What Is Zen?: Plain Talk for a Beginner's Mind

I found this book to be life changing. That may seem extreme, but life changing in that it clarified so much for me in such a readable, thoughtful and compassionate way. I've been associated with Buddhism for several years now, mostly with teachers and a sangha in the Theravada tradition. That said, a part of me has often gravitated to some Zen teachings. I thought this book would provide useful information and clarity. It did. Not only is it useful for people interested in Zen, so much of what Norman Fischer writes is applicable to all as we move forward in our lives trying to be decent human beings. I highly recommend this book. I enjoyed its readable question/answer format. This is a book for the curious, the beginner, the seasoned practitioner. A deep bow of gratitude to the authors, Norman Fischer and Susan Moon.

Although a Zen practitioner for over 50 years, I found this book a mind-opening revelation for pesky questions I've harbored for decades but hadn't the awareness or clarity to articulate, let alone suggest (multi-leveled) answers. Thanks, Sue, for prompting such a bone-honest dialogue, and Norm, for your sublimely contextual and personally compassionate responses.

Zen teacher Norman Fischer adds his insightful and valuable commentary on Soto Zen practice in the spirit of Shunryu Suzuki, founder of the San Francisco Zen Center and author of the perennial bestseller "Zen Mind, Beginners Mind." The probing questions put forward by Susan Moon are answered by the teacher and the result of their collaboration is a no-nonsense guide about real world Zen practice. Highly recommend it for the curious, as well as the beginning or long standing practitioner.

The best intro to zen thought and practice I've ever read. The back and forth critical dialogue gives you a deeper sense of the questions that everyone who practices zen --whether you're just starting out, or have practiced for many years--is bound to encounter. But it doesn't dictate; the discussion encourages you to explore the issues for yourself. At the same time, this is a book that I can go back to again and again, for instruction, dialogue, and support along the path. I appreciate the heartfelt care and thought that's been put into the book.

I'm new to Zen. Wanted to know more about Zen as a philosophy rather than as a religion. I feel it explains Zen from a religious as well as from a philosophical point of view. What I felt was most useful was the question answer format. The questions were on point and the answers were well thought out. I would recommend the book.

Not to denigrate this fine book, the one deficiency, I would say, that seems to apply to nearly every writer on Zen I'm familiar with, is the absence of any real engagement with nature, as well as the works of humans that Gary Snyder also rightfully includes in nature. Is this because these writers come from the Western intellectual tradition that is so homo-centric that it permeates their thinking? A huge void, nevertheless, to my way of thinking. I feel so blessed to have encountered Practice of the Wild as the first of my Zen teachers

The authors present the fundamental tenets of Zen in "plain talk" & help the reader appreciate the multiple layers of complexity, a complexity that seems contradictory at times.

A wonderful and profoundly practical gift of intelligence, clarity and heart. Deepest bows of gratitude to the generosity of its authors!

A really helpful Q&A format that helped me get a feel for zen.

Very thorough and almost all about the religious aspects of zen which I am not interested in.