Suggested Readings & More

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, Shunryu Suzuki
The Dark Side of the Mirror: Forgetting the Self in
Dogen's Genjo Koan, David Brazier
​The Essential Dogen: Writings of the Great Master,
Kazuaki Tanahashi and Peter Levitt, editors
The Hidden Lamp: Stories from Twenty-Five Centuries of Awakened Women, Zenshin Florence Caplow and Reigetsu Susan Moon, Editors.
Everyday Zen and Nothing Special, Charlotte Joko Beck
Buddha, Karen Armstrong
Buddhism Plain and Simple, Steve Hagen
Returning to Silence: Zen Practice in Everyday Life
Dainin Katagiri
Opening the Hand of Thought, Kosho Uchiyama
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SOME DEFINITIONS
daisan - private interview between teacher and student for examining correct practice
dharma - the living truth, the universal teaching
gatha - verse
gassho - raising the hands with palms together as an expression of respect, gratitude, humility, or all three
han - a wooden implement used as a signal
jisha - attendant
jitsu - supervisor of the zendo who assists the teacher
koan - a perplexing paradox that points to ultimate truth
kin-hin - walking meditation
karma - the process of cause and effect
monitor - person who helps maintain zendo discipline
oryoki - the formal meal in the zendo
roshi - master teacher
samu - work practice
sensei - teacher
sangha - the Zen community
seiza bench - small bench on which to sit
sesshin - a Zen retreat
shikan-taza - just sitting
sutras - scriptures
Tathagata - the "thusness" of the enlightened state; another name for Buddha
teisho - talk on the Dharma; Dharma Talk
tenzo - cook; person in charge of food
zazen - sitting meditation
zazenkai - all-day sitting
zabuton - mat on which one places the zafu or bench
zafu - pillow on which one sits
zendo - meditation hall
zenji - great or revered master​