Here is a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism for those who don’t know how or where to begin, nor what to expect once they have started practicing. It includes the fundamentals of meditation practice (posture, technique, clothing), descriptions of the basic teachings and major texts, the teacher-student relationship, and what you will find when you visit a zendo, plus a history of Zen from the founding of Buddhism to its major schools in the West. In addition to nimbly and clearly answering the most frequently asked questions, it offers a listing of American Zen centers and resources, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary.

As disconcerting as monkey mind may be, it’s not a “bad” monkey mind—it is the normal way the mind works, and practice is to be aware of the way the mind works. In the beginning, if this gamboling mind baffles and frustrates you, try imagining that your mind is a toddler who starts to wander out into the street. You don’t hit the toddler. You don’t grab her so hard that you dislocate her arm. You just gently round her up and point her in another direction. That’s the way you need to treat yourself.

“This is the first book I am aware of that draws on the existing body of literature in English by modern Zen teachers to offer a solid reader’s guide to the ABCs of Zen. A practitioner herself, Jean Smith manages to write about Zen simply and succinctly—from the inside.” —Norman Fischer, San Francisco Zen Center

“This book is both a primer and an overview, offering the beginning student clear instructions for where, how, and with whom to practice, as well as, most importantly, why.” —Sylvia Boorstein, author of Don’t Just Do Something, Sit There

Also by Jean Smith: Breath Sweeps Mind.