A Buddhist Resource Page

When I first encountered Zen Buddhism in the early 70's, it was difficult to even find books on the topic. That situation has changed considerably, both with respect to Zen specifically, and with respect to the wider Buddhist community of practitioners. Now the problem for the newcomer is one of sorting through the many resources available to find sources that are authentic. This page may be helpful to you in your search. In it, I will offer my own list of resources consisting of website links, brief book reviews, links to practice centers, and so forth. In doing so my own biases will doubtless be revealed; I make no claim to objectivity or authority. I'm just a guy with a website and a lot of curiousity.

A good portion of what you will find here is concerned with the Zen tradition within Buddhism, as that has been my practice. You will also find references to a variety of other facets of Buddhism however, along with related topics such as mindfulness meditation, Advaita, and others. Take in what interests you, and leave the rest.

Books

The following are some key books on the topic of Zen, listed roughly in the order in which I encountered them. I've appended some commentary, along with links to sites that are relevant to the book.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

I acquired a copy of this book in 1972, a year or two after it was published. It immediately left a deep impression. I can recall carrying it with me through the woods in Washington state when I worked as a forest fire fighter. My view at the time was that one meditated to acquire a certain elevated state of mind. This book is a nice antidote to that outlook. The book is divided into three sections: Right Practice, Right Attitude, and Right Understanding. That sounds terribly doctrinaire, but as you will find if you read the book, Suzuki was less interested in philosophical distinctions than in simply helping the reader to practice. His warmth as a teacher comes across on every page. Suzuki established the San Francisco Zen Center, along with the associated Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He had many students, some of whom have gone on to found other Zen Centers or write books. David Chadwick maintains a website that keeps track of many of the people associated with the SF Zen Center and with Suzuki. His website contains links to archival material on Shunryu Suzuki, including a biographical book on Suzuki by Chadwick. Edward Espe Brown, who is well-known for his Tassajara cookbooks, edited a further volume of Suzuki's talks titled Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen that is worth reading also. Chadwick edited his own volume of stories about Suzuki that is now out of print: To Shine One Corner of the World. This book presents many anecdotes that reveal Suzuki's teaching style, and why he is revered by so many. It will be re-issued by Shambala with the new wonderful title: Zen is Right Here in October 2007.

The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau

This book appeared in the United States in 1967. For many Americans who were first encountering Zen around that time, it had a tremendous influence. The book contains a variety of material, including Hakuun Yasutani Roshi's lectures on practice, his commentary on the koan Mu, transcripts of his private interviews with ten Western practitioners, and descriptions of the enlightenment experiences of eight Japanese and Western students (including Kapleau himself). Also included is Master Bassui's lectures on the one-mind and his letters to his disciples. It is hard now to describe what it was like to go from having only vague notions about what Zen practice might be, to finding and reading this book. Kapleau founded the Rochester Zen Center in New York State. You can visit their website for more information about Kapleau and his students. The book remains a gem; a good portion of the material in the book cannot be found elsewhere. One word of caution: Don't get too caught up in those eight enlightenment experiences. Walk on!

Taking the Path of Zen by Robert Aitken

Jump forward to the early 80's now, and this little book appeared as an introduction for those new to Zen. Robert Aitken encountered Zen as a POW during World War II, returning to Japan after the war to study with Soen Nagakawa Roshi and Yasutani Roshi. The book remains one of the best introductory books around, but as we all remain beginners anyway, it really appeals to all. Aitken has written extensively on Zen. My favorite is his The Gateless Barrier, which is his translation and commentary on the Mumonkan, a 13th century collection of koans used by many practitioners. Two other great books are his Original Dwelling Place and Encouraging Words. Most recently, a volume appeared that includes new material, along with reprints of earlier work: The Morning Star. Aitken founded the Diamond Sangha in Hawaii, which now has affiliates worldwide. He also was co-founder of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship, which is an organization devoted to socially engaged Buddhism. I have never met Aitken Roshi, but if I did, I would thank him for his inspiring personal example and his written guidance. It has been invaluable to me. My current teacher, John Tarrant, was one of Aitken Roshi's students. More about John later.

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha edited by Stephen Mitchell

This book contains 100 short chapters by Master Seung Sahn, a Korean Zen Master. The book appeared in 1976, and I must have acquired a copy then, as I recall reading it at that time. The chapters represent very direct teaching, as was Master Seung Sahn's style. He founded the Kwan Um School of Zen, whose main center is at the Providence Zen Center. Seung Sahn wrote several other good books, including Only Don't Know and The Compass of Zen. He also had many students, some of which have established independent Zen Centers and have written their own books. Two recent examples are The Wisdom of Solitude by Jane Dobisz and Don't Know Mind: The Spirit of Korean Zen by Richard Strobe.

Golden Wind by Eido Shimano Roshi

This book appeared in 1979, and may now be hard to find. It is worth finding however, as is a second book Points of Departure Zen Buddhism with a Rinzai View by the same author in 1991. He founded the Zen Studies Society and the Dai Bosatsu Center in the Catskills of New York State. Eido's talks in the above book are wonderful, with each talk addressing a koan. Very clear writing. Eido has just recently published his translation of The Book of Rinzai, which is the collected talks of Master Linji, founder of the Rinzai school.

Moon in a Dewdrop edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi

The author of this book has edited or written many fine books on Zen, but I mention this one because its topic is the writings of Eihei Dogen, a 13th century Japanese Zen master. The translations of Dogen's writings here were among the first to appear in the United States, and since that time other excellent translations have appeared. An example is the monumental translation of the Eihei Koroku, Dogen's Extensive Record edited by Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura. Many people contributed to this volume. You should also seek out the four-volume translation of Dogen's Shobogenzo by Gudo Wafu Nishijima, (see his website). Dogen Kigen, Mystical Realist by Hee-Jin Kim and How to Raise an Ox by Francis Dojun Cook are two other books about Dogen that should not be missed. I first encountered Dogen through the writings of Shunryu Suzuki mentioned earlier. Dogen has now become the focus of much attention among Zen practitioners, with entire conferences devoted to his legacy.

Bankei Zen by Peter Haskel

This book contains translations of the record of Bankei, a 17th century Japanese Zen master who was unusual in many respects. He manifested a unique approach to teaching that did not rely on any particular technique, but rather pointed directly to the "unborn buddha mind." Another text on Bankei that is worth reading is The Unborn: The Life and Teachings of Zen Master Bankei translated by Norman Waddell.

Appreciate Your Life: The Essense of Zen Practice by Taizan Maezumi Roshi

Taizan Maezumi Roshi founded the Zen Center of Los Angeles and produced many students, some of whom now have their own Zen centers. Maezumi Roshi was by all accounts an inspiring teacher, and this book will inspire you. If you like, you may want to also read Teaching of the Great Mountain edited by Anton Tenkei Coppens, which contains talks by Maezumi Roshi. I must also mention one of Maezumi's students, Bernie Glassman, who helped found the Peacemaker Community, an organization devoted to social action as part of the dharma. You must read Glassman's Bearing Witness, which is a stunning book that describes Glassman's experiences with the homeless, and with "witnessing" at Auschwitz. Two other great books by Glassman are Instructions to the Cook, which takes as inspiration some material by Dogen, and Infinite Circle. If I ever get to meet Glassman, I will thank him for his inspiring work. Another student of Maezumi Roshi, Gerry Shishin Wick, recently produced a volume of commentaries on the classic koans in The Book of Equanimity. These koans go back to the 12th century in China. Finally, I must also mention yet another Maezumi student, John Daido Loori, who founded the Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen. Loori Roshi has an extensive list of publications. I especially like Cave of Tigers and Two Arrows Meeting in Midair, the latter being about koan study. For a good sense of what the Mountains and Rivers Order is about, read Eight Gates of Zen. Loori Roshi is a photographer, and his recent book The Zen of Creativity is a superb text on the development of creativity within Zen practice, in his case through photography.

Bring Me the Rhinoceros by John Tarrant

This recent book presents a fresh perspective on koan study, with commentaries on 14 koans from various sources. John Tarrant is a student of Robert Aitken, as mentioned earlier, and is the Director of the Pacific Zen Institute. Koan study is a rather mysterious topic for many Westerners. For most of us, it is not obvious how scrutiny of the inscrutable can lead to anything but frustration. Read this book, and you will look at koan study in a new way. John's teaching employs both humor and insight, always in the midst of life and never separate. You might want to read his earlier book, The Light Inside the Dark, which does not address traditional koans but does address the "Genjo" koan. For those of you in the Tempe AZ area, check out the Desert Lotus Sangha for information on John's talks and workshops in the area. I'll also mention my friend Sensei James Ford and his Boundless Way Zen sangha, in the Boston area. James is another wonderful teacher, and was a Tarrant student.

Koan Collections by Various Authors

While we are on the topic of koans, you may want to investigate several collections of koans that are now available. The Blue Cliff Record is a collection of 100 koans that was put together in 12th century China. A translation by Thomas Cleary and J.C. Cleary is available in hardback, with a forward by Maezumi Roshi. The Mumonkan is another collection of 48 koans, also from China but a century later. This collection is also denoted "The Gateless Gate." Good translations of the collection are available. I like Robert Aitken's translation and commentaries as noted above, but you can find other excellent translations, some with commentary, by Koun Yamada, Katsuki Sekida, and Zenkai Shibayama. A third collection of koans is known as the Book of Serenity. The 100 koans of this collection were assembled in Sung China, around the time of the other two collections. Good translations of this collection are now available. Aside from the translation by the Clearys and the recent one by Wick mentioned earlier, you might also read the one by Katsuki Sekida. Dogen put together a set of 300 koans for use in teaching, and the collection is known as the Shinji Shobogenzo. The only english translation at present seems to be the one by Gudo Wafu Nishijima. Given the explosion of interest in Dogen, I would expect to see other translations of this collection in the near future. A fourth collection lies in the Record of Transmitting the Light, originally by Master Keizan, but a well-known translation exists by Francis Dojun Cook. The cases in this collection represent the successive enlightenment experiences across generations from Shakyamuni Buddha down to Koun Ejo, presented as koans. This collection is more well-known among Soto Zen practitioners, but appeals to all. Finally, I should mention the koans collected in Seung Sahn's book The Whole World is a Single Flower. There are 365 koans in this book, one koan for each day of the year.

The Miracle of Mindfulness by Thich Nhat Hanh

What does one say about a man who was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by Martin Luther King Jr.? A buddhist monk from Vietnam, Thich Nhat Hanh's many books express the dharma in language that any Westerner can understand. He founded the Community of Mindful Living, along with the Order of Interbeing. He became known to people in the United States during the Vietnam war, when he was exiled from his own country for taking a neutral stand in that conflict. His message of nonviolence has been a consistent theme; go here for some of his wisdom in response to the events of 9/11. The above book is a good one, but there are many good ones and I won't list them all. I particularly like his For a Future to be Possible, which includes chapters that discuss Thich Nhat Hanh's work and ideas, written by some well-known buddhists and non-buddhists. This book was recently re-issued in a shorter version. Two new books by Thich Nhat Hanh are The Art of Power and Nothing to Do, Nowhere to Go, the latter being commentary on Linji's writings.

Hardcore Zen by Brad Warner

This book is relatively recent, and I like it. Brad lives in Japan; the book tells how he got there. He is a student of Gudo Wafu Nishijima's, who was mentioned above in connection with Dogen. Brad doesn't have much patience for cant or hypocrisy in the Zen world, which probably explains why I liked the book. If you would like to read more, visit his website, Sit Down and Shut Up. Now Brad has started a blog site, which is also of interest. He recently published a book on Dogen's Shobogenzo titled Sit Down and Shut Up.

Start Where You Are by Pema Chödrön

Pema Chödrön was a student of Chögyam Trungpa's and teaches within the Tibetan tradition, but her teachings really have broad appeal. The above book is concerned with "awakening the heart", the development of compassion. She has written a number of other excellent books. I've found all of them to be useful. She is the Director of Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, Canada. She is also part of the wider Shambala tradition. For information on this tradition, you could start with Chögyam Trungpa's Shambala: Sacred Path of the Warrior.

Cold Mountain Poems by Han-Shan

OK, this isn't a reference to an expository text, but it is the real thing nevertheless. Han-Shan was a Tang Dynasty poet and hermit in China. About 300 or so of his poems exist, and you can find different translations in English. I've read several of these. Two that I like are the ones by Red Pine and by Gary Snyder. Gary Snyder is a poet himself, of course, and one who is deeply connected to the buddhist way of life. Red Pine is well-known for his translations of other texts, such as the Heart Sutra. If you like poetry, you might seek out poets whose work shows a buddhist influence. The Japanese poet Ryokan is one of my favorites; his work can readily be found in english translations. Ikkyu is another Japanese favorite; read Crow with No Mouth.

On Having No Head by Douglas E. Harding

Well, I suppose that this book will never make it into many reference lists on buddhism, but I am going to put it in mine. It cuts through all the back and forth, the this and that, and gets right to it. I first encountered it in the early 70's; my paperback copy disappeared long ago. I was in a bookstore in North Carolina a year or so ago, and was astonished to discover that it had been reissued, and even expanded. The reissue has the subtitle "Zen and the Rediscovery of the Obvious." You can now even visit the website for The Headless Way. Thank you, Mr. Harding, for relieving our burden. Lose your head, and gain the world!

At Hell's Gate: A Soldier's Journey from War to Peace by Claude Anshin Thomas

This is a searing autobiograhical account of one man's transformation from a warrior without hope to a compassionate advocate of nonviolence. He entered the buddhist path through an encounter with Thich Nhat Hanh, and later studied with Bernie Glassman, taking part in many of Glassman's "witness" events (see Glassman's On Bearing Witness). The book describes his upbringing and his experiences as a soldier in Vietnam, along with the aftermath of those experiences. It is a gripping story. He also created the Zaltho Foundation, a group dedicated to nonviolence.

What Makes You Not a Buddhist by Dzongsar Jamyang Khyentse

This is a recent book by a young Tibetan buddhist who heads the Dzongsar Monastery. I had no prior exposure to his work, but I really liked this book. In it he attempts to distill the essence of buddhism down to four points: All compounded things are impermanent; all emotions are pain; all things have no inherent existence; nirvana is beyond concepts. It is not a dry philosophical text however; the writing is lively and challenging on every page. He argues for example that anyone who thoroughly adheres to these four points is truly a buddhist, regardless of outward appearences. I look forward to further written work from this author.

Websites of Interest

Here are a few websites that may help you obtain more information. I list them in no particular order. Some sources of buddhist literature on the web:

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Last Updated September 25, 2007
Web Page by Roger E. Millsap
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