SUGGESTED READING

The Dharma taught by the Buddha and carried across generations to our day is not something to read about but something to experience and know directly for oneself. That said, there are times when a word or phrase might just prompt one to explore more deeply or help to clarify a point of confusion. While there are any number of "Buddhist" or "Zen" books available, one can do no better than to read in the sources themselves. One should always remember, however, that until one has come to some measure of insight, they should be read with humility and caution; their meaning is bound to be obscured by the everyday, ego-driven mind, and one can end up thinking things about the Dharma that are simply not the case. Still, these titles are offered so that one might at least get a sense of the breadth and depth of what practice entails. 

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Buddhist Basics

​Gethin, Foundations of Buddhism. Oxford University Press

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The Words of the Buddha

​Ñanamoli and Bodhi, The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications

Bodhi, The Connected Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications

Bodhi, The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications

Walshe, The Long Discourses of the Buddha. Wisdom Publications

Bodhi, The Suttanipata. Wisdom Publications

Fronsdal, The Dhammapada. Shambhala

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Mahayana Texts

​Pine, Three Zen Sutras: Heart Sutra, Diamond Sutra, Platform Sutra. Counterpoint

Pine, The Lankavatara Sutra, Counterpoint

Watson, The Lotus Sutra. Columbia University Press

Thurman, The Holy Teaching of Vimalakirti. Penn State University Press

Santideva, The Bodhicaryavatara. Oxford University Press

Lamotte, Suramgamasamadhisutra. University of Hawai'i Press

Nagarjuna, On Generating the Resolve to Become a Buddha. Kalavinka

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Zen Guides

​Kapleau, The Three Pillars of Zen. Vintage

Pine, Zen Roots. Counterpoint