Kensho: The Heart of Zen (Shambhala Dragon Editions)

Rating:
Summary: A most articulate insight into Enlightenment.
Review: KENSHO, The Heart of Zen, is a concise articulation of Enlightenment and its method of realization. Summed up in a single quotation from the book: "What knows without knowledge is the true mind." (pg. 30)

Rating:
Summary: For the experienced Zen practioner, not for the beginner.
Review: There are few zen books that detail the enlightenment experience to the degree this one does. It carefully and expertly points out that there are stages to the enlightenment experience and does an excellent job in translating seemingly abtruse Buddhist terms and phrases into more understandable language. Referring these terms to more popular and "Western" depictions of Buddhist thought and tradition. Once again, it's not a book for the beginner and requires a foundation of "practice" to help the reader understand many of the more salient points. So, if you've been practicing zen for a while and are searching for something to help deepen your practice and experience, try this book. After a chapter or two, you'll want to just "sit."