Zen category: 918 books

“The authoritative . . . essential set of texts from the great [Zen] master . . . edgy, practical and often funny” (Gary Snyder, Pulitzer Prize–winning author). Born in the 17th century, Hakuin Zenji is one of the greatest and most influential figures in Zen Buddhism. In addition to being...

Zen meditation starts from the typical position called lotus which has numerous variations, such as half-lotus or seiza - also, there is the kinhin posture, which refers to meditating while walking. This practice is divided into Rinzai Zen and Soto Zen, which use different techniques, postures and adjacent objects in order to complete the meditation session. 

“You need know nothing of Zen to become immersed in his work. You will inevitably know something of Zen when you emerge” (Jim Harrison, American Poetry Review).   Shinkichi Takahashi is one of the truly great figures in world poetry. In the classic Zen tradition of economy, disciplined attention,...

This book of Zen poetry and art blends simple, haiku-like poetry with bold minimalist ink brush drawings. Zen Brushpoems connects the creative insights of Haiku-like poetry with the dynamic interplay of the written word and painted image. This subtle and profound medium of poetic expression...

Zen rituals—such as chanting, bowing, lighting incense before the Buddha statue—are ways of recognizing the sacredness in all of life. A ritual is simply a deliberate and focused moment that symbolizes the care with which we should be approaching all of life, and practicing the Zen liturgy is...

The radical challenge of Zen Buddhism is to drop all assumptions and prejudices and experience the truth directly. American Zen teacher Dennis Genpo Merzel brings new life to this ancient wisdom through his commentaries on a classic Chinese Zen scripture, "Verses on Faith-Mind," by the Third...

Having translated The Diamond Sutra and The Heart Sutra, and following with The Platform Sutra, Red Pine now turns his attention to perhaps the greatest Sutra of all. The Lankavatara Sutra is the holy grail of Zen. Zen’s First Patriarch, Bodhidharma, gave a copy of this text to his successor, Hui-k’o,...

"Don't-know mind" is our enlightened mind before ideas, opinions, or concepts arise to create suffering. Practicing with don't-know mind has long been a central concern of Korean Zen. Here, an American Zen master in the Korean lineage brings the teaching to life by using stories about the...

Zen Koan as a Means of Attaining Enlightenment Presents the history and application of the koan exercise—the means for realizing enlightenment—with depth and clarity. The koan system has effected a special development in Zen Buddhism, and is a unique contribution to the history of religious...

One Arrow, One Life is a classic treatise on kyudo, the art of traditional Japanese archery, and its relation to the ideals and practice of Zen Buddhism. With a solid introduction to the form and practice of Zen meditation, as well as a thorough description of the Eight Stages of Kyudo, One...

This guide to enlightened conduct for people in positions of authority is based on the teachings of several great Chinese Zen masters. Drawing on private records, letters, and long-lost documents of the Song dynasty (tenth to thirteenth centuries), Zen Lessons consists of short excerpts written in...

Wondering how caffeine and calm, poured into the same coffee cup can help you mindfully meditate? The paradox of meditating by coffee is that mindfully meditating is not separate from any of your experiences; it is a basic, integral part of everything in your life and can be incorporated into...

With a much-needed sense of levity, Daju Suzanne Friedman teaches the art of keeping one’s body, mind, and spirit together while living with cancer. "Layman Wang once asked his attendant,'What would you do if a dragon suddenly arrived here?' His attendant answered, 'I wouldn't pay attention...

The voices of three female Zen masters reverberate in this much-needed collection. Too often the history of Zen seems to be written as an unbroken masculine line: male teacher to male student. In this timely volume, Beata Grant shows us that women masters do exist—and have always existed. Zen...