The contradictory nature of zen is legendary. Some people find it totally infuriating. They feel that when the meaning of words are undermined in this way the whole basis of our world is being undermined - which is precisely the point. Words are symbols, they are not the real thing.
(Robert Allen)
Zen books
Be wary of
zen books. Many titles say 'zen' but are in
fact about
Zen Buddhism.
This list represents a sample of the books we have found useful in
discovering the essence of
zen.
You cannot learn zen by simply
reading a book. Real understanding is far more personal and
introspective.
The Book of Tea by Kakuzo Okakura
Bushido - the Soul of Japan by Inazo Nitobe
Haiku by Basho
In a Japanese Garden by Charmaine Aserappa
In Praise of Shadows by Jun'ichiro Tanizaki
Keep it simple by Nick Page
The Little Zen Companion by David Schiller
Living Wabi Sabi by Taro Gold
New Zen Garden: Designing Quiet Spaces by Joseph Cali
Practical Wabi Sabi by Simon G Brown
Sword and Brush by Dave Lowry
Talking Zen by Alan Watts
The Tao of Zen by Ray Grigg
Wabi Sabi - The Art of Everyday Life by Diane Durston
Wabi-Sabi: For Artists, Designers, Poets and Philosophers by Leonard Koren
Wabi Sabi: The Japanese Art of Impermanence by Andrew Juniper
The Wabi-Sabi House: The Japanese Art of Imperfect Beauty by Robyn Griggs Lawrence
Wabi Sabi Simple: Create Beauty, Value Imperfection, Live Deeply by Richard R Powell
The Way of Zen by Alan Watts
What is Zen? by Alan Watts
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance by Robert Pirsig
Zen in the Art of Archery by Eugen Herrigel
Zen Questions by Robert Allen
The Zen Way to the Martial Arts by Taisen Deshimaru
There are many more zen books of course, but the ones listed may offer a starting place.
Page created 1 November 2001