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"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. 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 forty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind has become one of the great modern spiritual classics, much beloved, much reread, 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.
"A primer on what Zen is and how a person can begin to practice it."--Publishers Weekly
“One of the best and most succinct introductions to Zen practice.”—Library Journal
“One of the top five Buddhist books, ever.”—Elephant
Preface Huston Smith ix
Introduction Richard Baker xiii
Prologue: Beginner's Mind 1
Part 1 Right Practice
Posture 7
Breathing 11
Control 14
Mind Waves 17
Mind Weeds 20
The Marrow of Zen 21
No Dualism 25
Bowing 28
Nothing Special 32
Part 2 Right Attitude
Single-Minded Way 37
Repetition 39
Zen and Excitement 42
Right Effort 44
No Trace 47
God Giving 51
Mistakes in Practice 57
Limiting Your Activity 61
Study Yourself 63
To Polish a Tile 67
Constancy 71
Communication 74
Negative and Positive 78
Nirvana, the Waterfall 81
Part 3 Right Understanding
Traditional Zen Spirit 87
Transiency 91
The Quality of Being 93
Naturalness 96
Emptiness 100
Readiness, Mindfulness 103
Believing in Nothing 106
Attachment, Nonattachment 109
Calmness 112
Experience, Not Philosophy 114
Original Buddhism 117
Beyond Consciousness 120
Buddha's Enlightenment 124
Epilogue: Zen Mind 127
Afterword David Chadwick 135
MarkEStanger
Posted August 17, 2009
This modern classic cuts through the quick-fix and instant results promised by many spiritual "methods". It is applicable to other religious traditions. If you want instant spirituality, if you want God in your pocket, if you want the thrill of religious experience over and above an ordered, integral, calm spiritual life, then this is not the book for you.
4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted April 16, 2002
I read Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind for the first time about a year ago. I found it to be one of the most accessible works on Zen Buddhism and Zen meditation techniques I've read (and I've read plenty, by both Eastern and Western writers). The late Suzuki had a gift for making Zen accessible to Westerners, as evidenced by his extensive use of anecdote and analogy to put across some of the more esoteric aspects of the philosophy. Regardless of one's religious background, I believe there is much to be learned about living from this slim book. Also suggest you read 'Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom' by Taro Gold, which makes a great companion book on the path to learning more about Buddhism and living a happy life.
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted March 14, 2012
The best introduction to Zen spirituality in English. I recommend it to the beginning student along with "Taking the Path of Zen" by Robert Aitken, which offers more "nuts and bolts" instruction.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted December 25, 2011
Tells you not to read the book and to learn zen on your own.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Excellent first read for the beginner, but also good for the more experienced Buddhist. A fast and engaging/engrossing read. Pertains more to zazen and meditating; and also how to start one's practice in Buddhism and zazen. Highly recommended.
1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Zen-Qabalist
Posted June 13, 2009
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind is one of my top recommendations for anyone on a path involving meditation. So much practical advice! I bought the audio tapes of Peter Coyote's reading from Audio Literature back in 1986. I literally wore my tapes out from use over the years.
I was hoping to get the work restored on Audio CD. However, when I heard these, I found the sound quality matched my old cassette tapes. I suspect Phoenix Books just made CDs from cassette tapes as old as mine. I can make CDs of this quality or better in my own home. No restoration has been attempted on these CDs.
So I am torn as to how to rate this product. The content is top notch. I haven't found a better book on mindfulness. But the quality of these CDs is horrible. I think someone needs to re-produce this work in the sound studio.
For those new to this book, it is the most inspiring, life-changing, motivating book on spiritual practice I've ever read. It provides a lot of fundamental advice on how to meditate and some of the traps along the way. It is a spiritual must read.
1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.
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Posted April 3, 2013
A great introduction to Zen without a lot of "fluff" or clutter.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 29, 2012
Intresting book, intresting author's opinion. But it didn't impressed me as I expected. I didn't find in the book lots of spirituality, i found it only intresting. Comparing with book I've read few weeks ago, I mean a crossing or the drop's history by Anatoliy Obraztsov where I really found a lot of spirutuality
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 1, 2012
That is the book that introduced me to Zen ans shikantaza. I read the book 5 years ago and I still read it.
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Posted August 1, 2011
It helps you experience reality more fully :)
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted March 12, 2010
Suzuki roshi introduced America to zen and a totally different way of being that transcends the material world of dependence on form. This is a must have book.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Nobody_n_Nothing
Posted February 16, 2009
If you are just embarking on a path of Zen or a serious practitioner or just curious about a different take this is a must read.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted May 11, 2000
This book teaches you everything you need to know about zen and meditation. It is broken into three chapters: 1) right posture, 2)right attitude, and 3) right understanding. Suzuki gives very clear and insightful ways on how to approach zen. Suzuki emphasizes that you must have a beginner's mind, which means that you must approach everything with a clear and open mind. No matter whether you're trying zen for the first time or having been meditating for years, this book is a necessity for all those interesting in zen and/or meditation.
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Posted March 26, 2012
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Posted May 2, 2009
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Posted November 16, 2009
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Posted November 14, 2008
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Posted December 26, 2011
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Posted October 17, 2009
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Posted September 20, 2011
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Overview
"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. 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 ...