Reading about Zen should be approached cautiously. Book knowledge is not required for enlightenment. Hui-Neng, the Sixth Patriarch of Zen, is said to have been illiterate.

A well-known Zen story tells of the Buddhist philosopher who came to visit a Zen master. The philosopher went on and on about the theory of Zen. The Zen master said nothing, but offered him some tea. The philosopher held out his cup, and the Zen master kept pouring the tea after the cup was filled.

"Stop!" cried the philosopher. "Can't you see that the cup is overflowing?"

"Just as your mind is so full of its own ideas that it has no room for anything new."

The philosopher is said to have been suitably chastened (as well as wet), and listened to the Zen master's teaching.

There is no need to read any books about Zen before starting the practice of Zen, and too much reading without practice can be positively harmful. In case you feel a need to read about Zen, we have composed a very short reading list of books that are favorites of some of our members.

The books are divided into three types:

1. Popular books about Zen. These books generally say little about Zen practice. They might be useful for inspiration or for showing to friends who want to know why you are interested in Zen.
   
2. Books for beginners. These books are particularly well-suited for those starting out in the practice of Zen. This is not to say that they are easy to master.
   
3. Books for advanced students. These books may be incomprehensible to beginning students, and are best studied in the context of rigorous meditation under the direction of a teacher.
   

An Introduction to Zen Buddhism, by D. T. Suzuki and C. G. Jung. Anything by D. T. Suzuki will be erudite and authoritative. D. T. Suzuki (not to be confused with Shunryu Suzuki Roshi) writes from the Rinzai perspective.

The Way of Zen, Alan W. Watts. This 1957 classic is still in print. Watts was a master of exposition. Intellectually clear and stimulating but shows little understanding of Zen practice.

Taking the Path of Zen, by Robert Aitken. This book of Aitken Roshi's teisho is squarely directed at Western students. It is the first choice of our teacher as a book for beginning practitioners.

The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment, by Philip Kapleau. This book is responsible for getting many Americans interested in Rinzai Zen. It is very well-written.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, by Shunryu Suzuki. Zen talks by one of the foremost American Soto Zen teachers, directed at Western students. Deservedly a Zen best seller.

Dropping Ashes on the Buddha: The Teaching of Zen Master Seung Sahn, compiled and edited by Stephen Mitchell. Teachings directed at Western Zen students by the Korean Zen master who gave transmission to our guiding teacher.

Moon in a Dewdrop: Writings of Zen Master Dogen, edited by Kazuaki Tanahashi, various translators. Classic writings by the foremost master of the Soto school. Poetic and extremely profound.

Two Zen Classics: Mumonkan & Hekiganroku, translated with commentary by Katsuki Sekida. These are the two greatest collections of koans; teaching themes often given to Zen students (particularly in the Rinzai school).

The Zen Teaching of Master Lin-Chi, translated by Burton Watson. The great Chinese master Lin-Chi (Rinzai in Japanese) is much more direct and less poetic than Dogen, but perhaps equally difficult.