Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice - Zen Mind

A great teacher of Christian prayer has described to me personally that "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" is a "classic". Shunryu Suzuki would best describe his book as "nothing special".
I never thought that this book would impact me as it has, but a combination of Jesus' own teaching on prayer("Metanoiesete, for the Kingdom of God is within you"[Lk.17:21]); Saint Thomas Aquinas' ultimate confession:"Because we are not capable of knowing WHAT GOD IS but only what God is not...this is the ultimate in human knowledge of God: TO KNOW THAT WE DO NOT KNOW HIM"[Questiones Disputate de Potentia Dei,7,5 ad 14]; and Suzuki's conclusion "I discovered that it is necessary, absolutely necessary, to believe in NO THING."(p.116) has brought me to the conclusion that EAST/WEST dialogue on contemplative prayer is the key to the future of Christianity and all other world religions in these desperate times.
This book teaches prayer with the understanding that the only time we have is "NOW", and the only directive is "Don't think about it, don't write about it, do it! Now!
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It has been three years since I wrote the above review. Since that time, I have read a great number of books on Zen and on Contemplative Christianity and have come to believe that I am the blessed recipient of a genuine insight that the world so desperately needs to hear. It is that put on Jesus' lips as his keynote in the Gospel of Mark (The first and earliest gospel, ~65AD...Mk.1:16) where Jesus says:
"The present moment is the right time, the Kingdom of God is within you. Change the way you think about reality; believe this 'good news'."
Zazen/Christian prayer can be done 24/7/365 anywhere, in any situation, and when it is, it is "ordinary", "interior" and "nothing special".

A must for everyone interested in Zen.

Enlightenment always IS, but people aren't aware. This book will awaken you to the True Mind that always IS, even though forms appear and disappear. All that is IS True Mind, but the ego-mind sleeps in its individuality, unaware of this reality. This book will awaken you to the True Mind in which all operates.

Read it. Awaken. Smile.

I am new to Suzuki and his simplicity of discourse on the spirituality of Zen. A remarkable teacher who deserves careful attention when reading. I would take this book with me everywhere as it is so valuable I would not want to take the chance I may lose it.

This is a delightful book. While a gentle and easily read introduction to the 'Zen Mind' and practice of zazen, it provides many thought provoking and challenging concepts. Each small chapter offers insight, practical wisdom and often enough intellectual challenge for one or more days reflection. The concepts can be a Westerner's conundrum: logical yet not. But recognising dualism, even if not understanding it, provides a pathway forward. Regardless of the intellectual challenge, this book leaves one feeling optimistic and more serene, positive attributes of a 'Beginner's Mind'.

Outstanding book on Zen theory and a little on practicing meditation. Basically this is like having a chance to sit in on a Dharma talk with a revered Master of the Soto tradition. I have read it over and over. It's easy to read, straightforward, and continues to provide great advice after several years of practice. I gave my last copy away to a friend and bought the hardcover version for my own collection so it will hopefully last a lifetime. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Zen, whether you're just curious or are already a committed practitioner.

Thoroughly satisfied with this Zen audio book. Narration is at a comfortable pace and enhances continuity. Content is exactly what I was looking for to complement my beginning experience with Zen. Good companion to Zen Flesh, Zen Bones.

After reading several reviews where the reviewer got this mistaken impression from the title, I felt I had to say something.
I love this book, but it is NOT a manual for how to begin the practice of Zen. The Beginner's Mind refers to a state of being, an attitude that Suzuki-roshi urged his students to adopt - one where the mind is open and supple and able to receive the wisdom of being in this world in this very moment.
I truly love these essays and what they reveal of Suzuki-roshi's heart and his understanding of Zen. But if you want a "how to", this is not the place to start. I might recommend An Invitation to Practice Zen by Albert Low as a short, beginner's manual for how to actually practice.

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This was read in college 1996. Highlighted key parts and now It has been working it's way back to me because it has been going form one person to the next because they have seen how at peace I have become and those that have followed in my foot prints.
It is a good feelinging. Breathing to your abdomin puts you and your body at peace. I highly recomend this book. It is a solid step forward.

In recent years I've become more and more curious about Budhism, Zen, and meditation. At the suggestion of my better half and soul mate I bought the book. I would say that it is exactly what the title implies, and meets the needs of someone unfamiliar with zen. For me zen was at once so complicated and yet so simple that it took me a while to grasp that whole concept. The book is well worth the time and effort for anyone interested in zen. The book addresses the needs of the western-oriented mind, and encourages readers to turn inward to find themselves as opposed to seeking themselves in external pursuits.

This is a must read for anyone practicing meditation and especially for Buddhists. Very easy to read but requires time and practice to digest. Powerful and straight forward. I see my self rereading this for a lifetime.

Great book especially for someone who is new to Zen practice. Must be one of the spiritual books to own and read over and over again in your lifetime. A good reminder of living a life with a pure mind.

After reading this book i was left with gratitude to this teacher of Zen and to his students for putting his talks into book form and sharing it with the rest of us. Love the simplicity of his teachings and his ability to make sense of everything. It sparked my interest in Zen after studying Tibetan buddhism for 3 years.

This book was my introduction to Zen Buddhism 30+ years ago and remains the instructional book I use. The original book has been with me since the day I bought it. The beauty of the language, the directness and simplicity of the teaching is the essence of Zen. You will not need another book to explain the discipline. If you do, you may have missed the point.

I found it lacking any significant insight. Compared to writings from the Sanbo Kyoden and Rinzai sects, this one is mundane and uninspired. There are a few gems of knowledge, but they are all available publicly and often used to back up deeper insights in other works. I am sure it is a great work for Soto sect followers, but I cannot personally say I found it a very worthwhile read.

I thoroughly enjoy listening to a book that I had read over 20 years ago. I have listened to it several times since it has arrived and find something new every time I listen. Peter Coyote's rendition is perfect for this selection. "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind" truly captures the essence of Zen. Highly recommended!

Suzuki gives wonderful messages for the practice of Zen throughout this book. He relates it directly to the growth of Zen in America. This is definitely a book I will read over and over and continuously gain new insight into my practice.