Recommended Readings

Below is a list of readings collected by our Teacher Kanshin Allison Tate.


Beginner’s Books

What is Zen, by Norman Fischer and Susan Moon

The Heart of the Buddha’s Teaching, by Thich Nhat Hanh

Taking Our Places, by Norman Fischer

Everyday Zen, by Charlotte Joko Beck 

The Miracle of Mindfulness, by Thich Nhat Hanh

The Eight Gates of Zen, by John Daido Loori, Roshi

Taking the Path of Zen, by Robert Aitken, Roshi

General Zen Buddhism

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki

Not Always So, by Shunryu Suzuki

Opening the Hand of Thought, by Kosho Uchiyama

Returning to Silence, by Dainin Katagiri

You Have to Say Something, by Dainin Katagiri

Appreciate Your Life, by Taizan Maezumi Roshi

Seeds for a Boundless Life, by Zenkei Blanche Hartman

The Zen Teachings of Homeless Kodo, by Kosho Uchiyama and Shohaku Okumura

Dogen’s Writings

Master Dogen’s Shobogenzo, translated by Gudo Nashijima and Chodo Cross

Downloadable pdf: https://www.shobogenzo.net/index.php/text-1/authorised-version/

Treasury of the True Dharma Eye, translated by Kazuaki Tanahashi

Dogen’s Extensive Record, by Dan Leighton and Shohaku Okumura

A Primer of Soto Zen, by Reiho Masunaga

Beyond Thinking: A Guide to Zen Meditaion, by Kazuaki Tanahashi

Sounds of Valley Streams, by Francis H. Cook

How to Raise an Ox, by Francis Cook

Commentaries on Dogen’s Writings

The Wholehearted Way by Kosho Uchiyama

Realizing Genjokoan, by Shohaku Okumura

Dogen’s Genjo Koan, by Nishiari Bokusan, et al

Flowers Fall: A Commentary on on Zen Master Dogen’s Genjokaon, by Hakuun Yasutani

Being-Time, by Shinshu Roberts

Each Moment is the Universe, by Dainin Katagiri

How to Cook Your Life, by Kosho Uchiyama

The Mountains and Waters Sutra, by Shohaku Okumura

Mountains and Rivers Sutra, by Norman Fischer

Precepts

Waking Up to What You Do, by Diane Eshin Rizzetto

Being Upright, by Reb Anderson

The Mind of Clover, by Robert Aitken

Invoking Reality, by John Daido Loori

Taking Our Places, by Norman Fischer

Embracing Mind, by Kobun Chino Otogawa

Compassion

Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life, by Shantideva, Stephen Batchelor

Training in Compassion, by Norman Fischer

Training the Mind and Cultivating Loving-Kindness, by Chogyam Trungpa

Buddhism with an Attitude, by B. Alan Wallace

A Fearless Heart, by Thupten Jinpa, PhD

When Things Fall Apart, by Pema Chodron

The Places That Scare You, by Pema Chodron

Zen Koans

Two Zen Classics, translated by Katsuki Sekida 

Bring Me the Rhinoceros, by John Tarrant

The Gateless Barrier, translation and commentary by Robert Aitken

The Blue Cliff Record, translated by Thomas and J.C. Cleary 

The Book of Serenity: One Hundred Zen Dialogues, translated by Thomas Cleary

The True Dharma Eye: Zen Master Dogen’s Three Hundred Koans, by John Daido Loori

The Hidden Lamp, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

Awakening Together, by Larry Yang

The Inner Work of Racial Justice, by Rhonda V. Magee

Mindful of Race, by Ruth King

Radical Dharma, by Rev. angel kyodo Williams and Lama Rod Owens

Be the Refuge, by Chenxing Han

American Sutra, by Duncan Ryuken Williams

America’s Racial Karma, by Larry Ward

Sanctuary, by Zenju Earthlyn Manuel

Women in Buddhism

Subtle Sound: The Zen teachings of Maurine Stuart, by Sherry Chayat 

Being Bodies, by Sue Moon

Women Living Zen, by Paula Arai 

Daughters of Emptiness: Poems of Chinese Buddhist Nuns, by Beata Grant 

First Buddhist Women: Poems and Stories of Awakening, by Susan Murcott

Zen Women: Beyond Tea Ladies, Iron Maidens, and Macho Masters, by Grace Schireson

The Hidden Lamp, edited by Florence Caplow and Susan Moon