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Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: 50th Anniversary Edition Paperback – June 2, 2020
by Shunryu Suzuki (Author)
4.7 out of 5 stars 854 ratings
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Named one of the 100 Best Spiritual Books of the Twentieth Century (Spirituality & Practice)
A 50th Anniversary edition of the bestselling Zen classic on meditation, maintaining a curious and open mind, and living with simplicity.
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few."
So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books. Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line. In a single stroke, the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about. It is an instant teaching on the first page--and that's just the beginning.
In the fifty years since its original publication, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern spiritual classics, much beloved, much reread, and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen. Suzuki Roshi presents the basics--from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality--in a way that is not only remarkably clear, but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page.
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Print length
176 pages
June 2, 2020
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Editorial Reviews
Review
“One of the best and most succinct introductions to Zen practice.”—Library Journal
“Though covering Zen basics like zazen posture, bowing, intention, and so on, Suzuki Roshi’s masterwork is hardly just for Zen people—or just for beginners, for that matter. It skillfully introduces important Buddhist concepts like non-attachment, emptiness, and enlightenment.”—Lion’s Roar
“I sincerely respect and applaud Shunryu Suzuki Roshi, who transmitted Dogen Zenji’s vow to the U.S.A.”—Shundo Aoyama Roshi, former Shike`Kai Kaichoh, “Teacher of the House of Soto Zen,” and author of Zen Seeds
About the Author
Shunryu Suzuki (1904–1971) was one of the most influential spiritual teachers of the twentieth century and is truly a founding father of Zen in America. A Japanese priest of the Soto lineage, he taught in the United States from 1959 until his death. He was the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center and the Tassajara Zen Mountain Center. He is the author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind and Branching Streams Flow in the Darkness: Zen Talks on the Sandokai, and he is the subject of the biography Crooked Cucumber by David Chadwick.
Product details
Publisher : Shambhala; Anniversary edition (June 2, 2020)
Language : English
Paperback : 176 pages
ISBN-10 : 1611808413
ISBN-13 : 978-1611808414
Item Weight : 7.2 ounces
Dimensions : 5.24 x 0.48 x 8.22 inchesBest Sellers Rank: #12,048 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)#11 in Zen Philosophy (Books)
#12 in Zen Spirituality
#15 in Buddhist Rituals & Practice (Books)Customer Reviews:
4.7 out of 5 stars 854 ratings
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Shunryu Suzuki
Shunryu Suzuki (鈴木 俊隆 Suzuki Shunryū, dharma name Shōgaku Shunryū 祥岳俊隆, often called Suzuki Roshi) (born May 18, 1904, Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan; died December 4, 1971 in San Francisco, California, U.S.A.) was a Sōtō Zen monk and teacher who helped popularize Zen Buddhism in the United States, and is renowned for founding the first Buddhist monastery outside Asia (Tassajara Zen Mountain Center). Suzuki founded San Francisco Zen Center, which along with its affiliate temples, comprises one of the most influential Zen organizations in the United States. A book of his teachings, Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, is one of the most popular books on Zen and Buddhism in the West.
Bio from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Customer reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Top reviews from the United States
GVLchick29607
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Concise Read About Zen PhilosophyReviewed in the United States on July 25, 2020
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I read the original edition as a teenage girl. Wanted my own copy and saw that there was an anniversary edition. Beginner's Mind is so important to remember. As we age, we realize how important the right perspective is.
38 people found this helpful
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Alan
3.0 out of 5 stars I can't relate to this bookReviewed in the United States on December 25, 2020
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I've read a fair amount of Buddhist literature, but this book is written as if everything is a riddle. I find it mostly frustrating to read. I strongly prefer a plain clear style.
27 people found this helpful
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Dayton Outar
5.0 out of 5 stars ZazenReviewed in the United States on February 6, 2021
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There's so much to unlearn and relearn from this refreshing philosophy. The greatest concepts are beginning with something that you already know but this time with a beginner's mind. It's counterintuitive and it's the narrow path of finding innovative ideas.
I learnt from this book that Buddhism isn't a religion but a way of thinking and a way understanding yourself. The way of thinking from this book have positive ripple effect for anyone that receive the concepts.
13 people found this helpful
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Romulo Vallejo
5.0 out of 5 stars A turning point on my pathReviewed in the United States on December 11, 2021
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I have been practicing meditation and learning about Buddhism by reading books that have come to my attention along the way. When I first came across this book, the title sparked my curiosity. Being new to Buddhist studies and the lineage of Western Buddhism I had never heard about Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind.
This book open a big door to an understanding that resonates strongly with me. I am deeply grateful for it and curious about where it will lead me. A wonderful and timeless set of reflections that became a turning point in spiritual search.
One person found this helpful
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Brian Doyle
5.0 out of 5 stars Worthwhile introductionReviewed in the United States on May 1, 2021
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I read this book having studied religion in college and more recently started to do some meditation (Robert Wright’s excellent but somewhat misleadingly-named “Why Buddhism is True” inspired me to do so. I enjoyed ZMBM as it was understandable/readable enough to make me feel like I grasped some of the important concepts in Zen, but at the same time there are obviously more poetic or paradoxical aspects that probably take a bit more practice.
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Kristine Wood
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful Edition:Reviewed in the United States on March 7, 2021
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This beautiful book arrived quickly and and it's just wonderful. I couldn't find my other copy and I'm looking forward to reading it again and re-inserting it into my library! The perfect book for any epoch but especially after the last four years of anger and hatred.
13 people found this helpful
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Jacqueline Forsyth
5.0 out of 5 stars Making the difficult less soReviewed in the United States on June 12, 2021
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Zen is often difficult for us westerners to grasp because it seems to go so against our commonly perceived notions of success and a life well-lived. Although still difficult to comprehend in many ways, this book, through its emphasis on the beginner’s mind, makes these basic concepts much easier to understand and to apply. My second reading of it made it even more valuable.
7 people found this helpful
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John Amador
5.0 out of 5 stars Becoming AwarenessReviewed in the United States on June 13, 2021
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This book is an owners manual for learning how to “Just Be”. The practice of Zazen helps one to master their own unruly mind.
3 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries
Dennis Farcinsen Leth
5.0 out of 5 stars What Steve Job's knew.Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 2, 2020
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This is a brilliant must read instructionbook on Zen meditation.
It tells you why Steve Jobs was a student of Suzuki. It has to do with beauty, simplicity and the present.
Read this book and understand the:
The right practice
The right attitude
The right understanding
I read this book once a year and is a person who regularly meditate. I find peace of mind with this book.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great BookReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 15, 2022
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Firs religious book I have actually enjoyed. Both intellectually and spiritually satisfying. I recommend it to anyone of a sceptical disposition.
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Michael
3.0 out of 5 stars MehReviewed in Germany on October 19, 2020
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While I'm used to reading books on complex and abstract topics, I found this book pretty hard to understand most of the time. I bought it in the hope of deepening my meditation and mindfulness practice and I like the non-striving, goallesness approach that Zen seems to embrace (as far as I understand it) and I did pick up a couple of nuggets from the book, but most of the book was very hard to understand for me and the writing was so unusual (bad?) that it bordered complete nonsense.
It could definitely be that the topic of Soto Zen is just very hard to write about in a clear and simple way, or maybe Shunryu Suzuki wanted to challenge the reader to confront themselves with their own Beginner's Mind / Don't-Know Mind, but I unfortunately don't think I would recommend the book to someone who wants to learn about Zen meditation and practice.
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Ty Schultz
5.0 out of 5 stars ClassicReviewed in Canada on December 20, 2021
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The absolute best place to start, to practice,to begin to understand and to unfold your heart and mind and embrace Zen.A truly timeless classic for all times, generations and locations.
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peter d.
5.0 out of 5 stars Great introduction to ZenReviewed in Australia on May 23, 2021
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The word ‘Zen’ is used a lot, especially in the field of interior design, but what does it actually mean? This book provides an answer to that question...
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