Zen Mind, Beginners Mind
by Shunryu Suzuki · first published 2000
75% recommend25% neutral
Why HN recommends it
Approachable introduction to Zen and zazen meditation, with an emphasis on carrying mindfulness into everyday life. Readers return to it repeatedly, and it suits non-religious people wanting self-awareness.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
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…book! I don't recall reading a book with such frequency. I think once I read it cover to cover 3 days in a row - it's full of... I don't know! Also, I made this mistake too for awhile, the author of "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind" is S.Suzuki, not D.T. Suzuki - different folks, both responsible for establishing Zen practices in the West.
on “The Benefits of a Quiet Ego” ↗…The Passion of the Western Mind by RICHARD TARNAS Ascent of Man by JACOB BRONOWSKI Science and Sanity by COUNT KORZYBSKI Science is not Enough by VANNEVAR BUSH What I Believe by MARK BOOTH (Ed) Zen Mind, Beginners' Mind by SHUNRYU SUZUKI Also. While Plato's Republic is a master-work his Symposium far exceeds the Timeaus. Symposium (not Timeaus) is included in the brilliant _The Classics of Western Philosophy_ which…
on “Alan Kay's reading list” ↗Vimalakirti sutra EDIT: for something more recent: Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki
on “The meta-positioning habit of mind” ↗…essential human experience, the core of what makes us human does not change over time. Seneca was a great stoic thinker, who is very relatable by anyone even today (and probably will be for many millenia) Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Suzuki Roshi - All true spiritual teaching have the same source, but all are expressed differently. This is a great, simple powerful book to read if you lean towards buddhism. A Course in Miracles…
on “Ask HN: Which books you have read till now that were worth investing time in?” ↗i have zen mind beginners mind on my phone, read through it time to time, its a good book. http://terebess.hu/zen/mesterek/ZMBM-Lectures.html
on “The Benefits of a Quiet Ego” ↗Great article! Reminds me of "Zen mind, Beginners mind" book.
on “Rules of a Zen programmer” ↗When I was in high school, I started meditating before my bowling competitions, using this book as a guide: http://amzn.com/B002VGXFVW (Zen Mind, Beginners Mind). It definitely helped my performance, and I want to bring meditation back into my life. Maybe this thread will help :)
on “Ask HN: Do you meditate? How/Why? ” ↗To those downvoting my comment, get off the Internet and go read the books the post is talking about, specifically Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. Then maybe you'll get what Steve actually believed.
on “What kind of buddhist was Steve Jobs, really?” ↗A good intro book is Zen Mind, Beginners Mind. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1590308492/ref=oh_details_o...
on “Ask HN: What projects are you working on?” ↗…thing, zen meditation is interesting because (based on my limited understanding) zen is really about taking the practice of your meditation and extending that "mindfulness" into the rest of your life. "Zen Mind Beginners Mind" is particularly good if you're interested. Zazen is one form where you are eyes-open.
on “Psychedelic mushrooms put your brain in a “waking dream,” study finds” ↗Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance Godel Escher Bach Time enough for love - Heinlein Illusions -Richard Bach A wrinkle in time Stranger from the depths Sidartha and all the other books by Hess Zen MInd Beginners mind MOre to come Books by Bradbury Books by asimov Just starting Antifragile and it might make the list
on “Ask HN: What are the most thought-provoking books that you have read?” ↗And if you like that, I'd recommend "Not Always So: Practicing the True Spirit of Zen" which feels like a continuation of "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind"
on “Ask HN: Which books have made you introspect?” ↗Here's some reading I did that helped me: Zen Mind Beginners Mind - I'm not religious in the slightest but I knew a part of my problem was that I wasn't really being self aware. I had friend that was into meditation and swore it helped him be more self aware. So I picked…
on “Ask HN: What do you struggle with?” ↗If you are still looking for something to help with this I recommend you look into zazen meditation. Have a look at the book: Zen mind, beginners mind. It was one of the best things I discovered for myself. Hope you'll find it useful.
on “Speaking to yourself in the third person makes you wiser” ↗The Rise and Fall of American Growth Sapiens The Universe in a Single Atom Reality is not what it seems The Organized Mind The Power of Habit Zen Mind Beginners Mind Restoration Agriculture A Random Walk on Wall Street The Life Changing Magic of Tidying-up
on “Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade?” ↗