The Three Pillars of Zen Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment [Paperback]

In this classic work of spiritual guidance, the founder of the Rochester Zen Center presents a comprehensive overview of Zen Buddhism. Exploring the three pillars of Zen—teaching, practice, and enlightenment—Roshi Philip Kapleau, the man who founded one of the oldest and most influential Zen centers in the United States, presents a personal account of his own experiences as a student and teacher, and in so doing gives readers invaluable advice on how to develop their own practices. Revised and updated, this 35th anniversary edition features new illustrations and photographs, as well as a new afterword by Sensei Bodhin Kjolhede, who succeeded Kapleau as spiritual director of the Rochester Zen Center. A moving, eye-opening work,The Three Pillars of Zenis the definitive introduction to the history and discipline of Zen. The Three Pillars of Zen is still, in my opinion, the best book in English that has been written on Zen Buddhism. —Huston Smith, author ofThe Worlds' ReligionsandForgotten Truth

The Three Pillars of Zen heralded the end of armchair Buddhism.  With this practical guide to Zen meditation, Roshi Kapleau ushered in the first wave of American zazen practitioners. It was extraordinarily inspiring. It still is. —Helen Tworkov, founding editor ofTricycle: The Buddhist Reviewand author ofZen in America

For over thirty years Roshi Kapleau'sThree Pillars of Zenhas been the wellspring of Zen teachings for practitioners in the West, remaining as vital and fresh today as it was when it was originally published. It truly ranks among the timeless classics of Zen Buddhism.  —Roshi John Daido Loori, Abbot, Zen Mountain Monastery

For anyone seriously interested in Zen—this book will be invaluable.  —The Times Literary Supplement(London)Roshi Philip Kapleau was the founder of the Rochester Zen Center and the author of numl“'