Zen Buddhism (Paperback)

by Daisetz T. Suzuki (Author), William Barrett (Author) "Zen in its essence is the art of seeing into the nature of one's own being, and it points the way from bondage to freedom..." (more)
Key Phrases: koan exercise, environing objects, whereupon the master, Zen Buddhism, Nirvana Sutra, Chinese Zen (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The premier metaphysician of the 20th century, Martin Heidegger, once said in regard to D. T. Suzuki, "If I understand this man correctly, this is what I have been trying to say in all my writings." Roman Catholic writer Thomas Merton, analytical psychologist Carl Jung, social psychologist Erich Fromm, avant-garde musician John Cage, writer and social critic Alan Watts, poet Gary Snyder -- all influential in their own rights, claim a debt to Mr. Suzuki and his writings, the most representative of which are gathered here in Zen Buddhism. An intellectual understanding of Zen begins with this book.

Product Description
A highly accessible overview of Zen philosophy includes a basic historical background, a thorough overview of the techniques of Zen practice, and explanations of key concepts and terminology. Reprint.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Three Leaves (July 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038548349X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385483490
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #71,954 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Excellent Selection from an Excellent Writer, January 2, 2001

By	Clay Collier (Louisville, Kentucky USA) - See all my reviews

This was the first book I ever read on Zen, and it remains, in my mind, one of the best. D.T Suzuki is thorough and imaginative, linking the principles of Zen to the culture and history of Japan, as well as to Western philosophy. Suzuki has a well-deserved reputation as the 20th century's foremost authority on Japanese Zen. While perhaps more of a scholar's book than a practitioner's book, this selection of essays from Suzuki's Zen and Japanese Culture do a wonderful job of conveying the spirit and rich history of Japanese Zen, and its roots in Chinese Ch'an. Faced with a complex topic that by its very nature does not lend itself to written accounts, Suzuki manages to neither over-analyze the topic nor sidestep the issues by refusing comment. The essays selected give a good taste of the complex spectrum of Zen, and its many cultural and historical manifestations, without swamping the reader with material. A fine and complex work by a well-respected figure of the Zen tradition.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Zen authority?, May 12, 1998

By A Customer

Suzuki is considered to be the foremost authority on Zen Buddhism. Suzuki brought Zen thought to America. The best of D.T. Suzuki is included here. I've read quite a bit on the subject and I believe Suzuki has the best grasp of Zen. The reading is difficult, but so is the topic. I highly recommend this book if you really want to get deep into Zen. Another slightly easier book to understand, `Living Zen' by Robert Linssen uses Suzuki's material quite extensively.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great read for anyone and essential for Zen students, June 13, 2008

By	Ted Biringer "Author of The Flatbed Sutra of ... (Anacortes, Washington United States) - See all my reviews

DT Suzuki is one of the most influential writers/philosophers on Zen and Buddhist teachings in the western world. Whether they agree with all of his positions or not, nobody in the western Zen community would deny the importance of Suzuki's role on bringing Zen to awareness in the West.

William Barrett has done an extraordinary job in compiling and introducing Dr. Suzuki's writings in this book, which is a veritable horn of plenty when it comes to the classic teachings of Zen Buddhism. Barrett's introduction alone (around 100 pages) is massive treatise on the core teachings of Zen.

A great read for all! Zen students that have not yet tackled the massive corpus of D.T. Suzuki's writings would be well advised to start with this superb collection which presents the essential teachings of Zen, and the heart of Suzuki's message in a wonderful format for all.