Introduction to Zen Training is a translation of the Sanzen Nyumon, a foundational text for beginning meditation students by Omori Sogen--one of the foremost Zen teachers of the twentieth century. This book addresses many of the questions which arise when someone first embarks on a journey of Zen meditation--ranging from how long to sit at one time to how to remain mindful when not sitting--and it concludes with commentaries on two other fundamental Zen texts, Zazen Wasen (The Song of Meditation) and the Ox-Herding Pictures. Written to provide a solid grounding in the physical nature of Zen meditation training, this text delves into topics such as: Breathing Pain Posture Physiology Drowsiness How to find the right teacher The differences between the two main Japanese schools of Zen: Soto and Rinzai Zen As a master swordsman, Omori Sogen's approach to Zen is direct, physical, and informed by the rigorous tradition of Zen and the martial arts that flourished during Japan's samurai era. For him, the real aim of Zen is nothing short of Enlightenment--and Introduction to Zen Training is a roadmap in which he deals as adeptly with hundreds of years of Zen scholarship as he does with the mundane practicalities of meditation. Sogen prescribes a level of rigor and intensity in spiritual training that goes far beyond wellness and relaxation, and that is rarely encountered. His is a kind of spiritual warriorship he felt was direly needed in the middle of the twentieth century and that is no less necessary today. With a new foreword from Daihonzan Chozen-ji, the headquarters Zen temple established by Omori Sogen in Hawaii, this book is an essential text for every student of Zen meditation.

First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

First Published in 1996. Routledge is an imprint of Taylor & Francis, an informa company.

This book is a translation of Sanzen Nyumon, a key text by one of the foremost Zen teachers of the twentieth century. Written by Zen Master Omori Sogen, this popular Kegan Paul title is now available for the first time in paperback. It provides a solid introduction to the physical nature of training -- discussing breath, pain, posture, drowsiness, state of mind and physiology -- as well as the context in which Zen training takes on meaning. It is one of the few books to address the questions that naturally arise as training begins, from how long one should sit at a time to how to maintain concentration when not sitting. The book ends with commentaries on two Zen texts that help to place all of the instruction in context.

An Introduction to Zen Training is a translation of Sanzen Nyumon, a key text by one of the foremost Zen teachers of the twentieth century. Written to provide a solid introduction to the physical nature of Zen training, this text discusses breath, pain, posture, drowsiness, state of mind, and physiology, as well as the context in which this training takes on meaning. An Introduction to Zen Training also addresses many of the questions that arise naturally when Zen training begins—ranging from how long to sit at one time to how to keep mindfulness when not sitting—and concludes with commentaries on two fundamental Zen texts, Zazen Wasen (Song of Zazen) and the Ox-Herding Pictures.

Omori Sogen (1904-1994) is considered the greastest Zen master. His background as an expert in kendo (the Way of the Sword) and shodo (the Way of the the Brush) and as a political activist, scholar and university president made him unique among Zen maters. The story of Omori's life details his years of training and explores the three "Ways" in which he was trained: martial arts, Zen, and calligraphy. The book also explores the fundamental aspect of Zen martial arts and offers solutions for some of the problems encountered in Zen training. Omori Sogen was the author of the influential Introduction to Zen Training, published by Kegan Paul international. This biography is a much needed English-language appraisal of a figure who has been too long invisible to the West.

Daisetz Teitaro Suzuki's The Training of the Zen Buddhist Monk invites you to step inside the mysterious world of the Zendo, where monks live their lives in simplicity. This is perhaps the best introduction to Zen and the life of the Zen monk. By means of a direct and succinct description of the training that a Zen Buddhist monk undergoes, Dr. Suzuki has given us the most precise picture possible of Zen in life. The forty-three illustrations give a unique value to the book. The artist, Zenchu Sato has depicted here the record of his own experiences in going through all the disciplinary measures pertaining to the life of Zen. As author, Dr. Suzuki said, "Zen ought to be studied not only in its theoretical aspects, as a unique product of the Oriental mind, but in its practical aspect as it is to be seen in the Zendo life. This is the chief motive for my writing this book."

In this classic work of spiritual guidance, the founder of the Rochester Zen Center presents a comprehensive overview of Zen Buddhism. Exploring the three pillars of Zen—teaching, practice, and enlightenment—Roshi Philip Kapleau, the man who founded one of the oldest and most influential Zen centers in the United States, presents a personal account of his own experiences as a student and teacher, and in so doing gives readers invaluable advice on how to develop their own practices. Revised and updated, this 35th anniversary edition features new illustrations and photographs, as well as a new afterword by Sensei Bodhin Kjolhede, who succeeded Kapleau as spiritual director of the Rochester Zen Center. A moving, eye-opening work, The Three Pillars of Zen is the definitive introduction to the history and discipline of Zen.