Living by Vow
by Shohaku Okumura
★★★★★ finished 29 June 2026
I was recommended this book while at Tassajara, by the work leader, Josh. He said "It's the book that explains everything we do without explaining to people." He was talking about the traditions running through the Zen monastery: the chants, ceremonies, sutras, that are part of daily life but very confusing to the uninitiated.
The book uses these common chants and sutras as an entry point to explain the entire ethos of Zen practice. It's very friendly and straightforward.