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: Mountains are Mountains
Summary: 5 Stars
It is March, 2000, and I have just ordered another 6 copies of this classic book on Zen sitting meditation. I first read it shortly after it was published in 1972, borrowed from the Cleveland Heights OH library. Since then I have returned to it many times and given many copies away to friends. Some are grieving a loss, some are facing a major personal challenge, like cancer. Some are simply searching for truth or a sense of themselves.
In any case, I do agree with those reviewers who point novices toward a more traditionally instructive book like The Three Pillars of Zen. That book speaks to the logical structure of Zen study, its emphasis on teaching, practice and enlightenment. It is important to understand Zen in this historic and traditional light if one is to pursue it seriously. But Three Pillars is a "study book" - it is not a description of the sitting zen experience. Shunryu's lectures were "live" and directed to the experience itself.
As in the old Zen saying, his words are fingers, pointing to the moon.
Certainly, there may be purists who find dogmatic contradictions in some of Shunryu's comments. But he did not set out to teach the dogma!
This is an excellent book the serious zen student will return to again and again. And for the "everday man" among us, the "beginner" Shunryu spoke to, it is much better than a handbook of Hazleton platitudes, an erstwhile koan or a list of Covey's rules.
Sit up straight! Put your thoughts away! Sit and....
Book Review: Psuedo Sectarian false Buddhism.Conflicts with Scriptures
Summary: 1 Stars
among 629 books on Buddhism and zen this books holds its place as one of the 10 ten most Horrific books ever given birth to. Like some form of Anti-Buddhism the late Authors lack of any understanding of Fundamental Buddhism as put forth in Buddhist Scripture, this books is the anti-matter of Buddhism laid down by the first Buddhist council regarding essence and nature of the Anagamin path laid out to the Aryan Disciplehood who laid down the path of self-deliverance in the Scriptures. In no way shape or form can this book be regarded as anything other than Trite Soto Sectarian formalism under the guise of Buddhism. not only is nothing within the covers dirrectly AFFIRMABLE through Scripture but there are countless spots upon which it contradicts the Buddhist Suttas completely. This is Modern Zen. it is not Buddhism in even the most loose sense of the definition. The state of American Buddhism is in direct correlation to the popularity of this horendeous book which has nothing to do with the Ancient Buddhist Dhamma laid out in the Nikayas or the Agamas (Buddhist Scriptures). More Ironic than can be imagined is that this book is defended so highly by the same people that ALSO hold the Scriptures to be correct on the teachings of Buddhism, but when pointed out that the Scriptures in no way shape or form agree with the esoteric ranting of the Author, its supporters are dumbfounded and remain silent and or change the subject. More pure Irony than this is impossible to find in Buddhism.Book Review: Inspirational, motivational, invitational
Summary: 5 Stars
I found this book in a discounted/final sale area of a local bookstore a couple of years ago. It was a difficult time for me, and I really wasn't looking for anything in particular as my mind and soul were scattered. I saw this little book standing on a shelf all by itself, and picked it up. I could find nothing wrong with it to warrant the "discarded" title, and as I was intrigued by its cover design and burgundy inside front cover, I bought it if for no other reason than it was a good deal. One day, I picked it up and started reading it. At that time, I could only get through a half a page before my mind wandered (those weeds!) and I lost interest. But somehow I kept going back to the book. It is such a humble book that I was intrigued. You would expect that a book titled as this one is would be much more onerous.
I eventually was able to read a section at a time. I also was able to "sit" for short periods, but the most important achievement that was inspired by the book was to live each moment as it happens.
Since then, the book inspires me to continue with my writing, as well as guiding me through my daily challenges. I am slowly unearthing the person I know I used to be as a child.
Someone wrote in a review prior to mine that this book "is Zen". They are right. The practice of reading the book is Zen. Such is the magic of this little book.
Book Review: A delightfully informal book
Summary: 5 Stars
This is a delightfully informal book. It flows as a series of loosely woven themes - transcripts of Suzuki Roshi's Dharma talks. He encourages his students in their practice and discusses Zen in simple and direct language - pointing to the luminous nature of their ordinary lives. The talks are divided into three larger sections that correspond to the body, emotion, and mind aspects of Zen meditation. No talk is longer than three pages, which makes it an excellent book to read before or after practice.
This book has immense significance for anyone who practices silent sitting. It is informal - as the nature of mind is informal. It is simple in the way that a thunderstorm is simple. `Beginner's mind' is a phrase that Suzuki Roshi knew from the work of Dogen Zenji, founder of the Soto school of Zen. It is essential to Zen and also to Dzogchen sem-dé as taught in Aro. In the Prologue, Suzuki Roshi says:
"Our `original mind' includes everything within itself. It is always rich and sufficient within itself... In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few."
This is the essence of silent sitting, and Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind presents this essence in a variety of displays. It presents the mind of a realised master mirroring for his students how every aspect of their lives can be an expression of realization.
Book Review: Thoughts become thoughtless stone
Summary: 3 Stars
So many books have been written about Zen, and so many reviewers have waxed prolific on the values of Zen, I'll not waste my time doing that myself. Suffice to say that this particular book was never intended by Shunryu Suzuki to be a book, and as such, it's probably close to the perfect book for anyone wishing to delve into the awareness of mind that Zen represents. This book could easily represent the spearhead of the invasion of the western world by a unique, eastern thought process. It is also the comfortable image of warm wood and wisdom at your door.At first, when I touched on "Right Practice", I was disappointed. For my interpretation of Zen requires no practice. It's not about practice. And yet, I understand after reading what Master Suzuki was getting at. In order to break the back of your old practices that lead to the busy, reactive world, you need other mechanisms. They could be anything, so long as they lead down the path of self-awareness and balance.
He says it: chanting and meditation will not get you there. Yet I suspect that "practice" will always get more publicity than the intended result. In this capitalistic age, meditation classes sell, but having a Zen state of mind is totally antipodal to making money.
Still, reading this book cannot hurt. Perhaps in your case, thought will not become thoughtless stone...