Customer Reviews

Taking the Path of Zen

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This is a Zen book for the beginning Zen practitioner, by which I mean someone who has already decided to try zazen meditation practice and may have been practicing for a few weeks or months. Note I do not say it is for the Zen scholar or the Zen wannabe, but for the person who plants their rear on the cushion every day and wants to know what to do if their feet are falling asleep or who's noticing background noise in the mind. If you want to be hip and know "about" Zen, there are flashier books. But as one who had finally tired of reading cookbooks and hungered for the meal, this book pointed me in the right direction (or, at least, ONE right direction) and helps me actually "cook," so to speak.

Like the saying goes, "Meditation: it's not what you think," so if you are attracted to Zen but aren't actually sitting zazen, give up the critiquing and dabbling, find a teacher, and get to work. This book helps both in choosing a teacher and in addressing random questions and common pitfalls for the beginning meditator.

After reading many books that attempted to explain Zen, I stumbled on this work by Robert Aitken. By far, Aitken puts into words what many authors have failed to. His easy-to-understand writing style makes what was once an impossible task; putting Zen into a western context, seem natural. Aitken helps those of us who do not understand Japanese get a glimpse into the world of Zen and its philosophies. There are many books on the topic, but few offer as much information to the beginner.

This book is the written form of the introductory speeches given at Aitken's Zendo. It is an excellent book on getting started in Zen. If you haven't yet decided to visit a Zen center or other place where you get instruction, but you want to start sitting and want to kind of know what to expect, this is a great book. It was a welcome change from many books that are a collection of koans, and from the books that are a collection of inspirational stories. This one is very much a how to do it.

Despite (or perhaps because of) a plethora of books on thesubject, many readers continue to see Zen Buddhism as littlemore than an impenetrable enigma. Robert Aitken cuts through much of this mystery with an elegant guide to the rudiments of contemporary Zen theory and practice. Speaking to much of what is common to all of Buddhism, as well as thinking specific to various schools of Zen, these short essays were originally part of the orientation process at Aitken's Diamond Sangha training centers. He carefully explains both the why and how of basic Zen meditation, appropriate attitudes for Buddhist religious practice, and the ethical implications of this spiritual path - a path which he offers as but one path among many, a path both open to and compatible with other major systems of faith and practice. Chapter by chapter, Taking The Path of Zen demonstrates that which is beyond words by encouraging the reader to directly experience Zen - in Aitken's words, by making it personal.

Robert Aitken's book is well worth reading and does offer useful information, but I disagree that it is for people first taking the path. The book is dry. Some see that as no-nonsense, an important quality is such a confusing arena, but it also is uninspiring. It, further, does not focus on what Zen offers, but is more of a how to follow Zen once the decision is made. If you think Zen Buddhism gives you liscense to ignore societie's rules and standards, this is a must read. If you want advice on meditation, it is a must read. If you are still considering whether Zen is for you, or you aren't sure what Zen is, look elsewhere first.

I knew nothing about Zen when I started this book and I was primarily interested in more of a textbook approach to meditation. I was pleased to find that Aitken is very specific in his instructions for meditation: how to sit, how to hold your hands, what to think about (and how not to get frustrated when you find yourself thinking of something else), among others.

I took the book with me to the dentist and found that it calmed me substantially as a reminder to keep breathing. (That is, until the drilling started...) I am definitely using this book to further my meditation practice.

This Book is very nice. It's so full of information. And it is easy to read and understand. The shipping was fast and well packed. I would highly recomend this book as well as the seller to everyone.

Robert Aitken-Roshi (1917-2010) was one of the first ordained Western Zen teachers in addition to being a social activist. This is a brief introductory volume for Americans who have decided to take up the Way of Zen and need a starting point. A primer on the bases of practice, this is also a good book for the more experienced practitioner to revisit from time to time as it presents Zen in a clear, concise and accessible (if somewhat erudite) format. Had the book been available when I first developed an interest in Zen in my late teens, my practice would be far more matured today.

Robert Aitken, who recently passed away, was a Zen Master and it was interesting to learn from him in this brief book.

It was published in 1982 but largely written in 1972 and he briely references changes he would have made were he writing it in 1982. Those changes should have been made and an updated version issued.

However, I learned highly useful breathing techniques from him and perhaps you too will gain a pearl of wisdom.

Dick

This book has some valuable basic stuff on zazen, and the prose is clear and pleasant to read, but I was a bit disappointed. Too much of the book is filled with vague, New Age-sounding assertions like "there is no death" or "all things are one," which are not fully supported or explained by the author (by, e.g., reference to the Nikayas or to Nagarjuna). Buddhism, Zen or not, should never be vague in this way.
In addition, Aitken does little to describe why Zen in particular makes sense as a way to approach the world. It is just assumed that Western dualism is a bad thing, that meditation is an excellent way to spend your time, and so on. Aitken's plainspokenness is wonderful, but the book suffers from the lack of any discussion of the underlying rationale (if you can call it that) behind Zen.
On the plus side, some nice stuff about zazen and koan basics, some good discussions of famous stories from the zen tradition. Overall, however, the reader would be much better served by the following:
1) Sekida's book Zen Training (even better than this one for many aspects of sitting meditation and koan study, especially the importance of the tanden);
2) Shunryu Suzuki's book Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind (for the overall feel of Zen).

Best of luck!