'For anyone seriously interested in Zen...this book will be invaluable.'-The Times Literary Supplement (London)

'An excellent book. It will in time be ranked with William James' The Varieties of Religious Experience as an exploration of the religious and mystical life.'-East West Jouranal

'It achieves in a remarkable way the almost impossible expression of what Zen is: a method for directly experiencing the reality of existence.'-The Personalist

'(An) excellent book-one of the best yet written and certainly one to become both basic and indispensable to anyone interested in Zen Buddhism...So simple, so basic, so right ...a necessary, a needed book. It is authoritative, human; simple, wise; it is one of the very few to echo the profundities of Zen Buddhism itself.'-Japan Times

Contents

Foreword aby Husston Smith
Editor's preface
Preface tothe revised edition
Preface to the anniversary edition by Kenneth Kraft
Part One Teaching and practice
I Yasutani-roshi's introductory lectures on Zen training
Editor's introduction
A biographical note on Yasutani-roshi
The lectures
Theory and practice of zazen
Precautions to observe in zazen
Illusory visions and sensations
The five varieties of Zen
The three aims of Zazen
Individual instruction
Shikan-taza
The parable of Enyadatta
Cause and effect are one
Oneness and manyness
The three essentials of Zen practice
Aspiration
II Yasutani-roshi's comentary (Teisho) on the koan Mu
Editor's introduction
The commentary
III Yasutani-roshi's private encounters with ten Westerners
Editor's introduction
The encounters
Student A (Woman, age 60)
Student B (Man, age 45)
Student C (Man, age 43)
Student D (Woman, age 40)
Student E (Man, age 44)
Student F (Woman, age 45)
Student G (Man, age 25)
Student H (Woman, age 37)
Student I (Man, age 30)
Student J (Woman, age 33)
IV Bassui's Dharma talk on one-mind and letters to his disciples
Editor's introduction
The talk
The letters
To a man from Kumasaka
Yo the Abbess of Shinryu-ji
To Lord Nakamura, Governor of Aki Province
To a dying man
To the layman Ippo (Homma Shoken)
To a monk on Shobo Herimitage
To the Nun Furusawa
First letter to the Zen Priest Iguchi
Second letter to the Zen Priest Iguchi
Third letter to the Zen Priest Iguchi
Fourth letter to the Zen Priest Iguchi
To a nun
Part Two Enlightenment
V Eight contemporary enlightenment experiences
of Japanese and Westerners
Editor's introduction
The experiences
Mr. K.Y., a Japanese executive
Mr. P.K., an American ex-businessman
Mr.K.T., a Japanese garden designer
Mr.C.S., a Japanese retired government worker
Mrs. A.M., an American school teacher
Mr. A.K., a Japanese insurance adjuster
Mrs. L.T.S., an American artist
Mrs. D.K., a Canadian housewife
VI Yaero Iwasaki's enlightenment letters to Harada-roshi and his comments
Editor's introduction
A biographical note on Harada-roshi
The letters and comments
Evidence of Kensho
Evidence of great enlightenment
Evidence of deepened enlightenment
Evidence of direct experience of the great way of Buddhism
Evidence of attaining the non-regressing mind of Fugen
Evidence of the joy and peace of being at one with the Dharma
Further evidence of the joy and peace of being at one with the Dharma
Presentiment of death
Part three Supplements
VII Dogen on 'Being-Time'
VIII The ten oxherding pictures with commentary and verses
IX Postures
Zazen postures illustrated
Questions and answers
X Notes on Zen vocabulary and Buddhist doctrine
Pronunciation guide to Japanese words
Index

Re-reading, a little every day at study time. ( )

Although I had heard of Kapleau's book when I began zazen in earnest, 20 years ago, I never got around to reading it. I was satisfied with Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind as a "beginner book" and didn't see any need to go back to what I imagined were concepts I had already learned and let go of. Well I was wrong but I'm glad I was wrong because it meant I could read this book with some experience. Yes, it is a so called beginner book. It does a lot of introductory work that anyone starting out with Zen will really appreciate.

That said, the orientation provided here is nothing to gloss over for experienced practitioners. This book revitalized my practice. It nourished me. It inspired me to remember the importance of kensho.

I highly recommend this book to both new and experienced students of Zen. It will either keep you steadfast or set you on a proper course of study. ( )

Although I had heard of Kapleau's book when I began zazen in earnest, 20 years ago, I never got around to reading it. I was satisfied with Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind as a "beginner book" and didn't see any need to go back to what I imagined were concepts I had already learned and let go of. Well I was wrong but I'm glad I was wrong because it meant I could read this book with some experience. Yes, it is a so called beginner book. It does a lot of introductory work that anyone starting out with Zen will really appreciate.

That said, the orientation provided here is nothing to gloss over for experienced practitioners. This book revitalized my practice. It nourished me. It inspired me to remember the importance of kensho.

I highly recommend this book to both new and experienced students of Zen. It will either keep you steadfast or set you on a proper course of study. ( )

This book is a primer on Zen Buddhism. It's well written and does what it aims to do.

Roshi Philip Kapleau had hoped to clear some misrepresentations of Zen in the West with this book, and from it's continued publication, I suppose it has succeeded somewhat.

This book is split into three general parts. The first part is a collection of letters and talks that were printed to give a general idea of what Zen Buddhism is. It contains guidance on the practice of zazen and shikan-taza, which are techniques used to attain enlightenment. The second part contains letters and diary entries from modern people that have undergone Zen Training for various reasons and purposes. The third part contains a supplemental section that shows how to do the positions like the full lotus posture and the half lotus posture.

This book is meant to be studied, I am sure, but I just read it through. ( )