Amazon.com: Customer reviews: Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind: 50th Anniversary Edition

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NADAV1214

as described

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2023

arrived in mint condition.

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Albert Chen

Is this supposed to be a Zen book for beginners?

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023

A friend of mine loan me the book nearly 30 years ago. At that time, the young mind did not gain much from it. Now, I've decided to try it again, still a beginner, without much experience in mediation or Zen. Thirty pages into the book, I found that this book is full of contractions and paradox. Maybe the hindrance is from my western scientific logical thinking dualistic mind. Maybe I will understand the message later by continuing practice sitting. Until then, my question is: Is this supposed to be a Zen book for beginners? like the title suggests?

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From the United States

NADAV1214

as described

Reviewed in the United States on September 25, 2023

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arrived in mint condition.

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David E. Jones

Highly recommended

Reviewed in the United States on September 5, 2023

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Very accessible introduction to Zen. Not ‘high brow’, and actually humorous in spots. Removes the loftiness sometimes associated with zazen practice, IMHO.

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mrbeginner

Reclaim your being

Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2023

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Gain insights by allowing enough silence for them to enter.

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SmokinBobLenart

Very interesting.

Reviewed in the United States on August 14, 2023

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I have read this book more than I thought I would. Very good quality and easy reading. Received it on time and the price is right. I highly recommend this book for anyone.

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Mike

good book, but ironically it may not be for beginners.

Reviewed in the United States on December 26, 2014

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This book may be somewhat difficult to understand for someone just starting to read about eastern thought in general. Listening to many hours of Alan Watts and reviewing other info about Buddhism in general really helped me appreciate this book more. Honestly I don't understand somewhere between 50% to 30% of what I read. However, one day I plan on practicing Zen at a Zen center and then will review certain parts of this book. I'm glad I bought this book (instead of borrowing it from the library) because I and many other readers probably will not be able to appreciate it the first time around. Some chapters are as clear as day - especially when he alludes to the waterfall and individual droplets being each of us.

Not recommended if you have no background in eastern thought - you should start elsewhere, but if you are still interested in Buddhism after dabbling around in general Buddhism literature, this is one of the classics that you should really look into if you are thinking about practicing Zen.

Someone said this is too esoteric and I can see what they mean - but because it is so, it seems to be more genuine and complete. When I read for example, Thich Nhat Hanh's The Art of Power, it seems so very dumbed down that I feel insulted and even bored at times even though I know he understands Buddhism. He uses very applied/practical examples within our daily lives and is very concrete. Thich overuses the word love. My gut kind of objects love as an emphasis of Buddhism. In a way, yes, you can say that some aspects of Buddhism may imply love, but that is not the main point of Buddhism. This book (Zen Mind, Beginners Mind) is less touchy-feely in that sense. However, it offers a lot of insight.

When I ordered my book from amazon, I got a nice book mark with it with some calligraphy on it. the back cover of the book is quite interesting and if you read the content towards the end of the book it will point out something interesting about the face of the author. This is a permanent member of my small collection of books.

6 people found this helpful

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Nick

I've been searching for years for the answers found in this book

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2009

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This is clearly one of the best books I have ever read. I found page after page full of deep thoughts and ideas that I have often wondered about throughout my life. This was my first book on Zen and I chose it because of the numerous excellent reviews and I must say that I concur. I will also admit that I did not understand all of the teachings. On one page I would find deep answers to the questions I have long asked in my life and then on the next page I would have no idea what the author was talking about. Most of the confusion comes on the subject of non-dualism, which for a Westerner is probably the hardest concept to comprehend in Zen.

The book is formed from a series of talks given by Shunyru Suzuki over many years, each comprising a short chapter of the book usually 4-6 pages long. The layout of the book is very straightforward and I found it beneficial to read one or two chapters a day. Although it does touch briefly on meditation (zazen), this book focuses primarily on the philosophy of Zen. Because of this, anyone can read and appreciate the book. You don't have to be a Buddhist or meditate on a regular basis to enjoy the knowledge found within "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind". Fundamental concepts such as "the only thing we can change is ourselves", "we have suffering in our lives because of our attachments" and "let everything go as it goes" apply to our everyday lives in a very powerful way.

It is important to realize that according to the teachings of Zen, enlightenment is found through the practice of zazen. A Sensei at the Zen Center told me, "If we could reach enlightenment through intellectual understanding, there would be no need for meditation". To fully understand the difficult teachings found in this book, such as non-dualism, we must realize them over a long period of time through meditation. This is why I don't think anyone can fully grasp everything within this book, the first time they are exposed to the concepts of Zen.

Regardless of your religious beliefs and whether or not you ever intend to meditate or further study Zen, this book offers a wealth of knowledge in a very practical, every day setting.

Good Luck and enjoy the journey.

23 people found this helpful

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Albert Chen

Is this supposed to be a Zen book for beginners?

Reviewed in the United States on June 25, 2023

Verified Purchase

2 people found this helpful

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Ruslan

Simple but profound concepts

Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2023

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This book presents another look at Budhism by introducing some simple but deep concepts which can be used in a day to day life.
Would recommend.

4 people found this helpful

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Jim Martin

Everything becomes your teacher !!!

Reviewed in the United States on October 28, 2011

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As I'm thinking about what to write for a review - I found myself scanning the pages again to find some `buzz phrases'. Within this book, you will discern some beautifully poetic lines concerning everyday life. Rather than describe the book, I want to list a few of these precious gems with the intention that we should all implement these teachings in our daily life...

"In your mind you create an idea of place separate from an actual time". How true is this? Nobody is saying not to plan ahead. Everyone must plan for school, work, everyday life etc. On the other hand, as human beings, we overdo everything. There is only one time - here/now. Stop wasting your life and appreciate the only moment you have -- this one.

"The true purpose of ZEN is to see things as they are, to observe things as they are, and to let everything go as it goes". This is much easier said than done. It almost gives a feeling of resist nothing but just let things happen. Of course, we have to determine in life when and where the right time to step in is, but again, I think as human beings, we think we can control everything. Instead we should realize how things fit together, and simply watch them come and go of their own accord.

"When you can do everything, whether it is good or bad, without disturbance or without being annoyed by the feeling, that is actually what we mean by form is form, and emptiness is emptiness. Knowing that your life is short, to enjoy it day after day, moment after moment, is the life of form is form, and emptiness is emptiness". This one truly speaks for itself so, must I go on?

Needless to say, this book will be reread...

23 people found this helpful

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Carol A. Moore

Book

Reviewed in the United States on October 21, 2023

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I did not like that I was unable to track the order. It took longer than I expected to receive considering the merchant was near where I live. On a positive note, the book arrived in excellent condition.

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