Location: Home > Religion & Spirituality > Zen > Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

Author: Shunryu Suzuki
Publisher: Weatherhill Inc
Category: Book

List Price: ~~Ł9.99~~
Buy New: Ł3.03
You Save: Ł6.96 (70%)

New (37) Used (23) from Ł2.13

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

16 reviews
Sales Rank: 3262

Media: Paperback
Edition: New Ed
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 132
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.5
Dimensions (in): 8.1 x 5.3 x 0.5

ISBN: 0834800799
Dewey Decimal Number: 294.3443
EAN: 9780834800793
ASIN: 0834800799

Publication Date: July 1973
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: Brand New. Shipped from UK Mainland. Delivery is usually 4 - 5 working days from order by Royal Mail, International Delivery is by Airmail.

Also Available In:

•	Hardcover - Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
•	Hardcover - Zen mind: Beginner's mind
•	Hardcover - ZEN Mind, Beginner's Mind (Shambhala Library)

Similar Items:

•	Nothing Special: Living Zen
•	Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen
•	The Zen Teachings of Bodhidharma
•	Introduction to Zen Buddhism
•	The Three Pillars of Zen (Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition) (Twenty-Fifth Anniversary Edition)

Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

But not a book for beginners August 14, 2008
Reading this wonderful book is like prospecting for gold. The gems are in there somewhere, and when you find them, they really grab your attention and sparkle like the stars. But please be warned you have to search for them first through some very opaque writing.
My own Buddhist practice is not Zen (it is Nichiren buddhism) but I still found some truly invaluable insights about attitude and meditation that I shall bring to my own practice.
For me, though, the book illustrates the old adage that you more you speak about Zen the further away it gets. If you are new to Buddhism and looking for something for starters, I would respectfully suggest this book may put you off because of its obscurity and I would recommend a more accessible Zen master called Alan Watts. What Is Zen? Best of all, read some Haiku (Japaneses poems) The Sound of Water: Haiku - By Basho, Issa and Other Poets (Shambhala Centaur Editions): Haiku - By Basho, Issa and Other Poets (Shambhala Centaur Editions)
If you are well on your Path, however, Suzuki is a wily old guide. Enjoy.

5 out of 5 stars

Brilliant January 5, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This was the first book on Zen I read, and I found it simply amazing.
Not only is the message of Zen made clear in content, but - crucially - the language and style of the text is so much part of what Suzuki has to offer.

I definitely recommend this book by one of the most influential Zen teachers of the western world. It is a canonical piece of work for Westerners wanting to learn more about Zen philosophy.

The book so inspired me last summer that I included many references to it in my dissertation on the concept of 'effort' in geography at university.

5 out of 5 stars

This is not a beginner's book October 7, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

You must remember that this book contains Shunryu's lecture, which were presented live. That in and of itself would be a great experience. Since we could not all be there, this book is our method to sharing some of his teachings. The lectures go over the description of the sitting Zen experience. You, the Zen student, will constantly refer to this book. This book will not gather dust on your shelf.

If you are a beginner, I would direct you to read the "Three Pillars of Zen" first. It was my first book (See my review), and it teaches Zen in a historical and traditional light.

5 out of 5 stars

Open hearted clear minded advice. July 24, 2007
I thought that this was a most useful book. It will encourage and warm the heart. To do full justice to yourself (and to the book) you do however need to have a daily meditation practice. Read it again and again and things will come to you from different angles.The only weakness to this book will be your projections.With love Andy.

3 out of 5 stars

It's not bad, but people are getting to excited July 14, 2007
0 out of 11 found this review helpful

Ok firstly this is a good book. It's well written, interesting, poetical and yes beautiful in many senses. But you have to remember that these are lecturers given by Suzuki and you can get the same real feeling in written words. Also its very easy to get all over emotional with some of the stuff he say's because of the way its written...all I'm saying is remember Suzuki is a Zen monk who anit that clued up on our everyday experiences as westerns, although he has started a lineage of people that are, just don't get all excited over this.