Suggested Buddhist Reading List
An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
By Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic;
Reissue edition November, 1991
ISBN: 0–8021–3055–0
Zen in the Art of Archery
By Eugen Herrigel and Daisetz T. Suzuki
Publisher: Vintage
ISBN: 0–3757–0509–0
Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind
By Shunryu Suzuki Roshi
Publisher: Weatherhill
ISBN: 0–8348–0079–9
Dropping Ashes on the Buddha –
The Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn
Edited by Stephen Mitchell
Publisher: Grove Press
ISBN: 0–8021–3052–6
Nothing Special – Living Zen
By Charlotte Joko Beck & Steve Smith
Publisher: Harpers San Francisco
ISBN: 0–0625–1117–3
The Compass of Zen Teaching
(Original Abbreviated Version)
By Zen Master Sŭngsan
Publisher: Before Thought Publications
Zen Flesh, Zen Bones
Compiled and translated by Paul Reps et al.
Publisher: Tuttle
ISBN: 0–8048–3186–6
Advanced Study
Compass of Zen
By Zen Master Seung Sahn
Publisher: Shambhala Dragon Editions
ISBN: 1–5706–2329–5
Contemporary Book on Buddhism
Only Don’t Know
By Zen Master Seung Sahn
Publisher: Shambhala Dragon Editions
ISBN: 1–5706–2432–1
The Mind of Clover –
Essays in Zen Buddhist Ethics
By Robert Aitken Roshi
Publisher: North Point Press
ISBN: 0–8654–7158–4
Open Mouth, Already a Mistake
By Zen Master Wu Kwang, Richard Shrobe
Publisher: Primary Point Press
ISBN: 0–9427–9508–3
Currently out of print.
The Roaring Stream–
A New Zen Reader
Edited by Nelson Foster and Jack Shoemaker
Publisher: Ecco,
ISBN: 0–8800–1511–X
Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism
By Choygam Trungpa Rinpoche
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 0–8777–3050–4
Women’s Buddhist Study
Meetings with Remarkable Women:
Buddhist Teachers in America
By Lenore Friedman
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–474–7
Buddhist Women on the Edge:
Contemporary Perspectives from the Western Frontier
By Marianne Dresser
Publisher: North Atlantic Books
ISBN: 1–55643–203–8
Turning the Wheel:
American Women Creating the New Buddhism
By Sandy Boucher
Publisher: Beacon Press
ISBN: 0–80707–305–9
No Time to Lose:
A Timely Guide to the Way of the Bodhisattva
By Pema Chodron
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–59030–135–8
When Things Fall Apart:
Heart Advice for Difficult Times
By Pema Chodron
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–344–9
The Places that Scare You:
A Guide to Fearlessness in Difficult Times
By Pema Chodron
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–921–8
The Wisdom of No Escape:
And the Path of Loving Kindness
By Pema Chodron
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–872–6
Start Where You Are:
A Guide to Compassionate Living
By Pema Chodron
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–839–4
Chinese Chán Buddhism
Transmission of the Mind Outside the Teachings
By Charles Luk
Publisher: Grove Press
The Original Teachings of Ch’ān Buddhism
Compiled and translated by Chang Chung–yuan
Publisher: Pantheon Books,
ISBN: 0–6797–5824–0
Ch’ān and Zen Teaching – Volumes 1, 2 & 3
By Lu K’uan Yu, Charles Luk
Publisher: Weiser
ISBN: 0–8772–8795–3 Vol. 1,
ISBN: 0–8772–8797–X Vol. 2
ISBN: 0–8772–8798–8 Vol. 3
The Story of Chinese Zen By Nan Huai–Chin
Translated by Thomas Cleary
Publisher: Tuttle
ISBN: 0–8048–3050–9
The Golden Age of Zen
by John Ching–Hsiung Wu
Publisher: Image Books,
ISBN: 0–3854–7993–X
Sayings and Doings of Pai Chang
Translated by Thomas Cleary
Center Publications, ISBN: 0–9168–2010–6
Currently out of print.
The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma
Translated by Red Pine
Publisher: North Point Press
ISBN: 0–8654–7399–4
The Zen Teaching of Huang Po
Translated by John Blofeld
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 0–8021–5092–6
Swampland Flowers–
Letters and Lectures of Zen Master Ta Hui
Translated by Christopher Cleary
Publisher: Grove Press
ISBN: 0–3941–7011–3
Currently out of print.
Korean Sŏn Buddhism
Only Doing It for Sixty Years
Publisher: Primary Point Press
Currently out of print.
Thousand Peaks–Korean Zen Traditions and Teachers
By Mu Soeng
Publisher: Primary Point Press
ISBN: 0–9427–9502–4
The Way of Korean Zen
By Zen Master Kusan
Publisher: Weatherhill
ISBN: 0–8348–0201–5
Currently out of print.
Nine Mountains
By Zen Master Kusan
Publisher: International Meditation Center , Korea
Currently out of print.
The Zen Monastic Experience
By Robert Buswell, Jr.
Publisher: Princeton University
ISBN: 0–6910–3477–X
Tracing Back the Radiance – Chinul’s Korean Way
By Robert E. Buswell
Publisher: University of Hawaii
ISBN: 0–8248–1427–4
The Korean Approach to Zen – The Collected Works of Chinul
By Robert E. Buswell
Japanese Zen Buddhism
Shobogenzo– Zen Essays by Dogen
Translated by Thomas Cleary
Publisher: University of Hawaii
ISBN: 0–8248–1401–0
The Zen Master Hakuin–Selected Writings
Translated by Philip Yampolsky
Publisher: Columbia Univ.
ISBN: 0–231–06041–6
Bankei Zen–Translations from the Record of Bankei
Translated by Peter Haskel
Publisher: Grove Press
ISBN: 0–8021–3184–0
Kōan Study
Wúménguan–Chinese;
No Gate Checkpoint–English
The Gateless Barrier– The Wu Men Kuan
Translated with commentaries by Robert Aitken Roshi
Publisher: North Point Press
ISBN: 0–86547–422–7
No Barrier– Unlocking the Zen Koan the Mumonkan
Translated with Commentaries by Thomas Cleary
Publisher: Bantam
ISBN: 0–533–37138–X
Gateless Gate– The Classic Book of Zen Koans
By Koun Yamada
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
ISBN: 0–86171–382–6
Gateless Barrier– Zen Comments on the Mumonkan
By Zenkai Shibayama
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–726–6
The World: A Gateway– Commentaries on the Mumonkan
by Albert Low, Huikai
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st ed
ISBN: 0–80483–046–0
Bìyán Lù –Chinese;
Blue Cliff Record–English
The Blue Cliff Record
Translated by Thomas Cleary and J.C. Cleary
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 0–87773–622–7
Cōngróng Lù–Chinese;
Book of Serenity–English
The Book of Serenity– One Hundred Zen Dialogues
By Thomas Cleary
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–59030–249–4
The Book of Equanimity– Illuminating Classic Zen Koans
By Gerry Shishin Wick
Publisher: Wisdom Publications
ISBN: 0–86171–387–7
Iron Flute–English
The Iron Flute– 100 Zen Koans
By Nyogen Senzaki (Translator), Ruth Strout McCandless, Genro Oryu, Fugai, Steve Hagen
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 0–80483–248–X
Ten Gates–English
Ten Gates
By Zen Master Seung Sahn
Publisher: Primary Point Press
ISBN: 0–9427–9501–6
Currently out of print,
Whole World is a Single Flower–English
The Whole World is a Single Flower – 365 Kōans for Everyday Life
Edited by Jane McLaughlin, JDPSN and Paul Muenzen
Publisher: Tuttle
ISBN: 0–8048–1782–0
Zen: The Perfect Companion
(Perfect Companions!)
by Seung Sahn
Publisher: Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers
ISBN: 1–57912–279–5
Various Koan Collections
The Zen Koan as a Means of Attaining Enlightenment
By Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki
Publisher: Tuttle Publishing
ISBN: 0–80483–041–X
The Sound of the One Hand– 281 Zen Koans with Answers
By Hau, Yoel Hoffmann
Publisher: Basic Books
ISBN: 0–46508–079–0
Opening a Mountain– Koans of the Zen Masters
By Steven Heine
Publisher: Oxford University
ISBN: 0–19513–586–5
The True Dharma Eye– Zen Master Dogen’s Three Hundred Koans
By John Daido Loori, Kazuaki Tanahashi (Translator)
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–59030–242–7
Straight to the Heart of Zen– Eleven Classic Koans and Their Inner Meanings
By Philip Kapleau
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 1–57062–593–X
Bring Me the Rhinoceros– And Other Zen Koans to Bring You Joy
By John Tarrant
Publisher: Harmony
ISBN: 1–40004–764–1
Sutras for Chan Study
The Flower Ornament Scripture– A Translation of the Avatamsaka Sutra
By Thomas Cleary
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 0–8777–3940–4
The Diamond Sutra and the Sutra of Hui-Neng
By A. F. Price, Wong Mou-lam, W. Y. Evans-Wentz
Publisher: Shambhala
ISBN: 0–8777–3005–9
The Platform Sutra of the Sixth Patriarch
By Philip Yampolsky
Publisher: Columbia University
ISBN: 0–2310–8361–0
The Diamond Sutra– The Perfection of Wisdom
By Red Pine
Publisher: Counterpoint Press
ISBN: 1–5824–3256–2
A Buddhist Bible
Edited by Dwight Goddard
Publisher: Beacon Press,
ISBN: 0–8070–5911–0
The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti– A Mahayana Scripture
Translated by Robert Thurman
Publisher: Pennsylvania State University
ISBN: 0–2710–0601–3
Zen Poetry
Bone of Space
By Zen Master Seung Sahn
Publisher: Primary Point Press
ISBN: 0–9427–9506–7
One Robe, One Bowl– The Poetry of the Hermit/Monk
and Zen Master Ryokan
Translated by John Stevens
Publisher: Weatherhill,
ASIN 0–8348–0125–6
Currently out of print.
posted by Wonji Dharma at
October 13, 2010
2 Comments:
Wow. Thanks for this list! I recently read The Eight Gates of Zen, and in the back John Daido Loori has a fairly long list of suggested reading. I'll have to add these to that list. The pile keeps growing and growing...
Under Chan, Master Sheng Yen's books should be listed. He is probably the most authoritative voice on Chan in modern times.
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