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Summary: Mind at one with Tao
Review: Anyone interested in reading this book should not be dissuaded by the negative rantings of the "humble monk" and "Dharma teacher", whose reviews appear to be from the same person. This book does not disappoint. I first read it over 25 years ago and I've fondly returned to it time and again since.This book is intended as a look at 'Zen Mind', mind at one with Tao. The term 'Beginner's Mind' refers to the goal of always keeping our original beginner's mind in our practice. To awaken to this mind, Suzuki encourages the practice of Zazen, for when we take the Zazen posture we are at once aligned with The Buddha and all of the Patriarchs, we perfectly express our own Buddha nature. The act of sitting itself is the actualization of Buddha Nature or Being. This IS the practice of Zen. Zen is a practice, not a religion and as thus can not be blasphemed in the way that the negative reviewer asserts. Religion is an attitude of devotion to something other than yourself which is regarded as worthy of supreme devotion. Zen Buddhism is not the worship of Buddha. Buddha taught the way to eliminate the cause of human suffering and conflict, the way to awakening. Zen is the means to that end. To the Dharma teacher and "Zen monk", I quote Zen Master Dogen Zenji's Bendowa. "You look on the meditation of the Buddhas and the supreme law as just sitting and doing nothing. You disparage Mahayana Buddhism. Your delusion is deep; you are like someone in the middle of the ocean crying out for water. Fortunately we are already sitting at ease in the self-joyous meditation of the Buddhas. Isn't this a great boon? What a pity that your true-eye remains shut - that your mind remains drunk. The world of the Buddhas eludes ordinary thinking and consciousness. It cannot be known by disbelief and inferior knowledge. To enter one must have right belief. The disbeliever, even if taught, has trouble grasping it.... Your only purpose in reading the sutras should be to learn thoroughly that the Buddha taught the rules of gradual and sudden training and that by practicing his teachings you can obtain enlightenment. You should not read the sutras merely to pretend to wisdom through vain intellections.... While you look at words and phrases, the path of your training remains dark....Constant repetition of the Nembutsu is also worthless - like a frog in a spring field croaking night and day....Understand only this: if enlightened Zen masters and their earnest disciples correctly transmit the supreme law of the seven Buddhas, its essence emerges, and it can be experienced. Those who merely study the letters of the sutras cannot know this. So put a stop to this doubt and delusion. Follow the teachings of a real master and, by zazen; attain to the self-joyous samadhi of the Buddhas." The Buddha himself said "This is itself the Way to Awakening".
Rating:
Summary: Mountains are Mountains
Review: It is March, 2000, and I have just ordered another 6 copies of this classic book on Zen sitting meditation. I first read it shortly after it was published in 1972, borrowed from the Cleveland Heights OH library. Since then I have returned to it many times and given many copies away to friends. Some are grieving a loss, some are facing a major personal challenge, like cancer. Some are simply searching for truth or a sense of themselves. In any case, I do agree with those reviewers who point novices toward a more traditionally instructive book like The Three Pillars of Zen. That book speaks to the logical structure of Zen study, its emphasis on teaching, practice and enlightenment. It is important to understand Zen in this historic and traditional light if one is to pursue it seriously. But Three Pillars is a "study book" - it is not a description of the sitting zen experience. Shunryu's lectures were "live" and directed to the experience itself. As in the old Zen saying, his words are fingers, pointing to the moon. Certainly, there may be purists who find dogmatic contradictions in some of Shunryu's comments. But he did not set out to teach the dogma! This is an excellent book the serious zen student will return to again and again. And for the "everday man" among us, the "beginner" Shunryu spoke to, it is much better than a handbook of Hazleton platitudes, an erstwhile koan or a list of Covey's rules. Sit up straight! Put your thoughts away! Sit and....
Rating: 
Summary: Among Worst books on the BuddhaDharma ever written
Review: This book is factually the pinnacle of depravity of those few books that attempt to propagate the Dharma but end up Blaspheming it instead. Completely and utterly lacking the Jewel mind of an awakened Master of the Buddha Dharma Shunryu Suzuki has managed to produce the Dictionary equivalent of a Successful Disaster in the Buddhist English Literary world. Countless points of innumerable contention lie hidden like Mara in the pages of his book for those of ill equipped comprehensions of the Dharma to enslave the minds into having a wholly incorrect and vile misconception of the Dharma as put forth by the late Shunryu Suzuki. Cross comparatively the book sinks like so much rubbish to the bottom of the swill pool when the intrinsic nature of the book is even loosely examined. Suzukis shallow understanding of the transmundane antithesis of humanistic doldrums and philoanahilistic prose make Buddhism highest goal to be nothing more that sublime misery manifesting itsself as Zazen as opposed to unparalleled enlightenment breakthrough of understanding of the Dharmakaya through unconditional practice of the profundidty of insight through grasp of the Orthodox Dharma and continuous manifestations of faith from determination to uncover the great Matter and come to profound enlightenment through successive multitudes of Kenshos (breakthroughs). Suzukis OWN WORDS that are laughable and yet at the same time sorrowful for his pathetic lack of understanding of the Dharma are as follows: "THE MOST INPORTANT THING IN OUR PRACTICE ARE OUR POSTURE AND OUR WAY OF BREATHING,WE ARE NOT SO CONCERNED ABOUT A DEEP UNDERSTANDING OF BUDDHISM. AS A PHILOSOPHY BUDDHISM IS A....." this is one among a MULTITUDE of pathetic examples of his lack of any grasp of the holly Dharma. Where can you sort out the trash from a mountain of trash? IF you wish to practice shikentaza (blank minded meditation) this is a fine example of it to buy. I truly CRY however honestly cry at the thought that SO many people searching for info on Buddhism find this book and read it and reread it. Buddhism dear friends is NOT a philosophy nor is it nihilistic self indulgent meditation. Meditation is small facet of the innumerable expedients to achieve profound understanding in Buddhism. The Buddha himself on countless occasions you can read will tell you forthwith that UNDERSTANDING is paramount and yet people praise Suzuki for his Blasphemy. But i understand that most praise are from so called "casual" Buddhists that have never even picked up a Sutra much less read one page form one. I lay now my life down to you in promise that this book in no way is the Buddhism of the Ancients, my life i swear to you on this. pick up a scripture if you wish to find out about Buddhism and dont be mistaken by this book or its New Age popularity. In the Orthodox Mahayana Buddhist Dharma.. concerned
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Summary: Wipes the dust from the mirror.
Review: I teach reading and art in public school to eleven-year olds. _Zen Mind Beginner's Mind_ is a good guidebook for these activities. When reading, children are easily distracted. Perhaps they do not feel a connection to the story. The story is certainly not an expression of themselves. Writing about the story helps. Then it becomes part of their own expression. Their interests and experiences can become part of the story. But when we paint, it is a different "story" altogether. Then you see beginner's mind in action. The object of their study is certainly part of them. Focus is inherent in the activity. The paint, the paper, the child all become one event. And since I have only started teaching art recently, I am beginner's mind at work! In the prologue, Suzuki-roshi tells us: "This is the real secret of the arts: always be a beginner." Why? It is because "in the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few." The joy of perpetually being a beginner! Is _Zen Mind_ about education and art? Yes. No. {Mu?} _Zen Mind_ is a book about mind and life. Big mind and small mind. Small life and unencumbered life. Maybe you are a gymnast. Maybe you sell real estate or groceries. Maybe you work in a factory or in an electrical power plant. Maybe you write the questions for "Who Wants to be a Millionaire." Whatever you do {even if you do no-thing} and wherever you are {right here right now}, this book will speak to you if you have an interest in the freshness of beginning and the beauty of everyday life.
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Summary: Highest Light in a small book
Review: This book is an amazing work of simplicity that cuts to the core of life/practice. I've read many books on Zen and have found few as connected to dharma as this. This is the greatest virtue of the book: a first reading gives initial insights; each successive reading gives fresh insights. I keep it with a small group of inspirational, seminal books.
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Summary: Suzuki Roshi's Gift
Review: I use this modest, beautiful book of Dharma talks as a daily devotional. Along with the works of Thich Nhat Hanh, ZMBM provides the lay Zen practitioner with guidance along the path of mindfulness. Practicing Buddhism without a supporting sangha nearby is often difficult; Suzuki Roshi's book helps make it easier.
Rating: 
Summary: beginner's mind best for the moderately advanced
Review: A whole lot of zen - though don't be fooled, for a short and highly recommended book with 'beginner' in the title it's not as crisp and accessible as it appears. Those bent on buddhacide, especially the purist soto crowd, will find the concession of clarity a worthwhile trade for the authenticity of this oral transcription. (Or, if nothing else, by the end you'll have read 'This is a very, very important point' enough times to bludgeon buddha unconscious.) But if you're curious and just looking for a good book to learn about zen, you've got a beginner's mind already -- don't need a book to see that! Save the lesson of the 'beginner's mind' for when you think you know it all about zen. a better start: find kapleau's '3 pillars of zen', it looks fat and heavy but concisely lays zen open with unparalleled vigor and humor.
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Summary: One of the Best Spiritual Books of the 20th Century
Review: I've reread this book cover-to-cover three times and referred to it countless others. Every rereading turns up wisdom I'd missed on the previous go rounds--because I wasn't ready to really hear it. It's this layered wisdom which makes Shunryu Suzuki's book one of the greatest spiritual books of the century (a small, informal survey of writers and "thinkers" in a recent issue of Shambala Sun found Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind as the most cited "Best Spiritual Book of the Century.") Keep this classic by your bedside and read a couple pages when you wake up each morning.
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Summary: JOHNNY APPLESEED
Review: This book is the seed which, once planted in the soil of your consciousness, will inevitably blossom into the harvest of your own True Nature. It is a direct transmission of the Heart of the matter, the mysterious whisper of the Soul to Itself: Awake, Beloved! That which you are seeking has always and only been this very one who now peers through your eyes!
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Summary: If I could have only one talking-book it would be this one.
Review: Each chapter is just the right length for a cup of coffee. A perfect commuter companion. It's like having Suzuki Roshi sitting in the seat next to you telling you about your life.
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