- Paperback: 208 pages
- Publisher: Three Rivers Press; annotated edition edition (Feb 22 2000)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0609804669
- ISBN-13: 978-0609804667
- Product Dimensions: 20.4 x 13.1 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 181 g
- Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: #380,957 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
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Product Details |
Product Description
From Publishers Weekly
Smith, author of several anthologies of Buddhist writings, sets out in her latest work to equip the curious beginner with the basics needed to practice Zen. She successfully anticipates a novice's questions and problems by including sections not only on how to meditate but on what to expect and how to behave when visiting a Zen practice center. This book has the potential to bring Zen to a wider audience; Smith excels at providing simple, clear explanations and packs a parcel of basic information into a small book. However, this work also epitomizes some of the problems attending Zen's recent popularity in America. Smith shies away from calling Zen a religion, sugarcoating the more religious aspects of Zen practice, such as making offerings or paying respect to one's teacher, in an effort to make them palatable to the Zen consumer. She eschews literal translations of Buddhist verses for liberal ones and skims over the differences between Zen and other Buddhist traditions, leaving readers with a Zen whose complexities and contradictions have been neatly rationalized. One hopes that readers will not be disappointed by the actual practice of Zen communities after digesting the idealized portrait presented here. The book's strong point is its popularization of Zen, but here popularization flirts with oversimplification. (Feb.)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Library Journal
Author and editor Smith has written an excellent, beautifully clear, and carefully illustrated guide to the most famous and popular form of Buddhism in America today. Her guide addresses, in addition to essential Zen teachings, the meaning of zendo, zazen, koans, and many other core beliefs and practices. She also provides an extremely useful chapter of frequently asked questions. It is not an exaggeration to say that this is the book readers should seek to answer the question, "Where should I begin with Zen?" Highly recommended.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most helpful customer reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars
Lightweight,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism (Paperback)
As a life-long practitioner of Buddhism, I found this book incredibly lightweight and superficial. Even though it is intended for beginners, I am amazed by its lack of depth. Apparently, the author does not feel beginners can handle the reality of Buddhism and must dilute its great truths to garner interest. I was disappointed by this book.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Misconceptions about this book,
By ingndave (San Gabriel,CA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism (Paperback)
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??
1.0 out of 5 stars
No substance,
This review is from: The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism (Paperback)
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.
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