Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
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- Create Date：2021-07-16 08:54:33
- Update Date：2025-09-06
- Status：finish
- Author：Shunryu Suzuki
- ISBN：1590302672
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Summary
"In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities， but in the expert's there are few。" So begins this most beloved of all American Zen books。 Seldom has such a small handful of words provided a teaching as rich as has this famous opening line of Shunryu Suzuki's classic。 In a single stroke， the simple sentence cuts through the pervasive tendency students have of getting so close to Zen as to completely miss what it's all about。 An instant teaching on the first page。 And that's just the beginning。
In the thirty years since its original publication， Zen Mind， Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics， much beloved， much re-read， and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen。 Suzuki Roshi presents the basics—from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality—in a way that is not only remarkably clear， but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page。 It's a book to come back to time and time again as an inspiration to practice。
In the thirty years since its original publication， Zen Mind， Beginner's Mind has become one of the great modern Zen classics， much beloved， much re-read， and much recommended as the best first book to read on Zen。 Suzuki Roshi presents the basics—from the details of posture and breathing in zazen to the perception of nonduality—in a way that is not only remarkably clear， but that also resonates with the joy of insight from the first to the last page。 It's a book to come back to time and time again as an inspiration to practice。
Reviews
Diane Henry
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That was baffling。
Jay Rao
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Simplistically profound
Sarah O'Flaherty
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Great book on Zen Buddhism。 Very helpful。
Angel
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Perfect and fully unnecessary
Vincent Viitala
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Much wisdom here。
C Grannell
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A lot to take in。 Trying to gain basic understanding of quieting my mind， being still， emptying my mind。 So many parallels to Christianity。 Stress is wanting things to be different than they are。 Breathing in and out visualizing a swinging door。 Visualizing mind waves as waves that will calm。 I will return to this book many times。
Mohammad Sadegh Jazayeri
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Repetitive at times， but what it says bears repeating。
Sarah
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Love the simplicity
jennet wheatstonelllsl
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Kskssk
Meche Lozano
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very thorough and easy to read :）
Matt
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Absolute gold！ A book I'll be coming back to again and again。 Absolute gold！ A book I'll be coming back to again and again。 。。。more
Sergey Zubov
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Listened it through， understood nothing。 Perhaps， I'm not enlightened enough for this book。 Listened it through， understood nothing。 Perhaps， I'm not enlightened enough for this book。 。。。more
Ana Jembrek
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Mnoge knjige svojataju epitet "duhovnog"。 Mišljenja sam da knjige mogu biti o duhovnosti， ali ne i duhovne。 Duhovno je ono što mi činimo s njima， u sebi i oko nas。 Ova mi je knjiga pomalo poljuljala taj stav。 Ako će vas zen ikada zanimati， onaj pravi， beskompromisni， neustručavajući zen koji se ne predstavlja da je nešto što nije， kojeg ne zanimaju zen vrtovi i lažna smirenost （da ne kažem， lažna pozitiva）， ali i onaj koji se ne sapetljava u previše teorije， religijoznog poimanja te velikih rije Mnoge knjige svojataju epitet "duhovnog"。 Mišljenja sam da knjige mogu biti o duhovnosti， ali ne i duhovne。 Duhovno je ono što mi činimo s njima， u sebi i oko nas。 Ova mi je knjiga pomalo poljuljala taj stav。 Ako će vas zen ikada zanimati， onaj pravi， beskompromisni， neustručavajući zen koji se ne predstavlja da je nešto što nije， kojeg ne zanimaju zen vrtovi i lažna smirenost （da ne kažem， lažna pozitiva）， ali i onaj koji se ne sapetljava u previše teorije， religijoznog poimanja te velikih riječi kao što su kaone， kensha i satoriji - ovo je jedina knjiga koju trebate pročitati。 Od vas će zahtjevati samo jednu sitnicu - stopostotnu prisutnost。 Srećom， u tome itekako planira i pomoći。 Krasna mala knjiga。 。。。more
Pouya Pournasir
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I am glad that my girlfriend bought this book for me as a gift。 I don't know what to say。 Before the big bang was the void， creation comes after void， when you are in zazen you are in void。 now only I believe in void， I believe in nothing and nothing else I am glad that my girlfriend bought this book for me as a gift。 I don't know what to say。 Before the big bang was the void， creation comes after void， when you are in zazen you are in void。 now only I believe in void， I believe in nothing and nothing else 。。。more
Kim Demkovich
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My favorite book of 2021。 We suffer because we have trouble accepting the transiency of things。
Mark
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Highly recommended for all audiences。 Wish I had read this decades ago。 初心 = “beginner’s mind” （or beginner’s heart/spirit if we are being literal）。 In the beginner’s mind， there are many possibilities。 In the expert’s mind， there are few。 When your mind is compassionate， it is boundless。 A master that cannot bow to his disciple cannot bow to Buddha。 Real calmness should be found in activity。 Appreciate what I am doing now。 There is no preparation for something else [eternity is now]。 Do somethi Highly recommended for all audiences。 Wish I had read this decades ago。 初心 = “beginner’s mind” （or beginner’s heart/spirit if we are being literal）。 In the beginner’s mind， there are many possibilities。 In the expert’s mind， there are few。 When your mind is compassionate， it is boundless。 A master that cannot bow to his disciple cannot bow to Buddha。 Real calmness should be found in activity。 Appreciate what I am doing now。 There is no preparation for something else [eternity is now]。 Do something new。 Only reflect on the past—do not hold onto it。 。。。more
Yulin
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didn't think this was going to be 180 pages telling me to stop reading and start sitting in zen posture but well。。。 that's essentially what this book was （very pragmatic） didn't think this was going to be 180 pages telling me to stop reading and start sitting in zen posture but well。。。 that's essentially what this book was （very pragmatic） 。。。more
seriy moon
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Fav
John Amador
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Becoming AwarenessThis book is an owners manual for learning how to “Just Be”。 The practice of Zazen helps one to master their own unruly mind。
David
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"Zen。 The true purpose is to see things as they are， to observe things as they are， and to let everything go。。。"What is Zen？ Above all else， it is the practice of "zazen"。 Zazen is sitting and breathing while thinking about nothing。 Calmness is perhaps the most significant result of zazen， but the purpose of zazen is not to acquire calmness。 The "purpose" （if it can be called that） is to return to our original， natural， and unconscious state of being。Zazen"To take this posture is itself to have "Zen。 The true purpose is to see things as they are， to observe things as they are， and to let everything go。。。"What is Zen？ Above all else， it is the practice of "zazen"。 Zazen is sitting and breathing while thinking about nothing。 Calmness is perhaps the most significant result of zazen， but the purpose of zazen is not to acquire calmness。 The "purpose" （if it can be called that） is to return to our original， natural， and unconscious state of being。Zazen"To take this posture is itself to have the right state of mind。""The most important things in our practice are our physical posture and our way of breathing。 We are not so concerned about a deep understanding of Buddhism。""If you are concentrated on breathing you will forget yourself， and if you forget yourself you will be concentrated on your breathing。""So when you practice zazen， your mind should be concentrated on your breathing。""The most important thing in taking the zazen posture is to keep your spine straight。""If you find it impossible to sit because of some pain or some physical difficulty， then you should sit anyway， using a thick cushion or a chair。""When we sit we are nothing， we do not even realize what we are; we just sit。""Even though we are sleepy， and we are tired of practicing zazen， of repeating the same thing day after day; even so， we continue our practice。 Whether or not someone encourages our practice， we just do it。""In short， when you do everything without thinking about whether it is good or bad， and when you do something with your whole mind and body， then that is our way。"Calmness"When we do zazen， the quality of our calm， steady， serene sitting is the quality of the immense activity of being itself。""。。。the calmness of your sitting will encourage you in your everyday life。""Just keep your body straight without leaning over or against something。 To keep your body straight means not to rely on anything。 In this way， physically and mentally， you will obtain complete calmness。""Our mind is just calm， without even any awareness。 In this unawareness， every effort and every idea and thought will vanish。""。。。be always calm and joyful and keep yourself from excitement。""Nothing outside yourself can cause any trouble。 You yourself make the waves in your mind。"Naturalness"Our way is not to sit to acquire something; it is to express our true nature。""The true practice of zazen is to sit as if drinking water when you are thirsty。 There you have naturalness。""You do not have to force yourself to drink water when you are thirsty; you are glad to drink water。 If you have true joy in your zazen， that is true zazen。""When you try to attain something， your mind starts to wander about somewhere else。""To have nothing in your mind is naturalness。""。。。do not try to stop your thinking。 Let it stop by itself。""If you want to study Zen， you should forget all your previous ideas and just practice zazen and see what kind of experience you have in your practice。 That is naturalness。"Unconsciousness"Before we were born we had no feeling; we were one with the universe。""Our true nature is beyond our conscious experience。""When you have something in your consciousness you do not have perfect composure。 The best way towards perfect composure is to forget everything。""Buddhism emphasizes the world of unconsciousness。 [。。。] So what Buddha meant by Buddha nature was to be there as he was， beyond the realm of consciousness。""The best way is just to do it without having any joy in it， not even spiritual joy。 This way is just to do it， forgetting your physical and mental feeling， forgetting all about yourself in your practice。 This is the fourth stage， or the highest stage。""If you want to appreciate something fully， you should forget yourself。""To be independent in this true sense， we have to forget everything which we have in our mind and discover something quite new and different moment after moment。"Emptiness"Before we understand the idea of emptiness， everything seems to exist substantially。""Instead of gathering knowledge， you should clear your mind。 If your mind is clear， true knowledge is already yours。""By enlightenment I mean believing in nothing， believing in something which has no form or no color， which is ready to take form or color。 This enlightenment is the immutable truth。 It is on this original truth that our activity， our thinking， and our practice should be based。""Because each existence is in constant change， there is no abiding self。""If you are suffering， you will have some pleasure in the teaching that everything changes。 When you are in trouble， it is quite easy to accept the teaching。 So why not accept it at other times？""If you take things too seriously， as if they existed substantially or permanently， you are called a heretic。""。。。we have to believe in something which has no form and no color - something which exists before all forms and colors appear。 This is a very important point。" 。。。more
Dylan Lamb
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A lot of people say things like "this book will change your life， etc。" But， seriously - this book will actually change your life and how you perceive reality。 Suzuki Roshi is one of the greatest teachers of Zen Buddhism and his ideas are palatable to a Western audience。 He is the bridge to the eastern religion in the west and started the first Zen Buddhist temple in the States。In other words， this guy is the real deal and this book is a crystal clear distillation of beautiful Zen wisdom in a si A lot of people say things like "this book will change your life， etc。" But， seriously - this book will actually change your life and how you perceive reality。 Suzuki Roshi is one of the greatest teachers of Zen Buddhism and his ideas are palatable to a Western audience。 He is the bridge to the eastern religion in the west and started the first Zen Buddhist temple in the States。In other words， this guy is the real deal and this book is a crystal clear distillation of beautiful Zen wisdom in a simple， easy-to-read format。 This a book I always keep at my bedside and revisit time and time again。 If you are new to Zen Buddhism or just curious， then look no further because this book is a great introduction and is probably the most accessible。 If you are an advanced Zen guru with your own Zendo or someone who could care less， you should still read this book because it applicable everyone。 I cannot recommend this book enough！ It is a treasure trove of Zen wisdom that will guide you for a lifetime。 Suzuki Roshi is a great teacher and you will not be disappointed with this book。 。。。more
Gabrielle Jarrett
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"If you try to adjust yourself in a certain way， you lose yourself。" I was fed by Suzuki's book， his understandings and teachings in a very different way other Buddhist teachers。 I began to 'grok' the term emptiness。 In Zen， the sitting posture is the only must。 There is not a focus on breathing， the sitter is to simply feel it。 If I could only have one Buddhist book on my island， Zen Mind， Beginner's Mind would be it。 Acceptance without judgement of the moment - a balm。 Finally， the sound of on "If you try to adjust yourself in a certain way， you lose yourself。" I was fed by Suzuki's book， his understandings and teachings in a very different way other Buddhist teachers。 I began to 'grok' the term emptiness。 In Zen， the sitting posture is the only must。 There is not a focus on breathing， the sitter is to simply feel it。 If I could only have one Buddhist book on my island， Zen Mind， Beginner's Mind would be it。 Acceptance without judgement of the moment - a balm。 Finally， the sound of one hand clapping was made clear。 Lovely read。 。。。more
Montserrat Letona
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I respect zazen and there are some good ideas and all but I’ll stick to philosophy thanks。
Dax
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Never gets old。 Literally read everyday。
Stephen
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I’ll be honest and say that this is so much that I did NOT get out of this book。 I read it as more of a tourist than a student， and I am sure that there are nuances and insights that I missed。 Even so， it was still thought provoking。 I didn’t read this book to fully understand Zen， ， but I did get a lot in terms of learning how some these approaches could benefit my personal and work life。 A key idea that I walked away with is that the key to learning and mastery is focus on the moment， and not I’ll be honest and say that this is so much that I did NOT get out of this book。 I read it as more of a tourist than a student， and I am sure that there are nuances and insights that I missed。 Even so， it was still thought provoking。 I didn’t read this book to fully understand Zen， ， but I did get a lot in terms of learning how some these approaches could benefit my personal and work life。 A key idea that I walked away with is that the key to learning and mastery is focus on the moment， and not thinking about mastery。This is a short book， and reads like what it is: an edited transcript of a Zen Master’s lessons to his students。 While one could read it quickly I got more out of it by reading it in small batches-- this gave me time to think about what the words meant to me。 I don’t feel qualified to speak about how much you’ll learn about Zen reading this book -- though others who are more so have had good things to say。 I can say that if you think I about learning， self reflection， and creativity， this is worth a read if only for the compelling title。 And you may walk away with some insights into Zen Buddhist philosophy。 These may be enough。 Or you may have a desire to learn more。 。。。more
Argel Landeros
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Lo leí en español y leeré de nuevo muchas veces maś…！
Anant Nath Sharma
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You cannot read this unless it comes to you itself。 It might be on your to-read， you might have an actual copy on your shelf， but you cannot read this unless it comes to you。I have to been meaning to read Zen Mind， Beginner's Mind since coming to know about it first in 2013 through a friend。 I was 27 then and I tried and tried but couldn't get past the first 20 pages - "If there is something extra in your practice - It is not true zazen！" Multiple failed attempt later - it came！It's only when on You cannot read this unless it comes to you itself。 It might be on your to-read， you might have an actual copy on your shelf， but you cannot read this unless it comes to you。I have to been meaning to read Zen Mind， Beginner's Mind since coming to know about it first in 2013 through a friend。 I was 27 then and I tried and tried but couldn't get past the first 20 pages - "If there is something extra in your practice - It is not true zazen！" Multiple failed attempt later - it came！It's only when one lets go of any effort - would the practice be true！This little book is something that I find I'm incapable of fully understanding at this point。 It's one of those that grow with you。 You realise it only when you grow and read again。 Suzuki's lectures are to be revisited again and again only to solidify the beliefs you have come to imbibe。 Beginning of Practice is True Enlightenment！ It is not a goal， it can never be a goal。 Practice is the way！Should come back to this again， should make notes， should refer them continuously。Beginner's Mind is all one needs！ 。。。more
Suramrit Singh
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Theres not much to say about this book per se。 Which is surprising considering the profound writing that is contained in it。 I'll keep this one close and will be coming back to it whenever I feel being overwhelmed by the small mind。 Theres not much to say about this book per se。 Which is surprising considering the profound writing that is contained in it。 I'll keep this one close and will be coming back to it whenever I feel being overwhelmed by the small mind。 。。。more
Beth Crosa
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This is a good book that encourages your meditation practice。 In parts you have to read in a manner that seeks to gain understanding without being too literal with interpretation。
Brian Wilcox
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