Re-reading, a little every day at study time. ( )

Although I had heard of Kapleau's book when I began zazen in earnest, 20 years ago, I never got around to reading it. I was satisfied with Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind as a "beginner book" and didn't see any need to go back to what I imagined were concepts I had already learned and let go of. Well I was wrong but I'm glad I was wrong because it meant I could read this book with some experience. Yes, it is a so called beginner book. It does a lot of introductory work that anyone starting out with Zen will really appreciate.

That said, the orientation provided here is nothing to gloss over for experienced practitioners. This book revitalized my practice. It nourished me. It inspired me to remember the importance of kensho.

I highly recommend this book to both new and experienced students of Zen. It will either keep you steadfast or set you on a proper course of study. ( )

Although I had heard of Kapleau's book when I began zazen in earnest, 20 years ago, I never got around to reading it. I was satisfied with Suzuki Roshi's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind as a "beginner book" and didn't see any need to go back to what I imagined were concepts I had already learned and let go of. Well I was wrong but I'm glad I was wrong because it meant I could read this book with some experience. Yes, it is a so called beginner book. It does a lot of introductory work that anyone starting out with Zen will really appreciate.

That said, the orientation provided here is nothing to gloss over for experienced practitioners. This book revitalized my practice. It nourished me. It inspired me to remember the importance of kensho.

I highly recommend this book to both new and experienced students of Zen. It will either keep you steadfast or set you on a proper course of study. ( )

This book is a primer on Zen Buddhism. It's well written and does what it aims to do.

Roshi Philip Kapleau had hoped to clear some misrepresentations of Zen in the West with this book, and from it's continued publication, I suppose it has succeeded somewhat.

This book is split into three general parts. The first part is a collection of letters and talks that were printed to give a general idea of what Zen Buddhism is. It contains guidance on the practice of zazen and shikan-taza, which are techniques used to attain enlightenment. The second part contains letters and diary entries from modern people that have undergone Zen Training for various reasons and purposes. The third part contains a supplemental section that shows how to do the positions like the full lotus posture and the half lotus posture.

This book is meant to be studied, I am sure, but I just read it through. ( )

Through explorations of the three pillars of Zen--teaching, practice, and enlightenment--Roshi Philip Kapleau presents a comprehensive overview of the history and discipline of Zen Buddhism. An established classic, this 35th anniversary edition features new illustrations and photographs, as well as a new afterword by Sensei Bodhin Kjolhede, who has succeeded Philip Kapleau as spiritual director of the Rochester Zen Center, one of the oldest and most influential Zen centers in the United States.