A book cover titled 'Taking the Path of Zen' by Robert Aitken, featuring a warm ochre-yellow background with a central abstract painting in earthy brown, beige, and red tones.
A photographed page of printed text on aged off-white paper, likely a book or publication copyright page, with black typewriter-style text and a warm yellowed paper tone.
The back cover of the book 'The Mind of Clover' by Robert Arkenus, published by North Point Press. The cover is printed in black ink on a warm, tan paper background, featuring a series of paragraphs of text, a review quote by Yomeda Kunio Kashii, and a barcode at the bottom right.
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A book cover titled 'Taking the Path of Zen' by Robert Aitken, featuring a warm ochre-yellow background with a central abstract painting in earthy brown, beige, and red tones.A photographed page of printed text on aged off-white paper, likely a book or publication copyright page, with black typewriter-style text and a warm yellowed paper tone.The back cover of the book 'The Mind of Clover' by Robert Arkenus, published by North Point Press. The cover is printed in black ink on a warm, tan paper background, featuring a series of paragraphs of text, a review quote by Yomeda Kunio Kashii, and a barcode at the bottom right.

Taking the Path of Zen by Robert Aitken — Revised and Expanded Edition

Debs Book Paradise
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Condition: ["Near Fine"]

Format: Paperback

Price:
$22.00

Description

Author: Robert Aitken
Publisher: North Point Press, a division of Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Place: New York
Year: 2000
Edition: Revised and expanded edition; seventeenth printing
Format: Trade paperback
Page Count: 149 pages
Condition: Near Fine
ISBN: 9780865470804
ISBN-10: 0865470804

Description:
In Taking the Path of Zen, respected American Zen teacher Robert Aitken presents the principles and practice of Zen Buddhism with clarity, warmth and practical insight.

Aitken explains zazen—the seated meditation practice at the heart of Zen—including proper breathing, posture, routine and preparation. He also addresses teacher-student relationships, koan study, the challenges encountered during meditation and the milestones that may arise as practice deepens. Additional discussions explore the Three Treasures, the Ten Precepts and the relationship between Zen practice and everyday life.

Written for both curious newcomers and committed practitioners, the book offers an accessible orientation to Zen without reducing its complexity. Aitken draws upon decades of study and practice with prominent teachers, including R. H. Blyth, D. T. Suzuki, Nakagawa Soen Roshi, Yasutani Hakuun Roshi and Yamada Koun Roshi.

This is the revised and expanded North Point Press edition, seventeenth printing, published in 2000.

Condition: Near Fine. A clean, attractive copy with only minimal evidence of handling. The binding is sound, the covers remain bright, and the interior pages are clean. This book will be supplied in a removable archival protective covering.

Why we love this book:
Robert Aitken was instrumental in establishing an authentic tradition of Zen practice in the United States. This concise guide combines serious instruction with an approachable style, making it useful both as an introduction and as a book to revisit throughout one’s practice.