Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
by Shunryu Suzuki
Talks by the Japanese teacher who founded San Francisco Zen Center, edited into short chapters on posture, breathing, effort, non-attachment and the mind that is open because it does not already know. The famous line, in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, in the expert's few, is from the prologue. It is quiet, humorous and deep.
Read it if…
you want the spirit of Zen practice rather than a technique list.
Skip it if…
you want step-by-step instruction; see Gunaratana.
Three things you will actually use
- Keep beginner's mind; expertise closes doors.
- Practice without gaining idea.
- Posture is practice; sit as if you already are what you seek.
Do this first
Sit for ten minutes with the only goal of sitting, and notice how quickly you want a result.
Our verdict
Quiet, deep and loved.
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