The Best Zen Philosophy Books for Beginners

The first accessible beginner's guide to Rinzai Zen practice. The recognition of the true nature of oneself and the universe is the aim of Rinzai Zen--but that experience, known as kensho, is really just the beginning of a life of refining that discovery and  putting it into practice in the world.  Rinzai Zen, with its famed discipline and its emphasis on koan practice, is one of two main forms of Zen practiced in the West, but it is less familiar than the more prominent Soto school.

Meido Moore here remedies that situation by providing this compact and complete introduction to Zen philosophy and practice from the Rinzai perspective. It is an excellent entrée to a venerable tradition that goes back through the renowned master Hakuin Ekaku in eighteenth-century Japan to its origins in Tang dynasty China--and that offers a path to living with insight and compassion for people today.

"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few." So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. An instant teaching on the first page. And that's just the beginning.

In the thirty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics, much beloved, much re-read, 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.

Center yourself and find calm―simple Zen meditation for beginners. Beginning Zen meditation is a step into the unknown―let Zen Meditation for Beginners be your guide. This simple, straightforward handbook shows you how to embrace the beauty and clarity of the present moment―helping you destress and find balance at home, at work, or wherever you are. Discover 10 different Zen principles, and find out how to apply their wisdom in your everyday life. This book of meditation for beginners shows you how to bring important principles of Zen to life in your own meditation.

When you leave your seated practice, post-meditation exercises help you take that peace with you on your journey. Zen Meditation for Beginners includes:. A few minutes of peace―Take a break with these short practices―most take five or 10 minutes, and some can be done while you go about your day.Find what you need―Meditate on themes for the modern day, like Embodying Kindness, Noticing Negative Self-Speak, No Big Deal, and more.Clear and simple―No previous Zen experience necessary―this book on meditation for beginners walks you through the basics, so you can relax and move forward confidently.Invite a few moments of calm into your busy day with Zen Meditation for Beginners.