Resources

Introduction to Zen/Buddhism:

  • Intro to Zazen from Mountains and Rivers Order of Zen Buddhism ~ An introductionto seated meditation from John Daido Loori.  Honestly, you couldn’t get better instruction if you went back in time and landed in Buddha’s lap!
  • On Practicing Alone or with a Group ~ Fa Zhang Shakya – Sometimes you feel like a sangha and sometimes you don’t but you should at least know how you can be limited or challenged in each environment. 
  • Dressing the Donkey with Bells and Scarves ~ A essay highlighting many recent controversies in American Zen Centers ~ Stuart Lachs (also on podcast from BuddhistGeeks).  Please read and listen.  Don’t go into practice thinking it is going to be any different from any other organization.  It isn’t going to be all puppies and sunflowers and miniskirts.  It may be full of drama and worse.  Just be informed.
  • Making the Invisible Visible ~ Stories from people of color on the racism inherit in many Buddhist Centers ~ Larry Yang (ed.)
  • The Zen Buddhist Order of Hsu Yun ~ Dharma Essays
  • Basic Buddhism ~ I like this site.  Simple and to the point. Slightly Westernized.
  • Mukyõhõ – The Boundless Way ~ “Mukyõhõ is a distinctly modern interpretation of the Buddha’s teachings. Practitioners enjoy a modern and pragmatic approach to practising Buddhism while retaining a strong connection to centuries-old Japanese Mahayana Buddhism, yet free of the superstitions that have built up around it’s practice in Japan.” – Badass and I like it.
  • Overview of Buddhism ~ This is a fantastic overview of the history and evolution of Buddhism from the times of the actual teachings.  Very accessable for beginners and it really cleared up some grey areas for me (now they are only slightly less grey).

Readings & Sutras:  Some free and accessable material to further practice.

Zen and Dharma Podcasts

B uddhist Radio/Chants

Wait?! Not Zen? Broaden Your Practice!

Shingon

Vajrayana

Shin Buddhim

15 thoughts on “Resources”

    • Thats why I try to point people towards it. I do the work so you don’t have to.

      I appreciate all the mentions on your blog. *deep bow*

      Reply

  5. *Drops a stone* —————————-> _o_

    Nice resource page. 🙂 You don’t have to include me for the book drawing, I already have too much books. >_<

    Reply

  6. Speaking on that point, What the Buddha Taught or In the Buddha’s Words by Bhikkhu Bodhi are great beginnings. I love “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind” but Unno’s Bit of Rubble Turn into Gold was a great explaination of the Shin Buddhist path. Kapleau’s Three Pillars of Zen , One Bird, One Stone: 108 American Zen Stories Loori’s Invoking Reality: The ethical teachings of zen and Zen Flesh, Zen Bones are all books that still move me when I flip through the pages. For those yoga freaks out there that want to connect with Buddhism a bit, Zen Flesh, Zen Bones’ last chapter is for you. Also looking into some of the writings by the great masters are helpful. Dogen , Takuan , Linji , Kukai and Shinran are all very accessable and it gives some insight into how wide the practice-base of Buddhism is.

    Reply

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  11. Thanks for the direction to this page!

    Usually I load Gil Fronsdal or Alan Watts to take with me on long bike rides. I am slow, so it takes 2 1/2 -3 hours to get in 40 mi. Plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and listen with 1 ear( I keep the one traffic side open for the sound of duallies

    Beautiful country up there where you live.

    Dawn

    Reply

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