Zen Pathways: Introduction to Zen Buddhism Philosophy & Practice - Meditation Guide for Mindfulness, Stress Relief & Spiritual Growth

I've read a lot of books about Zen, and this one blew me away. It masterfully blends wide-ranging scholarly rigor with practical insights on contemplative practice. The author's sober, direct style and crystal-clear expression are matched by an ability to infuse the writing with humor and personal anecdotes. His skill in articulating Zen's paradoxical and often hard-to-conceptualize ideas is refreshing, displaying an intellectual energy that is bold, illuminating, and never reductive or confusing.Although the book isn't structured as a history, but rather as a philosophically rich exploration, it serves as an admirable introduction to Zen's historical and cultural development. Rinzai Buddhism in Japan takes center stage, as this is where the author's own experience is grounded, but the broader expression of Zen in China, Korea, Vietnam, and the West also plays an important role. The themes flow seamlessly from chapter to chapter, always with the aim of shedding light on the topic at hand, and the result feels both intuitive and systematic—something you rarely see academics accomplishing or even attempting.I’ll no doubt return to this book again and again to support my own practice, and I’ll certainly assign portions of it to my students and tell friends about it. If you're going to read one book about Zen—or one more book about Zen—make it this one. It's deep and wide and fully accessible.