What a gorgeous, little book this is. If you have any curiosity as to what Zen spirituality is and how to practice it, then this is your book. Even if you don't want a religion, which I thoroughly understand, you are not asked to understand Zen. Zen is not to be understand and analyzed as our modern minds are so prone to do in every situation.

Indeed, Zen can only be practiced if you approach it as a mystery. As the title suggests, the Zen mind is always a beginner's mind, never a mind that is set in its ways with some illusional "advanced" knowledge. Richard Baker, Suzuki's Dharma heir, explains in the introduction that a beginner's mind has "the innocence of first inquiry" and is "free of the habits of the expert, ready to accept, to doubt and {is} open to all the possibilities."

Shunryu is the second Suzuki to come to America to spread the ancient way of Zen, no to be confused with the more dramatic Suzuki, Daisetz, who first made Zen so popular in the sixties. Shunryu's book is like him: quiet, soft, loving and simple in thought, yet challenging and inviting. His first directive for us who want to practice zazen (Zen) is that we sit straight and don't slump. That way we can focus on our breathing and be you will automatically have the right state of mind. Don't think of having a goal of a transcendent state. That starts the mind wandering and you separate body and mind.

The book is separated into three sections: right practice, right attitude and right understanding. They have many short, informal talks on how to be Buddha mind. He corrects some misunderstandings we have of Zen in his uncomplicated manner, such as how Zen requires some rules for "as long as you have rules, you have a chance for freedom." That is not the same as being in control, though. It is a freeing of compulsion.

Truly I could go on and on about this book, but it would be much more fun for you to read his words yourself. You may have to think quite a bit to understand the paradoxical, mysterious nature of Zen and read much of it twice, but I can promise you that if your mind is opened to his words and not trying to be logical or goal-oriented with ego, then you will definitely enjoy this spiritual journey into the mind of a master.




Recommended: Yes