The Three Pillars of Zen
by Philip Kapleau
Teaching, practice and enlightenment: the 1965 book that gave Westerners actual zazen instructions, koan work, dokusan transcripts and accounts of kensho. Still the most complete practical Zen manual in English.
Read it if…
you want to practise Zen, not just read about it.
See the book →
Skip it if…
you want Zen philosophy; see Watts.
Try instead: Insight Meditation →
Three things you will actually use
- Posture, breath, mind.
- Teacher and practice together.
- Enlightenment is real and ordinary.
Do this first
Read the zazen instructions and sit for ten minutes.
Our verdict
The Zen practice manual.
See the book →
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