What Is Zen?: Plain Talk for a Beginner's Mind

An thorough introduction to Zen Buddhist practice—in a reader-friendly question-and-answer format—by two highly regarded teacher-writers

This unique introduction to Zen teaching and practice is structured as a Q&A, making it a most useful reference for new and seasoned practitioners to look things up. The questioner (Susan Moon) and the answerer (Norman Fischer) are Buddhist teachers and old friends, each with a unique gift for articulation. Their friendly conversation covers not only the basics of Zen Buddhism but a range of issues unique to Zen in America in the twenty-first century, including:

• What is zazen and how do you do it?
• Where did Zen start and where did it come from?
• Will I have an enlightenment experience?
• What is the law of karma in a nutshell?
• What do Zen Buddhists say about rebirth?
• How do you recognize a good, solid Zen teacher?
 
Moon and Fischer’s conversations are both humorous and informative, providing a good basic education in Zen—not only the history, theory, and practice but also contemporary issues such as gender inequality, sexual ethics, and the tension between Asian traditions and the modern American reality.

Norman Fischer is a Zen teacher in the lineage of Shunryu Suzuki and Sojun Mel Weitsman. An award-winning poet and author of numerous books, he is the founder of Everyday Zen, an organization that brings Zen teachings to people from a wide range of backgrounds. He also teaches meditation in Jewish communities throughout the United States.

Susan Moon was for many years the editor of Turning Wheel, the Journal of the Buddhist Peace Fellowship. A longtime writer, writing teacher, and activist, she is the author of several books and the creator of the fictional Zen teacher Tofu Roshi, whose "Dear Abby"-style advice column has entertained Bay Area readers in several publications for nearly thirty years.