto Zen tradition but it is often recomended by Tibetan teachers as well, so universal is its application. As Suzuki says 'Actually we are not the Soto school at all. We are just Buddhists. We are not even Zen Buddhists. If we understand this point, we are truly Buddhists'.
When I first read this it really did get through to me that meditation wasn't about attaining something but just about sitting. As the author says 'It is when your practice becomes greedy you become discouraged with it. So you should be grateful that you have a sign or a warning signal to show you the weak point in your practice'. This isn't about Buddhist philosophy but about actually doing Zazen for which it is invaluable. In a market place that has become swamped by new age books that use the word Zen in the title it's understandable that the word has become devalued or meaningless but this would undoubtedly make my short list after thirty years of Buddhist study.
When I first read this it really did get through to me that meditation wasn't about attaining something but just about sitting. As the author says 'It is when your practice becomes greedy you become discouraged with it. So you should be grateful that you have a sign or a warning signal to show you the weak point in your practice'. This isn't about Buddhist philosophy but about actually doing Zazen for which it is invaluable. In a market place that has become swamped by new age books that use the word Zen in the title it's understandable that the word has become devalued or meaningless but this would undoubtedly make my short list after thirty years of Buddhist study.
79 of 80 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
The most useful book on Zen I have read so far. Zen abhors analysis and description, and Suzuki takes a practical, human approach to the practice of zazen. The book was compiled from talks given by him at his Zen centres, and is full of honest advice and personal experience.
I am on my third reading, and am finally getting to appreciate some of the messages. These concepts are in fact very simple, if you read with your heart rather than your head. It is free from Zen-stifling intellectual analysis and explanation which is found in lesser works, there is no struggling with brain-busting koans, and satori is never mentioned.
One of the most important messages is very encouraging: that difficulty, distraction and hardship actually improve the practice of zazen. Great news for Beginners like me.
I am on my third reading, and am finally getting to appreciate some of the messages. These concepts are in fact very simple, if you read with your heart rather than your head. It is free from Zen-stifling intellectual analysis and explanation which is found in lesser works, there is no struggling with brain-busting koans, and satori is never mentioned.
One of the most important messages is very encouraging: that difficulty, distraction and hardship actually improve the practice of zazen. Great news for Beginners like me.
49 of 50 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
I agree with all of the positive comments below - this is a wonderful and beautiful book. However, I don't think it is only for those with experience of Buddhist practice. There is something here for everyone. If you have never meditated or thought about Buddhism, parts of the book may seem obscure at first: but this need not get in the way of enjoying the rest. Certainly, this book is not a "beginner's guide", but it values beginners (as the title suggests) and I strongly recommend it to anyone who has an interest in Buddhism.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Quality
This is a book published around the world and this is a great edition. The content is universal, but the binding and quality of this book are excellent.
Published 3 months ago by Mr. Gerald Murphy
Nothing special.
"In the beginner's mind, there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind, there are few." (paraphrased from a sentence in this book)
Would you then prefer to be a beginner... Read more
Would you then prefer to be a beginner... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Kriss
An instant favourite
Amazing reading for the Zen beginner, couldn't put it down from beginning to end. It will definitely be a book that I will re-read in a few months time.
Published 5 months ago by J
Very good, it is one of my favourite books anyway
Very good, it is one of my favourite books anyway. I don't know what else to say other than what I said in the titile.
Published 7 months ago by Ken
a great book by a great master
I have to admit that I read some other reviews and I agree that the book seems for some people very confusing and "waste of paper". Read more
Published 7 months ago by telis
This book keeps getting better
A friend in Berlin showed be this book nearly 20 years ago. I've read it, then bought it for myself, read it again and again,... Read more
Published 8 months ago by F. Buwalda
Simple and good for beginners
This book is an excellent introduction to the spirit of Zen. It focuses on simplicity, non-intellectualizing and on not longing for the fruits of the practice. Read more
Published 9 months ago by lourinha
Give it try, now or later
There are some different opinions on whether this is for beginners or not and whether with a bit of knowledge about Buddhism you might enjoy this more. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Janet Ashfield
Useful every day
I use this book almost every day as a companion to Zen practice.
Originally I read it cover to cover but it was heavy going and I wouldn't recommend it. Read more
Originally I read it cover to cover but it was heavy going and I wouldn't recommend it. Read more
Published 16 months ago by Len
zen mind beginers mind
I will keep it simple, in my oppinion this is a very very good book depending on your level of understanding you may find some of the philosophy a little confusing but dont be put... Read more
Published 21 months ago by P. J. De Maziere
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