Book Review: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

 

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki is a wonderfully insightful book into Zen practice.  Do not be fooled by the title, "...Beginner's Mind," for it's contents are for the experienced practitioner as well. 

The book was originally published forty-one years ago, and to this day is one of the essentials to any Zen library.  It's written from recordings of Suzuki Roshi's talks he gave to his students.  The grammatical style reflects this by rarely editing the structure of how he spoke, which gives you the feeling that Suzuki is talking right to you.  In fact, Shunryu Suzuki himself said, "Nice book, but I didn't write it."  It was actually edited by one of his long time students Trudy Dixon.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind talks about the essence of Zazen practice, the Zen mind, and other very insightful Zen/Buddhist matters.  I'm definitely not getting rid of this book, as I foresee myself referencing back to it many times in my practice.

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I and many other Western practitioners have. 

Shunryu Suzuki

 Suzuki Roshi (1904-1971) was a Soto Zen priest from Japan who established the popular San Fransisco Zen Center in 1959, and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center.  He stayed in America until his death, and is seen as one of the most influential people to bring Zen and Buddhism to the West.

Book Review: Returning to Silence

 

Returning To Silence by Dainin Katagiri is a wonderful work for the beginner of Zen and the experienced alike.  It is somewhat of a guide book, one that can be referenced back to time and time again.

In this book, Katagiri Roshi gives many practical examples of applying Zen not only in sitting/Zazen/meditation, but also in our daily life.  Katagiri is of the Soto Zen tradition, so many of the practices lie around this.  But it is in no way any less beneficial to any Buddhist.  Consider it a handbook to the Buddhist mind if you will.

It covers everything from dualism, Zazen, poetry, art, life, and more.  I consider it invaluable addition to my library.  I highly recommend this book to beginners, those interested in what Zen is really about, and to the experienced Zen Buddhist.

I hope you give this book a chance.  It is jam-packed with wisdom and knowledge from an experienced Soto Zen priest.  Read a bio of Dainin Katagiri here.  My own teacher is in the lineage of his Dharma Transmission and is the honorary founder of Ryumonji Zen Monastery where I spend a lot of my learning time.

Prayer and Zazen

It's commonly known among Buddhists that we don't worship a higher being.  For we are all a part of the universe and this is what the Buddha tells us.
I recently read a line from a great book titled "Returning to Silence" by Dainin Katagiri which opened my eyes to something.  Katagiri states:

"Though Buddhism doesn't seem to have prayer, it does have dhyana.

Dhyana means zazen (meditation), and dhyana is exactly the same as prayer."

How true is this? When we sit down and still our minds and hearts on the teaching of the Dharma, we are essentially asking for the truth from the Buddhas and the universe.  Katagiri Roshi goes on to say:

 "Buddhism is not a revealed religion [i.e. Christianity], but an awakened religion- it is awakening to the self or to the Truth."

So with that in mind, our mediation/sitting (whichever we prefer) is our own exploration into the universe and the Dharma.  Why do Buddhists meditate?  To reveal our minds to the Dharma and to reveal the Dharma to our minds.  With a compassionate heart and a still mind, we can see wit our "Buddha Eye."

Dogen

Amituofo.