Why read The Circle of the Way?

Book cover of The Circle of the Way: A Concise History of Zen from the Buddha to the Modern World

Book description

A comprehensive, accessible guide to the fascinating history of Zen Buddhism--including important figures, schools, foundational texts, practices, and politics.

Zen Buddhism has a storied history--Bodhidharma sitting in meditation in a cave for nine years; a would-be disciple cutting off his own arm to get the master's attention; the proliferating schools…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Circle of the Way as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

James Ishmael Ford

Author

Journalist and long-time Zen student Barbara O'Brien offers the only readable, concise, and yet comprehensive survey of Zen's history, the development of its teachings from the beginnings of Buddhism to the dawn of the twenty-first century. She finds a genuine middle ground between an appreciation of the received tradition and the best of modern scholarship. A masterful accomplishment.

From James' list on The best books on Zen from a Zen teacher.