Sensei Josh Bartok, in addition to being a Zen teacher in the Boundless Way Zen school, is also a senior editor at Wisdom Publications. He may be the best read Zen teacher in the West. Certainly one could make that argument. A couple of years ago he compiled a reading list. I suspect if he had time, he might update it. I’m thinking of a couple of books that have come out since the list, such as the lovely anthology of women Zen teachers writing, The Hidden Lamp. But, I think it still quite good.
BEGINNING ZAZEN
Zen Meditation in Plain English
Taking the Path of Zen
Hardcore Zen
NEXT STEPS
The Book of Mu
Realizing Genjokoan
Opening the Hand of Thought
Living by Vow
Zen Master WHO?
If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break
The Heart of Understanding
Heart of the Universe
Unlimiting Mind
ORDINARY MIND IS THE WAY
Saying Yes To Life (Even the Hard Parts)
This Truth Never Fails
Nothing Special
At Home in Muddy Water
Start Where You Are
Ending the Pursuit of Happiness
DEEPER STILL
The Art of Just Sitting
Sitting with Koans
Zen Women
THE PRECEPTS
Waking Up To What You Do
The Mind of Clover
Being Upright
Razor-Wire Dharma
The New Social Face of Buddhism
Money, Sex, War, Karma
Pavement (Jensen)
If You’re Lucky, Your Heart Will Break
THE BUDDHIST TRADITION
Faces of Compassion
In the Buddha’s Words
Siddhartha (Hesse)
Buddha (Armstrong)
Buddhism of the Heart
Stories of the Lotus Sutra
DOGEN STUDIES
Realizing Genjokoan: The Key to Dogen’s Shobogenzo
Dogen’s Extensive Record
How to Raise an Ox
Instructions to the Cook
Eihei Dogen: Mystical Realist
Moon In A Dewdrop
KOANS AND ANCIENT MASTERS
The Flowing Bridge
The Gateless Barrier (Aitken)
The Iron Flute
Zen Comments on the Mumonkan (Shibiyama)
The Book of Equanimity (Wick)
Mud and Water
The Unborn
OTHER EXCELLENT BOOKS
Mindfulness Yoga
How to Be Sick
The Mindful Way Through Anxiety
Bad Dog! A Memoir of Love, Beauty, and Redemption in Dark Places
Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity,
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
Food for the Heart
The Screwtape Letters
Living Zen, Loving God
Existential Psychotherapy (Yalom)
How to be Happy (Zopa)
When the Chocolate Runs Out