An Invitation to Practice Zen

Rating:
Summary: A good start but not long enough
Review: I felt that this book was a good start; it certainly gave me a clear picture of the interesting nature of Zen. However, I was looking for more of a instructional as well as informative book -- I found only the informative parts here.

Rating:
Summary: Fine practical instructions, so so theory
Review: If you want a practical handbook on sitting zazen, then this is it. This book is inexpensive, clearly written, brief and to the point on every issue it deals with, and written by someone who knows what it is he is dealing with. As such it is probably the best book of it's kind you can buy. My only reservation is that the author occasionally delves into metaphysical speculations about the meaning of Zen experience. This is dangerous, because it involves the intellectual interpretation of something that, as every great Zen master has said, cannot be adequately conceptualized. As such, the theory give here should be taken with a grain of salt, or ignored altogether. Fortunately, the theory itself is a brief and minor flaw in a book that is otherwise a faultless jewel. Buy it, and sit zazen today.

Rating:
Summary: A compass course to Zen practice
Review: One of the first things to be said about this book is that it is eminently readable and feasible. This, alas, is by no means always true of books dealing with so broad and deep a subject in less than a hundred pages. This is the right guide for people looking for a book which explains Zen in a way that everyone can understand, something comprehensive but not too long. They will find in it exactly what they need, written with lucid, direct and contemporary style. The author is the director of the Montreal Zen Center. He is a layman, not a monk, and has devoted his last 30 years to the practice first and to initiate others. He received the full trasmission as a teacher of Zen from Roshi Phillip Kapleau. There is a French and Spanish version of this book. It is just a basic guide for beginners.

Rating:
Summary: fine introduction to zen practice
Review: This is a good little book introducing Zen practice. The introductory chapters offer a concise overview of Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Basic concepts like faith, doubt, mindfulness and awareness are clearly explained. The mechanics of meditation from sitting, how to place the hands, etc. are well done. This latter section is reminiscent of Philip Kapleau's Three Pillars of Zen because the author studied under Kapleau. Overall, a solid book to give novices who want to clarify some points and just get started.

Rating:
Summary: fine introduction to zen practice
Review: This is a good little book introducing Zen practice. The introductory chapters offer a concise overview of Buddhism and Zen Buddhism. Basic concepts like faith, doubt, mindfulness and awareness are clearly explained. The mechanics of meditation from sitting, how to place the hands, etc. are well done. This latter section is reminiscent of Philip Kapleau's Three Pillars of Zen because the author studied under Kapleau. Overall, a solid book to give novices who want to clarify some points and just get started.