“We teach ourselves; Zen merely points the way.” — D. T. Suzuki“The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do so in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external.” — D. T. Suzuki“Emotionally we have many problems, but these problems are not actual problems; they are something created; they are problems pointed out by our self-centered ideas or views.” — Shunryu SuzukiSometimes things don’t turn out as you want them to. What you need to do is to come to terms with this, and enjoy the road.

The Zen Way

<figure><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*dUCtXYkbLkJdUuk_" width="785" height="913"><figcaption class="ir is cz cx cy it iu ce b fz cg ch" data-selectable-paragraph="" dir="ltr">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@jareddrice?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" class="ck iv" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Jared Rice</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" class="ck iv" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><BLOCKQUOTE>“Focus was ingrained in Jobs’s personality and had been honed by his Zen training. He relentlessly filtered out what he considered distractions.” — Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs</BLOCKQUOTE><a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/renaissance-man-world/steve-jobs-secrets-the-technique-for-forming-good-analogies-to-solve-problems-b87a8b971f2d" dir="ltr">Steve Jobs</a> was a master of focus. As a young man, he traveled to India in order to find wisdom. However, what really started his spiritual transformation is when he picked up a book.The book that sparked his lifelong interest in Zen Buddhism is Shunryu Suzuki’s “<a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/mind-cafe/five-lessons-on-life-from-zen-buddhist-master-shunryu-suzuki-758f4468fc75" dir="ltr">Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind</a>”. From that fateful moment, he was hooked, devouring countless Buddhist texts.Inspired by the teachings, Jobs attended several of Suzuki’s lectures. The founder of Apple even found himself his own Zen master, Kobun Otogawa. It is this practice of Zen and meditation that is often credited as being the secret to Jobs’s ability to focus and approach things from a new perspective.In a way, I started my own Zen journey just like Steve Jobs, by picking up a book. The first book on Zen I read was the same that blew Steve Jobs’s mind so many years ago.Suzuki’s “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” opened up my eyes to a new way of looking at the world. It also sparked my interest in Zen Buddhism. Since then, I have been a voracious reader of anything to do with this school of thought.Below is a selection of 5 of the top books that I recommend you read. All of these books are full of practical wisdom, which you can apply in your life. If you are just starting off on your Zen journey, they will definitely serve as a source of many great lessons.<figure><img alt="" src="https://miro.medium.com/max/500/0*HfHkJEq2IYiGLlNe" width="785" height="524"><figcaption class="ir is cz cx cy it iu ce b fz cg ch" data-selectable-paragraph="" dir="ltr">Photo by <a href="https://unsplash.com/@mischievous_penguins?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" class="ck iv" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Casey Horner</a> on <a href="https://unsplash.com/?utm_source=medium&amp;utm_medium=referral" class="ck iv" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">Unsplash</a></figcaption></figure><h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki</h1><BLOCKQUOTE>“We teach ourselves; Zen merely points the way.” — D. T. Suzuki</BLOCKQUOTE>The author of this book, Daisetzu Teitaro Suzuki, is known as the man who brought Zen to the West. This little book was one of the earliest on the subject to appear in English. What makes the book even more interesting is that it is prefaced by Carl Jung, the renowned Swiss psychiatrist.For a Western mind, Zen is something very hard to wrap your head around. It is full of paradoxes. To comprehend it, you have to take logic out of it.D. T. Suzuki wrote this book to help Westerners understand what Zen is all about. Reading it can be a good starting for your exploration into this way of thinking.The book describes many of the basic Zen concepts such as “satori” (seeing your true nature, reaching enlightenment). Suzuki also explains the function of Zen koans in practice. These are short irrational anecdotes which are meant to challenge a student and help progress their understanding of Zen.<BLOCKQUOTE>“The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do so in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external.” — D. T. Suzuki</BLOCKQUOTE>However, the main take-away from the book is how Suzuki summarizes what Zen actually teaches. In reality, Zen teaches nothing. Instead, whatever you learn about Zen comes out of your own mind. The key to Zen is to access your inner thoughts.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki</h1><BLOCKQUOTE>“Emotionally we have many problems, but these problems are not actual problems; they are something created; they are problems pointed out by our self-centered ideas or views.” — Shunryu Suzuki</BLOCKQUOTE>This is one of the first books on Zen I ever picked up. It's easy to read manner quickly drew me in.The book of Shunryu Suzuki is very down to earth and practical. It doesn’t deal with things like satori and reaching enlightenment. Instead, its main goal is to show you how to live Zen in your everyday life.The main concept that it deals with is “shoshin”, the beginner’s mind. This is about getting rid of your ego and starting to see the world from the perspective of a complete beginner.The lesson is to be humble and empty your mind of all your previous biases and ways of thinking. If you want to learn more, I have covered some of the things that I got out of the book in a <a rel="noopener" href="https://medium.com/mind-cafe/five-lessons-on-life-from-zen-buddhist-master-shunryu-suzuki-758f4468fc75" dir="ltr">previous article</a>.What won me over is Shunryu’s egoless way of seeing the world. Here you can truly see a man whose mind is not clouded by hubris, and who has left his selfishness aside. It can serve as a great inspiration for someone trying to live in the same manner.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen</h1><BLOCKQUOTE>“The secret of the mountain is that the mountains simply exist, as I do myself: the mountains exist simply, which I do not.” — Peter Matthiessen</BLOCKQUOTE>Peter Matthiessen was an American writer, who also happened to be into Zen. “The Snow Leopard” takes place in the Himalayas of Nepal, where Peter has joined a renowned naturalist to study the Himalayan blue sheep, and maybe spot a rare snow leopard in the process.They set out on a strenuous trek in the mountains to their final destination, a Buddhist monastery at Crystal Mountain. This area is supposed to be a prime breeding ground for the sheep.The duo, together with the locals who accompany them, undergo much hardship in order to get to their goal. What captivated me was the stunning description of nature, and the almost magical world that they were discovering.However, the book is not just about traveling, but it is about finding yourself. Peter went on the trek right after his wife died. Leaving his 8-year-old son at home, the mountain journey is meant to help him get in touch with himself.In many ways it does. At the start of the trek, he believes that he will find enlightenment with the wise lamas of the monastery. However, when they get there, it is empty.Disappointed at first, Peter comes to a startling revelation. It is not the destination that is important, but the journey itself.Sometimes things don’t turn out as you want them to. What you need to do is to come to terms with this, and enjoy the road.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Each Moment is the Universe by Dainin Katagiri</h1><BLOCKQUOTE>“Before your mind starts to work and you want to run away, accept every moment as an opportunity presented to you to practice facing reality as it really is.” — Dainin Katagiri</BLOCKQUOTE>Time is something precious. In the modern world, it seems as if we are always struggling against time. For us, it is a resource, and we never have enough of it.However, not everyone has this view of time. Many of the Eastern religions think of time in completely different ways. In his book, Dainin Katagiri examines how Zen Buddhism looks at time as a concept.In Zen, time is our life. There is no separation between our being and time. They are one and the same.Time is dynamic. Katagiri used the teachings of 13th-century Zen master Dogen to illustrate this point. He taught that life is transient, always arising, and decaying.There is a Japanese term for this, “mujo”, meaning impermanence. Everything in the world is always appearing and disappearing. Everything is constantly changing.You are not the same now as you were as a kid, and you will be different when you will be old. Most people don’t acknowledge this. They try to separate themselves from time.According to Dogen, this gap between the mind and the reality of time is what causes mental suffering.Suffering is a huge part of human life. Buddhism tries to offer liberation from this. One way to be free is by taking a different view of time.In practical terms, this means you need to live in the moment. By doing this you realize how interconnected you really are to everything around you. You are alone, but you are connected.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau</h1><BLOCKQUOTE>“If you fall into poverty, live that way without grumbling — then your poverty will not burden you. Likewise, if you are rich, live with your riches. All this is the functioning of Buddha-nature. In short, Buddha-nature has the quality of infinite adaptability.” — Philip Kapleau</BLOCKQUOTE>Philip Kapleau was one of the first American-born Zen masters. He spent many years studying Zen in Japan. Upon returning back to the US, he created his own teaching center. Blending several traditions together, he is noted as the founder of the Sanbo Zen tradition.While books like Suzuki’s gave theoretical overviews of what Zen is, Kapleau’s book focuses more on the practice of Zen. What do you actually need to do?Kapleau’s book looks at practices such as zazen (sitting and meditating), or koans, and tries to show how to do them. The aim of all these practices is to reach a great internal awakening, self-realization, enlightenment.Modern people don’t have the same zeal in learning as the people of old. That’s why they need a map, which can show them the way. Kapleau’s book is based on the teachings of his own Japanese masters and tries to be this missing guide.The reason why people are drawn to Zen, and driven to try to search for enlightenment is that they are frustrated, disappointed, or even angered with their life. Instead, they try to search.Kapleau himself was someone who embarked on this type of journey. Stuck in Japan after the end of WW2, he came across Zen. He was so fascinated by it, that he spent many years learning from Japanese Zen masters.In the book, Kapleau also introduces other students of Zen who embarked on their own paths. He talks to them about their journey, and especially about the time that they reached their own personal enlightenment.This part of enlightenment is an incredibly revealing section of the book. Each person comes from a different background and gets to their sudden realization in their own way.However, in Zen, all these different ways of arriving at the destination are judged equally. There is no right way, only some helpful hints to guide you there. Only you can get there on your own.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">How to Put Everything into Practice</h1><BLOCKQUOTE>“Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes.” -Daisaku Ikeda</BLOCKQUOTE>There is no right order to read these books. However, reading them in the order that I have above could be helpful.I arranged the order in the same way that a person would stack stones. In order to add stability to the pile, you should probably read the big introductory books first. These are the ones by the two Suzukis.Once you have a basic understanding of Zen, go into the book by Matthiessen. This way you can see how a person applies these teachings in their life.After this, the two other books look into higher concepts. Katagiri deals with time, while Kapleau describes enlightenment. The final step is putting all that you have learned into practice.There are of course many ways to go about learning Zen. The two main schools are Rinzai and Soto.Rinzai is the more formal school, which puts emphasis on stringent discipline. It uses a curriculum of koans with a focus on reaching “kensho” or enlightenment.Soto is the more easy-going school. It focuses on meditation and finding out things for yourself.The Zen practice described by D. T. Suzuki is more Rinzai, while Shunryu was a proponent of Soto. However, no matter which school you choose or fits you best, the important thing is to start.<h1 data-selectable-paragraph="">Mind Cafe’s Reset Your Mind: A Free 10-Day Email Course</h1>We’re offering a free gift to all of our new subscribers as a thank you for your continued support. When you sign up using <a href="https://mindcafe.ck.page/fba9da7818" rel="noopener nofollow" dir="ltr">this link</a>, we’ll send you tips on how to boost mental clarity and focus every two days.

Reading about Zen Buddhism can start your spiritual and mental transformation. These 5 books are the perfect place to start if you are a Zen beginner, or if you want to know more about this school of though.

mindfulness

Mindfulness

“Focus was ingrained in Jobs’s personality and had been honed by his Zen training. He relentlessly filtered out what he considered distractions.” — Walter Isaacson on Steve Jobs

<a dir="ltr" href="https://medium.com/renaissance-man-world/steve-jobs-secrets-the-technique-for-forming-good-analogies-to-solve-problems-b87a8b971f2d" rel="noopener">Steve Jobs </a>was a master of focus. As a young man, he traveled to India in order to find wisdom. However, what really started his spiritual transformation is when he picked up a book .

The book that sparked his lifelong interest in Zen Buddhism is Shunryu Suzuki’s “<a dir="ltr" href="https://medium.com/mind-cafe/five-lessons-on-life-from-zen-buddhist-master-shunryu-suzuki-758f4468fc75" rel="noopener">Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind </a>”. From that fateful moment, he was hooked, devouring countless Buddhist texts.

Inspired by the teachings, Jobs attended several of Suzuki’s lectures. The founder of Apple even found himself his own Zen master, Kobun Otogawa. It is this practice of Zen and meditation that is often credited as being the secret to Jobs’s ability to focus and approach things from a new perspective.

In a way, I started my own Zen journey just like Steve Jobs, by picking up a book. The first book on Zen I read was the same that blew Steve Jobs’s mind so many years ago.

Suzuki’s “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” opened up my eyes to a new way of looking at the world. It also sparked my interest in Zen Buddhism. Since then, I have been a voracious reader of anything to do with this school of thought.

Below is a selection of 5 of the top books that I recommend you read. All of these books are full of practical wisdom , which you can apply in your life. If you are just starting off on your Zen journey, they will definitely serve as a source of many great lessons.

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism by D. T. Suzuki

“We teach ourselves; Zen merely points the way.” — D. T. Suzuki

The author of this book, Daisetzu Teitaro Suzuki, is known as the man who brought Zen to the West. This little book was one of the earliest on the subject to appear in English. What makes the book even more interesting is that it is prefaced by Carl Jung, the renowned Swiss psychiatrist.

For a Western mind, Zen is something very hard to wrap your head around. It is full of paradoxes. To comprehend it, you have to take logic out of it.

D. T. Suzuki wrote this book to help Westerners understand what Zen is all about. Reading it can be a good starting for your exploration into this way of thinking.

The book describes many of the basic Zen concepts such as “satori” (seeing your true nature, reaching enlightenment). Suzuki also explains the function of Zen koans in practice. These are short irrational anecdotes which are meant to challenge a student and help progress their understanding of Zen.

“The basic idea of Zen is to come in touch with the inner workings of our being, and to do so in the most direct way possible, without resorting to anything external.” — D. T. Suzuki

However, the main take-away from the book is how Suzuki summarizes what Zen actually teaches. In reality, Zen teaches nothing. Instead, whatever you learn about Zen comes out of your own mind. The key to Zen is to access your inner thoughts.

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind by Shunryu Suzuki

“Emotionally we have many problems, but these problems are not actual problems; they are something created; they are problems pointed out by our self-centered ideas or views.” — Shunryu Suzuki

This is one of the first books on Zen I ever picked up. It's easy to read manner quickly drew me in.

The book of Shunryu Suzuki is very down to earth and practical. It doesn’t deal with things like satori and reaching enlightenment. Instead, its main goal is to show you how to live Zen in your everyday life.

The lesson is to be humble and empty your mind of all your previous biases and ways of thinking. If you want to learn more, I have covered some of the things that I got out of the book in a <a dir="ltr" href="https://medium.com/mind-cafe/five-lessons-on-life-from-zen-buddhist-master-shunryu-suzuki-758f4468fc75" rel="noopener">previous article </a>.

What won me over is Shunryu’s egoless way of seeing the world. Here you can truly see a man whose mind is not clouded by hubris, and who has left his selfishness aside. It can serve as a great inspiration for someone trying to live in the same manner.

“The secret of the mountain is that the mountains simply exist, as I do myself: the mountains exist simply, which I do not.” — Peter Matthiessen

Peter Matthiessen was an American writer, who also happened to be into Zen. “The Snow Leopard” takes place in the Himalayas of Nepal, where Peter has joined a renowned naturalist to study the Himalayan blue sheep, and maybe spot a rare snow leopard in the process.

They set out on a strenuous trek in the mountains to their final destination, a Buddhist monastery at Crystal Mountain. This area is supposed to be a prime breeding ground for the sheep.

The duo, together with the locals who accompany them, undergo much hardship in order to get to their goal. What captivated me was the stunning description of nature, and the almost magical world that they were discovering.

However, the book is not just about traveling, but it is about finding yourself. Peter went on the trek right after his wife died. Leaving his 8-year-old son at home, the mountain journey is meant to help him get in touch with himself.

In many ways it does. At the start of the trek, he believes that he will find enlightenment with the wise lamas of the monastery. However, when they get there, it is empty.

Disappointed at first, Peter comes to a startling revelation. It is not the destination that is important, but the journey itself.

Sometimes things don’t turn out as you want them to. What you need to do is to come to terms with this, and enjoy the road.

Each Moment is the Universe by Dainin Katagiri

“Before your mind starts to work and you want to run away, accept every moment as an opportunity presented to you to practice facing reality as it really is.” — Dainin Katagiri

Time is something precious. In the modern world, it seems as if we are always struggling against time. For us, it is a resource, and we never have enough of it.

However, not everyone has this view of time. Many of the Eastern religions think of time in completely different ways. In his book, Dainin Katagiri examines how Zen Buddhism looks at time as a concept.

In Zen, time is our life. There is no separation between our being and time. They are one and the same.

Time is dynamic. Katagiri used the teachings of 13th-century Zen master Dogen to illustrate this point. He taught that life is transient, always arising, and decaying.

There is a Japanese term for this, “mujo”, meaning impermanence. Everything in the world is always appearing and disappearing. Everything is constantly changing.

You are not the same now as you were as a kid, and you will be different when you will be old. Most people don’t acknowledge this. They try to separate themselves from time.

According to Dogen, this gap between the mind and the reality of time is what causes mental suffering.

Suffering is a huge part of human life. Buddhism tries to offer liberation from this. One way to be free is by taking a different view of time.

In practical terms, this means you need to live in the moment. By doing this you realize how interconnected you really are to everything around you. You are alone, but you are connected.

The Three Pillars of Zen by Philip Kapleau

“If you fall into poverty, live that way without grumbling — then your poverty will not burden you. Likewise, if you are rich, live with your riches. All this is the functioning of Buddha-nature. In short, Buddha-nature has the quality of infinite adaptability.” — Philip Kapleau

Philip Kapleau was one of the first American-born Zen masters. He spent many years studying Zen in Japan. Upon returning back to the US, he created his own teaching center. Blending several traditions together, he is noted as the founder of the Sanbo Zen tradition.

While books like Suzuki’s gave theoretical overviews of what Zen is, Kapleau’s book focuses more on the practice of Zen. What do you actually need to do?

Kapleau’s book looks at practices such as zazen (sitting and meditating), or koans, and tries to show how to do them. The aim of all these practices is to reach a great internal awakening, self-realization, enlightenment.

Modern people don’t have the same zeal in learning as the people of old. That’s why they need a map, which can show them the way. Kapleau’s book is based on the teachings of his own Japanese masters and tries to be this missing guide.

The reason why people are drawn to Zen, and driven to try to search for enlightenment is that they are frustrated, disappointed, or even angered with their life. Instead, they try to search.

Kapleau himself was someone who embarked on this type of journey. Stuck in Japan after the end of WW2, he came across Zen. He was so fascinated by it, that he spent many years learning from Japanese Zen masters.

In the book, Kapleau also introduces other students of Zen who embarked on their own paths. He talks to them about their journey, and especially about the time that they reached their own personal enlightenment.

This part of enlightenment is an incredibly revealing section of the book. Each person comes from a different background and gets to their sudden realization in their own way.

However, in Zen, all these different ways of arriving at the destination are judged equally. There is no right way, only some helpful hints to guide you there. Only you can get there on your own.

“Everything begins with the resolve to take the first step. From that action, wisdom arises and change begins. Without action, nothing changes.” -Daisaku Ikeda

There is no right order to read these books. However, reading them in the order that I have above could be helpful.

I arranged the order in the same way that a person would stack stones. In order to add stability to the pile, you should probably read the big introductory books first. These are the ones by the two Suzukis.

Once you have a basic understanding of Zen, go into the book by Matthiessen. This way you can see how a person applies these teachings in their life.

After this, the two other books look into higher concepts. Katagiri deals with time, while Kapleau describes enlightenment. The final step is putting all that you have learned into practice.

There are of course many ways to go about learning Zen. The two main schools are Rinzai and Soto.

Rinzai is the more formal school, which puts emphasis on stringent discipline. It uses a curriculum of koans with a focus on reaching “kensho” or enlightenment.

Soto is the more easy-going school. It focuses on meditation and finding out things for yourself.

The Zen practice described by D. T. Suzuki is more Rinzai, while Shunryu was a proponent of Soto. However, no matter which school you choose or fits you best, the important thing is to start.

Mind Cafe’s Reset Your Mind: A Free 10-Day Email Course

We’re offering a free gift to all of our new subscribers as a thank you for your continued support. When you sign up using <a dir="ltr" href="https://mindcafe.ck.page/fba9da7818" rel="noopener nofollow">this link </a>, we’ll send you tips on how to boost mental clarity and focus every two days.

5 Powerful Books On Zen Buddhism to Gain a New Perspective on Life

The Zen Way

Unnikrishnan Menon's ideas are part of this journey:

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