A Professional Dharma Book Editor’s
Recommended Zen Reading List
beginning zazen
Zen Meditation in Plain English, by John Daishin Buksbazen
The Still Point, by John Daido Loori (includes CD)
Mindfulness in Plain English, by Bhante G.
Taking the Path of Zen, by Robert Aitken
next steps
Opening the Hand of Thought, by Kosho Uchiyama
Everyday Zen, by Charlotte Joko Beck
On Zen Practice, edited by Taizan Maezumi and Bernie Glassman
The Hazy Moon of Enlightenment, edited by Taizan Maezumi and Bernie Glassman
Hardcore Zen, by Brad Warner
Zen Master WHO?, by James Ishmael Ford
The Heart of Understanding, by Thich Nhat Hanh
deeper still
The Art of Just Sitting, edited by John Daido Loori
Sitting with Koans, edited by John Daido Loori
The Book of Mu (forthcoming), edited by James Ishmael Ford
the moral and ethical teachings of zen
Waking Up To What You Do, by Diane Eshin Rizzetto
The Mind of Clover, by Robert Aitken
Being Upright, Tenshin Reb Anderson
an introduction to mahayana buddhism and the bodhisattva archetypes
Faces of Compassion, by Taigen Dan Leighton
introductions to the teachings and life of the buddha
In the Buddha’s Words, edited and introduced by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Siddhartha, (fictionalized) by Hermann Hesse (trans. Rosner)
Buddha, by Karen Armstrong
introductions to the teachings and life of dogen
How to Raise an Ox, by Francis Dojun Cook
Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist, by Hee-Jin Kim
Moon In A Dewdrop, by Kaz Tanahashi
ordinary mind is the way and the emotional life of zen
Saying Yes To Life (Even the Hard Parts), by Ezra Bayda with Josh Bartok
Nothing Special, by Charlotte Joko Beck
At Home in Muddy Water, by Ezra Bayda
Start Where You Are, by Pema Chodron
buddhism and social action
Mindful Politics, edited by Melvin McLeod
The New Social Face of Buddhism: An Alternative Sociopolitical Perspective, by Ken Jones
One City: A Declaration of Interdependence by Ethan Nichtern
Pavement: Reflections on Mercy, Activism, and “Doing Nothing” for Peace, by Lin Jensen
koan collections and the teachings of ancient masters
The Flowing Bridge: Commentary on the MIscellaneous Koans by Elaine MacInness
The Iron Flute, by Nyogen Senzaki and Ruth Strout McCandless
Zen Comments on the Mumonkan, by Zenkei Shibiyama
The Book of Equanimity, by Gerry Shihsin Wick
Dogen’s Extensive Record, by Taigen Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura
Mud and Water: The Collected Teachings of Zen Master Bassui, by Arthur Braverman
The Unborn: The Life and Teachings of Zen Master Bankei, by Peter Haskel
books from teachers in the boundless way zen lineages
The Gateless Gate, by Koun Yamada
The Practice of Perfection, by Robert Aitken
The Dragon That Never Sleeps, by Robert Aitken
The Light Inside the Dark, by John Tarrant
Bring Me the Rhinoceros, by John Tarrant
Soto Zen, by Keido Chisan
Selling Water by the River / Zen Is Eternal Life, by Houn Jiyu Kennett
In This Very Moment, by James Ishmael Ford
Only Don’t Know, by Seung Sahn
The Compass of Zen, by Seung Sahn
Daily Wisdom: 365 Buddhist Inspirations, edited by Josh Bartok
More Daily Wisdom, edited by Josh Bartok
Nighlty Wisdom: Buddhist Inspirations on Sleeping, Dreaming, and Waking Up, edited by Josh Bartok and Gustavo Szpilman Cuts
miscellaneous excellent books
Mindfulness Yoga, by Frank Jude Boccio
Minding What Matters: Psychotherapy and the Buddha Within, by Robert Langan
The Dharma of Star Wars, by Matthew Bortolin
Psychoanalysis and Buddhism, edited by Jeremy Safran
Bad Dog! A Memoir of Love, Beauty, and Redemption in Dark Places, by Lin Jensen
Care of the Soul, by Thomas Moore
Wherever You Go, There You Are, by Jon Kabat-Zinn
Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity, by Soko Morinaga
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones, by Paul Reps and Nyogen Senzaki
Food for the Heart, by Ajahn Chah
When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chodron
The Places That Scare You, by Pema Chodron
The Screwtape Letters, by C.S. Lewis
Zen To Go, by Jon Winokur
Healing Breath: Zen for Christians and Buddhist in A Wounded World, by Ruben Habito
Living Zen, Loving God, by Ruben Habito
Lovingkindness, by Sharon Salzberg
Faith, by Sharon Salzberg
Existential Psychotherapy, by Irvin Yalom
How to be Happy, by Lama Zopa Rinpoche