The Three Pillars of Zen cover art

The Three Pillars of Zen

Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment

 Preview
Try Premium Plus free
Thousands of incredible audiobooks and podcasts to take wherever you go.
Immerse yourself in a world of storytelling with the Plus Catalogue - unlimited listening to thousands of select audiobooks, podcasts and Audible Originals.
£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically. See here for eligibility.

The Three Pillars of Zen

By: Roshi Philip Kapleau
Narrated by: Sean Runnette
Try Premium Plus free

£8.99/month after 30 days. Renews automatically.

Buy Now for £23.99

Buy Now for £23.99

Confirm Purchase
Pay using card ending in
Switch payment method
By completing your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and authorise Audible to charge your designated card or any other card on file. Please see our Privacy Notice, Cookies Notice and Interest-based Ads Notice.
Cancel

About this listen

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 listeners invaluable advice on how to develop their own practices. Revised and updated, this edition features 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 Zen is the definitive introduction to the history and discipline of Zen.

©2000 Roshi Philip Kapleau (P)2017 Tantor Buddhism Philosophy Zen Buddhism

Listeners also enjoyed...

 Living from a Place of Surrender cover art
Living Untethered cover art
Autobiography of a Yogi cover art
Practical Zen cover art
The Untethered Soul cover art
Zen cover art
The Power of Now cover art
One Blade of Grass cover art
Out of Your Mind cover art
Falling into Grace cover art
The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching cover art
Becoming Nobody cover art
The Bhagavad Gita cover art
Why Buddhism Is True cover art
Shōbōgenzō cover art
A Guide to the Good Life cover art

Critic reviews

"For anyone seriously interested in Zen - this book will be invaluable." ( The Times Literary Supplement)
All stars
Most relevant  
Clear
Useful and applicable content
Well narrated and superbly written.

As timeless as its subject

Required reading for the Zen aspirant or home Zen practitioner

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I’ve practised Zen for a few years now and read several books on the subject. This is undoubtedly my favourite ‘how to’ guide to Zen. Much of the Zen literature can be cryptic and difficult to relate to for the Western beginner’s mind or as in the case of Alan Watt’s popular book on the subject; glaringly mistaken in its lackadaisical ‘anything goes’ interpretation of how to practice it. This book is clear, concise and detailed but it does not lose any of the flavour of the profound mystery that the practice of Zen opens the practitioner up to or the will and discipline which may be required. The choice of Sean Runnette as narrator could not be a better one. He is the voice of Zen after also narrating Alan Watt’s book but this time his words are actually true to the spirit and practice of the subject. I could not recommend this more for the beginner or the more experienced practitioner who like me has lost their may and may need reminding of the fundamentals of Zazen practice.

Best book on Zen...

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Unforgettable stories, experiences and a guide for livinh. Quite moving. This book is a classic, but brought to life by the narrator, Sean Runnette.
Thanks

great book and wonderfully narrated by S. Runnette

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
If you're slightly interested in zen and it's history then read this, if you're not then still read it.

Narrator somehow improves what is already an amazing book.

great.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book covers, in depth, the methods and practices of Buddhism and the path to enlightenment. I thoroughly enjoyed listening. I found it to be well structured in a way to give ample perspectives so as to facilitate a relatable understanding.It is at points repetitive but I found this helpful to reinforce my understanding.
Extremely inspired by this book.

Inspiring and informative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book is both brilliantly written and read. I highly recommend it for all on a spiritual path.

Sincere

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
A great book with lots of inspiration to take from it to develop self and oneness and understanding

The rate, clarity, and clam delivery of the narrative

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This is the best volume I have come across to understanding Zen. The inclusion of the experiences of a variety of Japanese, US abd Canadian students is wonderful. The narration is slightly dramatic but not off putting.

A deep Zen introduction for Westerners

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
This book gives a very comprehensive account of the practice of Zen meditation. Obstacles that may arise with the practise of meditation are dealt with and ways to overcome them are explained. Even a complete newcomer to Zen meditation will benefit from listening to this book and earn valuable and salient insights into meditation. The narrator has a
A voice that lends itself to easy listening.

The Three Pillars of Zen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Outstanding !!!
Highly recommend to others interested in Zen and Zazen
Immensely helpful for my own development of Zen and Zazen.
Loved all the stories and how Zen masters have their own ways.
Very good narration by Sean Runnette !!!!!

Three Pillars of Zen

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews