Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
by Shunryu Suzuki
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Book Reviews of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
Book Review: One of the two or three best meditation guides available.
Summary: 4 Stars
This book, based upon a series of lectures, was not intended as a meditation guide by Suzuki-roshi...and perhaps that is why it is such a good meditation guide. I will not quibble with a recent reviewer who said that this is not necessarily the best book for those who are just encountering Zen--although I do quibble with that reviewer giving this only one star, partly based on the subjective observation that it isn't "fun" enough--as I can easily see how it can be a little befuddling for newcomers...but if you are interested in Buddhism, and have studied it a little, this is a great book for beginning your meditation practice.
Like the aforementioned reviewer, I am sometimes bemused with the air of excessive solemnity and reverence of many books on Zen, Buddhism, and meditation--especially the way this air is reflected by their "fans," followers, and reviewers-- but I, personally, do not find such an air in this book. I find Suzuki-roshi's style to be very straightforward, accessible, and warmly human, and this book is a quick and easy read from which you will get something new at each point along your path that you return to it. If you are interested in starting a meditation practice--and please don't concern yourself too much with what "school" of Buddhism to follow: imo too much discussion about this "school" or that, only serves to obscure a subject that's supposed to be about clarity--I suggest that you read this book; Mindfulness in Plain English by Ven. Henepola Gunaratana; and Peace is Every Step by Thich Nhat Hanh, first. There is nothing unique or revelatory about my choices for recommendations, but I have been meditating for more than eight years, I have read a lot of books on the subject, and these are my favorites by far; for their clarity, brevity, conciseness, and accessibility to westerners. Namaste.
Book Review: Heresy! Heresy! (heheheheh)
Summary: 5 Stars
"in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few." indeed!
I find that the negative reviews listed here are quite instructive and worth reading. It is worth realizing, for us westerners, that Buddhism has its sectarian squabbles over heresy and scripture just like any other religion. As well as its own organizational byzantine structure and inertia just like any other church.
I can imagine that not a few devotees of Zen Mind Beginner's Mind have been dismayed at the disgust they were greeted with when naively and optimistically discussing Buddhism with some transplanted asian Theravadan monk. (ahem, or was that just me? :)
That said, the book clearly comes from a deep place of understanding 'beyond the scriptures'. Though, to my mind, I find it complements them quite well, assuming one understands that Suzuki's concept of 'Big Mind' is quite literally heretical in the Theravadan sect. Personally, the biggest heresy in the book I find is in the 'God Giving' chapter - 'How can He [God] help their activity when He does not know who He is?'. Phew! Christians of all sects will vituperate over this heresy even more than Theravadans over 'Big Mind'.
Yet, the need for the mutual awakening of God *and* us, in order for God to awaken *to* us, is an old Gnostic tradition, it seems. e.g. Read Kazantzakis' 'The Saviors of God' for more of this heresy. Or, Matthew Fox's translation of Eckhart in 'Breakthrough'.
Meanwhile, it surely cant hurt to bone up on the suttas at, for example, accesstoinsight.org, even though Suzuki said 'it is not that important'. Since surely he *wasnt* saying *never* read the suttas!
As always, take the Middle Way between the extremes!
Book Review: "Gone, gone, gone far beyond, enlightenment."
Summary: 5 Stars
ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND is the most easily accessible guide to Zen practice, and is usually the first book that new practitioners and the Zen-curious approach after reading the more general "What's Zen Anyway?"-type books. Thus, it has developed an almost canonical reputation. Shunryu Suzuki (1905-1971) spent only a few years in America, was less than fluent in English, and taught in a way that was both simple and yet profound. With his easy intensity, Suzuki had a seminal role in establishing Zen as a viable spiritual practice in the United States and beyond.
Notable for its brevity, the thesis of the collected "informal talks" in ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND is that in order to know Zen we must know the self; that in order to know the self we must reattain the "beginner's mind," that unclouded, intuitive understanding of life that was ours in childhood; and that this sense of newness is the linchpin of enlightenment. Although ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND only spans a whopping 138 pages, the length of this book is no guide to the quality of what lies within. It invites many readings.
***
AUDIOBOOK REVIEW
Dramatic actor Peter Coyote has been a Zen practitioner for three decades, and here reads Suzuki-Roshi's classic in his well-modulated stentorian voice, without flourishes, but with a fine appreciation of Suzuki-Roshi's words. The print edition of ZEN MIND, BEGINNER'S MIND is a collection of transcribed spontaneous Zen teachings (teisho); Coyote returns those words to their original medium. A fine recording for teaching, meditation, or contemplation, the only drawback to this CD is that it abridges the book, though at three hours it is more than sufficient for most listeners.
Book Review: Wipes the dust from the mirror.
Summary: 5 Stars
I teach reading and art in public school to eleven-year olds. _Zen Mind Beginner's Mind_ is a good guidebook for these activities. When reading, children are easily distracted. Perhaps they do not feel a connection to the story. The story is certainly not an expression of themselves. Writing about the story helps. Then it becomes part of their own expression. Their interests and experiences can become part of the story. But when we paint, it is a different "story" altogether. Then you see beginner's mind in action. The object of their study is certainly part of them. Focus is inherent in the activity. The paint, the paper, the child all become one event. And since I have only started teaching art recently, I am beginner's mind at work! In the prologue, Suzuki-roshi tells us: "This is the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner." Why? It is because "in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few." The joy of perpetually being a beginner!
Is _Zen Mind_ about education and art? Yes. No. {Mu?} _Zen Mind_ is a book about mind and life. Big mind and small mind. Small life and unencumbered life. Maybe you are a gymnast. Maybe you sell real estate or groceries. Maybe you work in a factory or in an electrical power plant. Maybe you write the questions for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Whatever you do {even if you do no-thing} and wherever you are {right here right now}, this book will speak to you if you have an interest in the freshness of beginning and the beauty of everyday life.
Book Review: Pop-psychology self-help, not Orthodox Buddhism whatsoever
Summary: 1 Stars
This book is about western pop-psychology for depressed materialists who are seeking some form of "spiritual" self-help in the guise of "religion". Shunryu Suzuki's book appeals to a certain class of Guru-loving types. This book is entirely devoid of any content whatsoever as concerns scriptural Buddhism and what it did or did not teach by the historical Gotama circa 550 BCE India, Ganges river valley.If you threw Confucianism, Taoism, Shintoism, Japanese spiritual materialism and western psychology-cultism into a blender, THIS book would be the result. If your interested in Buddhism, as it exists in ITS teachings, purchase a non-secular translation of the Nikayas/Suttas published by CAF Rhys Davids thru the British Pali Text Society or read the Upanishads to learn about the Monism that was and is Buddhism.
Buddhism was a 5th century BC Sramanism, or commentarial school of Vedanta (Upanishads). Sadly so say, those American who DO want to actually learn about Buddhism see stuff like "this" on the bookshelves rather than the teachings of the Buddha. Sadly to say for this book "Zen mind beginners mind", Buddhism, after 100 schizms and passing thru both china, Tibet and finally into Japan 1400 years later,...this is far removed from the oldest texts and philosophy we have to say what is or is not the "doctrine of the Buddha". If you want to know about Buddhism, get Dr. Coomaraswamy "The Living Thoughts of Gotama Buddha", and avoid the pop-psychology books written in the ilk of Japanese Zen, which is 179 degrees from Buddhism.