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10. Bibliography

There are many excellent (and as many not-so-excellent) books on Zen practice in your local libraries and bookstores. They can be invaluable guides, but never forget that they are only guides, not the practice itself. A book about sailing may be filled with information that will be useful once you're out on the water, but sitting at home reading is not the same as setting out in your boat.

Nothing that you read (this instruction manual included) becomes true until you discover the truth or falsehood of it for yourself in your own practice. While books can offer much useful advice and encouragement, please remember that reading a book is not a substitute for sitting. You cannot practice Zen vicariously.

Some of the better books that you may want to read are:

Taking the Path of Zen

by Robert Aitken Roshi

A concise introduction to zazen.

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

A collection of talks about Zen practice.

The Three Pillars of Zen

by Philip Kapleau Roshi

One of the most famous books about Zen in English.

Zen Training

by Katsuki Sekida

An excellent, detailed guidebook on how to approach Zen practice.

The Posture of Meditation

by Will Johnson

A slim volume with a world of thoughts about how to sit and the effects and meaning of posture.


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