A practical introduction to Zen history, philosophy and practices with a resource guide. The most straightforward accessible guide to Zen practice available, PRINCIPLES OF ZEN outlines the history of Zen (the most popular form of Buddhism in the West) from the historical Buddha to contemporary Zen centres in the UK, Europe and the US. Information includes meditation postures (with illustrations), a description of what to expect on a retreat, a discussion of koans (such as 'what is the sound of one hand clapping' and a description of different forms of practice (Korean, Japanese and Chinese variations). The author has a lively, friendly writing style and has been teaching Zen for more than two decades.
The first great introduction to Zen is Philip Kapleau's magisterial "Three Pillars of Zen." Since then there have been any number of introductions, many very good. I've even written one or two. My favorite for many years was Robert Aitken's "Taking the Path of Zen." It remains high on my list. But if someone wants a simple, straightforward introduction to Zen that acknowledges all the various schools of Zen then Martine Batchelor's book is the book. In my opinion this may well be the best brief introduction to Zen Buddhism available. I recommend it to any one interested in the subject.
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