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{"id":23044,"date":"2019-02-21T01:00:18","date_gmt":"2019-02-21T09:00:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/admin.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/?p=23044"},"modified":"2019-02-26T14:23:57","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T22:23:57","slug":"in-quest-of-a-single-best-introduction-to-zen-its-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/monkeymind\/2019\/02\/in-quest-of-a-single-best-introduction-to-zen-its-practices.html","title":{"rendered":"In Quest of a Single Best Introduction to Zen & It’s Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

$\"\"$ <\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are lots of bibliographies<\/a>\u00a0for studying Zen. For that I\u2019m grateful. However, finding that one perfect book introducing Zen and its practices remains illusive.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s my belief we\u2019re desperately in need of a current best book introducing Zen.<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t get me wrong. There\u2019ve been any number of introductions written over the years.\u00a0I wrote one<\/a> myself.\u00a0Other solid introductions include John Daido Loori\u2019s Eight Gates of Zen<\/a><\/em>\u00a0and Philip Kapleau\u2019s Three Pillars of Ze<\/a>n<\/em>\u00a0the first serious introduction to Zen as an actual practice, count among critical introductions.<\/p>\n

And as one reads them, it\u2019s hard not to feel they are from another time.<\/p>\n

My two favorite introductions remain Martine Batchelor\u2019s Principles of Zen<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Robert Aitken\u2019s Taking the Path of Zen<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n

They are both good. Really good.<\/p>\n

And. Sadly both are also in significant ways outdated.<\/p>\n

There are more specialized titles available, histories, aspects of practice. For instance not long ago I attempted to provide a detailed exploration of Zen\u2019s meditative practices, Introduction to Zen Koans<\/a><\/em>. While focused on meditation, and especially koan introspection, it touches on a critical aspect of the Zen way.<\/p>\n

That said, not a comprehensive overview.<\/p>\n

So\u2026<\/p>\n

In the moment, while lacking a currently best book, these five (or, maybe its six) books are the best of the introductions. In my view.<\/p>\n

Hopefully helpful\u2026<\/p>\n

And, a late breaking note<\/strong>: Of the newer titles a serious contender for that one best book is Norman Fischer & Susan Moon\u2019s What is Zen: Plain Talk for a Beginner\u2019s Mind<\/a><\/em>. Check it out!<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"