Hi , I want to get this community going!! So I am hoping to spark some constructive discourse over books. Everyone loves them :) I would like to hear what you all are reading.
Here is my active list ( it is pretty Dogen heavy right now ):
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The Mountains and Water Sutra: A Practioner’s Guide to Dogen’s Sansuikyo – I am not very far into this book yet. I am finding it more accessible than reading some of Dogen’s works directly.
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Realizing Genjokoan: The Keys to Dogen’s Shobogenzo – I recently read the Shobogenzo. I enjoyed the read but felt like I didn’t grok a lot of the subtler / contextual ideas. This book is illuminating. I would suggest reading it first and then the Shobogenzo , if you’re inclined.
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The Once and Future Witches: Completely unrelated to Buddhism but a fun read :)
Anyways, these are the books I am reading. I am a Soto Zen student , hints the Dogen focus. I would love to hear other Zen book suggestions but I am also very interested in non-Soto Zen books/recommendations :)
of course, mr. watts and his many zen-focused discourses are always a great read, but I couldn’t say enough good things about Pema Chödrön; she has a way with cutting through our western-indoctrinated biases with a less scholastic, but just as cavalier approach than alan watts.
I was recently gifted “The Book” by Alan watts. I will probably try and give it a read next week, seems pretty light.
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I liked Kapleau’s Three Pillars of Zen.
Thich Nhat Han’s books are mostly awesome. The language is sometimes a little flowery and the pace seems slow, however they are surprisingly challenging and certainly were influential for me.
From him I can recommend:
- Zen Keys: A Guide to Zen Practice,
- The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching,
- The Diamond That Cuts Through Illusion, Commentaries on the Prajnaparamita Diamond Sutra,
- Understanding Our Mind,
Currently reading With Each and Every Breath: https://www.dhammatalks.org/books/WithEachAndEveryBreath/Section0001.html
I’ll have to check out once and future witches, I just finished recording an article on witchcraft in france, and love reading abt that.
I’m about halfway through the mind illuminated, a meditation guide. I’m trying to read it slowly so I have time to actually practice what its describing.
I’m not too familiar with dogen, what’s its focus / how is it different from other types?
dogen zenji brought zen to Japan in the 13 century and is generally considered on of the founding figures of soto zen. His philosophy was very focused on minimalism in terms of spiritual practice. I am not a theist centric individual so his text have always appealed to me. he tends to be more focused of experiencal practice with a heavy emphasis on zazen. particularly the act of just sitting without expectations, a form of meditation called Shikantaza.
I really enjoy dogen but I don’t think his text are super approachable without a lot of context. Hardcore zen is a fun read and a pretty good intro into zen and dogen if you’re interested.
Neato, sounds interesting.
The Tibetian Book of Living and Dying by Sogyal Rinpoche. I’ve been reading to my cats since my grandmother passed away.
