READINGS
Beginning Readings
Zen
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. Shunryu Suzuki, Roshi
Classic text of the mind of a Zen Master and the founder of the San Francisco Zen Center.
Not Always So. Shunryu Suzuki, Roshi
More teachings from Suzuki Roshi.
To Shine One Corner of the World. Edited by David Chadwick
Short stories of Suzuki Roshi told by his students
Trust in Mind, The Rebellion of Chinese Zen. Mu Soeng
Realizing Genjokoan, The Key to Dogen’s Shobogenzo. Shohaku Okumura
Living By Vow, A Practical Introduction to Eight Essential Zen Chants and Texts. Shohaku Okumura
Training in Compassion, Zen Teachings on the Practice of Lojong. Norman Fischer
What Is Zen? Plain Talk for a Beginner’s Mind. Norman Fischer and Susan Moon
Everyday Zen. Charlotte Joko Beck
A description of Zen in everyday life by an accomplished woman teacher.
The Still Point. Daido Loori
Returning to Silence. Dainin Katigiri
Other Traditions
The Dhammapada. Gil Fronsdal
Some of the earliest teaching of the Buddha; good place to start.
The Path of Insight Meditation. Joseph Goldstein
A Path With A Heart. Jack Kornfield
Buddhism and psychology and more.
Teachings of The Buddha. Ed. By Jack Kornfield
Short sutra readings from various Buddhist traditions
What The Buddha Taught. Walpola Rahula
Great introduction to Buddhism
The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching. Thich Nhat Hanh
Another good introduction to Buddhism
The Heart of Understanding. Thich Nhat Hanh
Easy to understand introduction to the Heart Sutra.
Comfortable With Uncertainity, 108 Teachings. Pema Chodron
Short teachings, every one a gem.
When Things Fall Apart. Pema Chodron
Lovingkindness, The Revolutionary Art of Happiness.
Sharon Salzberg
The practice of Lovingkindness (Metta)
More Advanced Readings
Branching Steams Flow In The Darkness, Zen Talks on the Sandokai. Shunryu Suzuki
Enlightenment Unfolds, The Essential Teachings of Zen Master Dogen. Ed. By Kazuaki Tanahashi.
Read slowly, highly recommended.
The Book of Equanimity, Illuminating Classic Zen Koans. Gerry Shishin Wick
Cultivating the Empty Field, The Silent Illumination of Zen Master Hongzhi. Taigen Dan Leighton
The Gateless Barrier. Robert Aitken
Koans from the Mumonkan collection with commentary by Aitken Roshi.
In The Buddha’s Words, An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Ed. By Bhikkhu Bodhi. Going to the source, with commentary by Bhikkhu Bodhi.
A Survey of Buddhism. Sangharakshita
A more in-depth study of Buddhism.