Summaries and Customer Reviews are supplied by Amazon.com

Average Customer Rating:

But not a book for beginners

Customer Rating:

Reading this wonderful book is like prospecting for gold. The gems are in there somewhere, and when you find them, they really grab your attention and sparkle like the stars. But please be warned you have to search for them first through some very opaque writing. My own Buddhist practice is not Zen (it is Nichiren buddhism) but I still found some truly invaluable insights about attitude and meditation that I shall bring to my own practice. For me, though, the book illustrates the old adage that you more you speak about Zen the further away it gets. If you are new to Buddhism and looking for something for starters, I would respectfully suggest this book may put you off because of its obscurity and I would recommend a more accessible Zen master called Alan Watts. What Is Zen? Best of all, read some Haiku (Japaneses poems) The Sound of Water: Haiku - By Basho, Issa and Other Poets (Shambhala Centaur Editions): Haiku - By Basho, Issa and Other Poets (Shambhala Centaur Editions) If you are well on your Path, however, Suzuki is a wily old guide. Enjoy.

Brilliant

Customer Rating:

This was the first book on Zen I read, and I found it simply amazing. Not only is the message of Zen made clear in content, but - crucially - the language and style of the text is so much part of what Suzuki has to offer. I definitely recommend this book by one of the most influential Zen teachers of the western world. It is a canonical piece of work for Westerners wanting to learn more about Zen philosophy. The book so inspired me last summer that I included many references to it in my dissertation on the concept of 'effort' in geography at university.

This is not a beginner's book

Customer Rating:

You must remember that this book contains Shunryu's lecture, which were presented live. That in and of itself would be a great experience. Since we could not all be there, this book is our method to sharing some of his teachings. The lectures go over the description of the sitting Zen experience. You, the Zen student, will constantly refer to this book. This book will not gather dust on your shelf. If you are a beginner, I would direct you to read the "Three Pillars of Zen" first. It was my first book (See my review), and it teaches Zen in a historical and traditional light.

Open hearted clear minded advice.	Customer Rating:
I thought that this was a most useful book. It will encourage and warm the heart. To do full justice to yourself (and to the book) you do however need to have a daily meditation practice. Read it again and again and things will come to you from different angles.The only weakness to this book will be your projections.With love Andy.

It's not bad, but people are getting to excited

Customer Rating:

Ok firstly this is a good book. It's well written, interesting, poetical and yes beautiful in many senses. But you have to remember that these are lecturers given by Suzuki and you can get the same real feeling in written words. Also its very easy to get all over emotional with some of the stuff he say's because of the way its written...all I'm saying is remember Suzuki is a Zen monk who anit that clued up on our everyday experiences as westerns, although he has started a lineage of people that are, just don't get all excited over this.