Insightful....

I have read/listened to a fair amount of spiritually based books, from different practices, over the years......
this is by far the most comprehendible one so far on the understanding of zen.

10 people found this helpful

Guidebook on Zan Buddhism

Would you consider the audio edition of The Three Pillars of Zen to be better than the print version?

You can't compare the two because they are the same thing just in different formats. Personally I own both & the previous audible version. I much prefer the previous narrator Bodhin Kjolhede. Bodhin Kjolhede was a student of the author Roshi Kjolhede & his successor & has an authentic tone & was much more enjoyable to listen too.

What other book might you compare The Three Pillars of Zen to and why?

"Body & Mind Are One: A training In Mindfulness" by Thich Nhat Hanh. Also "Peach Is Every Step" by Thich Nhat Hanh. Both of these books along with The Three Pillars of Zen both are essentially about Buddhist philosophy. Thich Nhat Hanh's books primarily focus on the practice of mindfulness While Three Pillars of Zen is mostly a how too on two traditions of Japanese Zen Buddhism which focus on sitting & walking silent meditation, History of Zen, the authors personall training in zen in Japan & his personal practice as roshi (teacher) & how he adapted his teaching for westerners with approval of his teachers while keeping true to the traditions. Roshi Philip Kapleu founded The Rochester Zen Center in Rochester, NY whis was the first Budhist Zen center in the U.S.

What do you think the narrator could have done better?

The narrator was ok. Honestly I'm partial to the narrator of the previous audible version Bodhin Kjolhede. Bodhin Kjolhede was a student of the author Roshi Philip Kapleu & his successor & has an authentic tone & was much more enjoyable to listen too.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Three Pillars of Zen is mostly a how too on two traditions of Japanese Zen Buddhism which focus on sitting & walking silent meditation, History of Zen, the authors personall training in zen in Japan & his personal practice as roshi (teacher) & how he adapted his teaching for westerners with approval of his teachers while keeping true to the traditions. Roshi Philip Kapleu founded The Rochester Zen Center in Rochester, NY whis was the first Budhist Zen center in the U.S.

Any additional comments?

You can find more information on the author & the center he founded by googeling "The Rochester Zen Center"

19 people found this helpful

Enlightenment achieved

I have been slowly walking down the path not necessarily to enlightenment but to awareness. I was riding on a tractor at night on the farm spreading manure while listening to the audio version of this book. While listening to the koan “mu” I dissolved into the universe. Tears and joy alternated as I was one with the awareness. My lasting impact is like others with near death experiences where seeing my eternal me has freed me from the fear of death. Forever grateful for all those seen and unseen that guided me to this awareness.

18 people found this helpful

inspired my meditation practice

Having come to Zen from other disciplines, I found this book to be helpful in defining Zen from other kinds of meditation. Descriptions of retreat experiences inspired me to try one myself. Diary entries of those who became enlightened are very helpful in navigating my zazen sit experiences.

6 people found this helpful

10/10 would read again

If you're thinking about listening, please do.
It's a very comprehensive and insightful introduction? To zen

4 people found this helpful

Zen explained for the west. Classic Japanese Zen.

I have read many books on Buddhism with a special focus on the practice of Zen. There are many forms of Zen Buddhism depending what traditional beliefs were already in place in the place when Monks came they appreciate tradition so, practices were adjusted, but the same basic message was always the same. We are all Buddha. This book is a translation from one of the last classic Zen Masters in Japan after World war 2. He did a splendid job of explaining what the difference between meditation and Zazen is. and his teachings get deeper and he tells storys that westerners can relate to. My Sanga uses the teachings of this book as the guide for our practice.
The reader was wonderful. he went slow and his perfect pronounciation of the Japanese made it very easy to follow the different name references as well as the formal and informal traditions. I will look for more books read by this person.
The basic core training practices are introduced and explained rather well. A good job was done to stay on point even while in deep dissertation regarding an in depth topic.
this book is my favorite purchase of a digital book and I listen to it often.

3 people found this helpful

there is no way you miss this jewel

Eye opener, i feel I know about Zen now, it delivers so much value. So rich in content, it is definitely an essential one. altogether beautiful and easy to get through, a pleasure to listen.

2 people found this helpful

Confusing

Not an introductory book... Could not follow the narration. Not enough background information for base knowledge.

4 people found this helpful

Spiritually Materialistic Striving ~ Attention!

I like that it gave me a grasp a Japanese Perspective on the Monastic Approach to teaching Zen Buddhism. The students experience, helped to personalize the interaction with the teacher. However, I was very shocked at how little insight was gleaned from such a wordy text. And, I cannot but think of the warnings of Chögyam Trungpa about deep rooted materialism. I would recommend this book to someone only if they have a good foothold on Zen Already.

The most useful book about Zen I've read

The most interesting parts were the dokusan and personal kensho descriptions. The details of sesshin gave me the a sense of monotonity, which might be a general phenomenon in Zen in order to "ripen" the mind. This phenomenon might be the reason why books on Zen keep repeating the same ideas; this book is no exception, but I don't see this as a problem any more (it bothered me when I read Beginner's Mind). I think this book encourages the reader to start practicing without thinking too much about the details and excuses.