The Pocket Zen Reader

Rating:
Summary: freedom
Review: Do you want to be free? I mean really free beyond anything you can imagine? It's the truth. I'm not joking.

Rating:
Summary: what else could you want?
Review: It is pocket size because that's where you'll keep it. This is the book I travel with. The translations are early Chinese wisdom, short translations without commentary. Thomas Cleary's influence has focused my interest in Zen on Ch'an readings, which is what these seem to be. There is one longish chapter that provides very clear advice on how to practice.

Rating:
Summary: what else could you want?
Review: This is real Zen, not the nonsense that goes on now, and went on then, in the name of Zen; real non-dual, don't-believe, don't-meditate, don't-seek wisdom from some, a long long time ago, who knew what they were talking about. This is one of the best editor-translators of Zen we have, Cleary. This is a Shambhala pocket edition without being listed as such, the best kind of inexpensive, portable books made (why have they not been imitated more?) What else do you want? For it to come with fries and a drink? Go ahead and get it!

Rating:
Summary: Buy it now!!
Review: Words cannot express how wonderful this little book is. It has 217 or so pages and no Big type either, no big, fancy letters saying "MIND IS BUDDHA". These are actual translations of the works of Chinese and Japanese Zen masters and each one of them is a gem! I also recommend Zen Essence by the same translator. Buy it!