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Date: Sun, 03 Oct 93 15:35:55 -0700
From: "Daniel H. Miller" 
Subject: Re: Reading list on meditation



The following are my "core" recommendations for people wanting to start
understanding Zen.  I am no expert; these are the books that made me
personally more aware of the Zen outlook.  The books are in no order (they
each contributed something unique to my understanding of Zen). My
annotations are in []:

Sekida, Katsuki, 1893- Zen training : methods and philosophy / Katsuki
Sekida ; edited, with an introd., by A. V. Grimstone.  1st ed.  New York :
Weatherhill, 1975 (my copy is copyright 1985). (paper, $15) [This book
describes how to breath correctly during zazen (seated meditation).  Some
connections between the physical aspects and mental aspects of meditation
are covered.]

Hoover, Thomas, 1941 The Zen experience / by Thomas Hoover New York : New
American Library, c1980 (Series: A Plume book) (paper, $4.95) [This books
talks about the lineage of masters starting from Indian roots and moving
through the sudden and gradual schools in China, and onto Zen in Japan and
on into America.  The books has a nice mixture of history and the Zen spirit
within the masters.]

Kasulis, T. P., 1948 Zen action/Zen person / by T. P. Kasulis Honolulu :
University Press of Hawaii, c1981. (paper) [This book describes the
relationship between the Chinese language and Zen.  A little more academic,
but accessible.]

Paul Reps (compiler), Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, Anchor/Doubleday (no date).
(paper, $7.95) [This books presents many Zen "koans".  Koans are riddles
that need to be penetrated with something beyond rational thought.
"Solving" koans is a very individual matter, and the book presents the
koans, but does not explain anyone's "solutions".  A well known collection
of Rinzai (one of the two major branches of Zen in Japan) koans called
Mumonkan is included.]

Kapleau, Philip, 1912- ed.  The three pillars of Zen : teaching, practice,
and enlightenment / compiled & edited, with translations, introductions &
notes, by Philip Kapleau foreword by Huston Smith. Rev. and expanded ed.
Garden City, N.Y. : Anchor Press, 1980.  xxii, 400 p. : ill.  21 cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.  ISBN: 0-385-14786-4 : (my
copy is c1989, 25th anniversary edition) (paper, $10.95) [Kapleau is the
head of the Rochester Zen Center.  His explanations are very accessible.  He
talks about starting meditation, some of the philosophy, and (I think) most
importantly talks about what some lay practitioners are concerned about when
they are meditation and thinking about Zen.  One of the best intro books, in
my opinion.]

Suzuki, Shunryu.  Zen mind, beginner's mind. Edited by Trudy Dixon. With an
introd. by Richard Baker.  [1st ed.]  New York, Walker/Weatherhill [1970]
(paper, $5.95) [The first book I read on Zen.  It changed my outlook on
life.  An important work because each of the essays is different, but
represents the "sameness" of the Zen spirit that Suzuki is trying to
convey.]

"A Universal Recommendation for Zazen (Fukan Zazen-gi)" in Yokoi, Yuho,
1918- Zen Master Dogen : an introduction with selected writings / by Yuho
Yokoi, with the assistance of Daizen Victoria ; and with a foreword by
Minoru Kiyota.  1st ed.  New York : Weatherhill, 1976.  [Dogen is credited
with bringing Soto Zen to Japan from China.  This very short work is a
summary of his life long experience with "just sitting".  It is amazing how
much can be said in so few words!]

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