The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism

Rating:
Summary: No substance
Review: All this book does is to tell you of other books to read. You can always go to the top of the page at "Customers who bought this book also bought:" and do some further research on other books. This book tells or shows you nothing.

Rating:
Summary: Misconceptions about this book
Review: Its funny how life long followers of buddhism would consult with this book, as it is for beginners. This book is for someone with little or no knowledge of what path to take. Buddhism is inherently diffucult to begin with, thus a book is of extreme importance to new zennists.No book will encompass all that is needed to know especially a book on Buddhism.This should be considered a introductory on Buddhism.However and i believe the author would agree with me that NO text on buddism is all inclusive. This you take a little from here and a little from there and paint your "own" picture. You didnt learn math from one book did you??

Rating:
Summary: Haven't I read that before?
Review: While Smith's book is a very good introduction to Zen for Americans who have no background in Buddhism, I have one complaint. In at least two sections, Smith quotes verbatim from her collection Zen 365, without acknowledging the original sources. In Beginners Introduction to Zen, it appears as Smith's own words. In Zen 365, these passages are attributed to someone else. Very disconcerting. Otherwise, it is a competent introduction and I enjoyed reading it.