Zen mind, beginner's mind / by Shunryu Suzuki ; edited by Trudy Dixon with a preface by Huston Smith ; and an introduction by Richard Baker.

"Informal talks on Zen meditation and practice"--Cover.

Beginner's mind -- Right practice. Posture ; Breathing ; Control ; Mind waves ; Mind weeds ; The marrow of Zen ; No dualism ; Bowing ; Nothing special -- Right attitude. Single-minded way ; Repetition ; Zen and excitement ; Right effort ; No trace ; God giving ; Mistakes in practice ; Limiting your activity ; Study yourself ; To polish a tile ; Constancy ; Communication ; Negative and positive ; Nirvana, the waterfall -- Right understanding. Traditional Zen spirit ; Transiency ; The quality of being ; Naturalness ; Emptiness ; Readiness, mindfulness ; Believing in nothing ; Attachment, non-attachment ; Calmness ; Experience, not philosophy ; Original Buddhism ; Beyond consciousness ; Buddha's enlightenment -- Zen mind,

Zen mind is one of those enigmatic phrases used by Zen teachers to throw you back upon yourself, to make you go behind the words themselves and begin wondering. "Is it what I am doing now? Is it what I am thinking now?" The innocence of this first inquiry--just asking what you are--is beginner's mind. The mind of the beginner is needed throughout Zen practice. It is the open mind, the attitude that includes both doubt and possibility, the ability to see things always as fresh and new. It is needed in all aspects of life. This book originated from a series of talks given by Zen Master Shunryu Suzuki to a small group is California. His approach is informal, and he draws his examples from ordinary events and common sense.--From publisher description.