Bibliography

To guide you in the practice and study of Sôtô Zen Buddhism, you will find below some reading advice accompanied by a few bibliographical notes.

Books on Buddhism (French)

• L’enseignement du Bouddha, Walpola Rahula, éditions du Seuil, Points Sagesses. 
In-depth presentation of the fundamental principles of Buddhism by a monk of the Theravada school who refers to the most ancient texts of the tradition.

• Principes fondamentaux du bouddhisme, Kogen Mizuno, éditions Sully. 
The essence of Buddhist doctrine, common to all schools, presented in a clear and accessible way.

Books on the Soto Zen tradition (French)

• La pratique du zen, Taisen Deshimaru, éditions Albin Michel, Spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
Clear and simple explanation of the aspects of Zen practice. For those new to the practice.

• Vrai zen, Taisen Deshimaru, éditions AZI. 
Introduction to the practice and spirit of Zen, followed by a presentation of Master Dogen's Shobogenzo, with very simple commentary by Master Deshimaru.

• Questions à un maître zen, Taisen Deshimaru, éditions Albin Michel, Spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
Master Deshimaru answers his disciples' questions in a lively, colourful and contemporary way.

• L’anneau de la Voie zen, Taisen Deshimaru, éditions du Relié. 
The essential aspects of Zen teaching. Texts compiled by Evelyn de Smedt and Dominique Dussaussoy.

• Le bol et le bâton, Taisen Deshimaru, éditions Albin Michel, spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
120 Zen tales told and commented on by Master Deshimaru. Each tale is a living teaching within everyone's reach.

• Zen, collectif, éditions Albin Michel, spiritualités vivantes. 
This album, written collectively under the direction of Missen Michel Bovay, presents the practice of Sôtô Zen in Europe as well as its tradition through the history and teachings of the great Zen masters. The carefully chosen texts and illustrations evoke the subtle flavour of Zen.

• Esprit zen, esprit neuf, Shunryu Suzuki, éditions du Seuil, Points Sagesses. 
Collection of interviews with Suzuki, who taught Sôtô Zen in the United States in the 1960s, and who conveys the essence of Sôtô Zen teaching in language accessible to all.

• Le bouddhisme zen Sôtô, Koho Chisan, éditions Sully. 
The author penetrates the fundamental meaning of the Sôtô Zen school during a historical and spiritual reflection on the universal contribution of this school to Buddhism.

• Le zen et la vie, Shundo Aoyama, éditions Sully. 
Through anecdotes and reflections, a contemporary female Zen master imparts a lesson characterised by simplicity and wisdom.

• Pratiquer le zen, Pierre Dôkan Crépon, éditions Pocket. 
The author clearly explains the practice in the dojo and retraces the life of the great Zen masters.

• Moine zen en Occident, Roland Yuno Rech, éditions Albin Michel, Spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
Interview with a Western Zen teacher: how to practise an ancient teaching in the modern world.

• Zen et Christianisme, Evelyn de Smedt, éditions Albin Michel, Spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
An encounter between the Gospels and the teachings of the Buddha.

• Les patriarches du zen, Evelyn de Smedt, Catherine Mollet, éditions Le Relié. 
Anthology classifying the teachings of Chinese and Japanese Zen masters by theme.

For further study

• L’Intégrale, Taisen Deshimaru, éditions AZI. 
Collection of kusens (oral teachings during zazen) by Master Deshimaru, who comments on the teachings of the great masters of the transmission (14 volumes).

• L’esprit du ch’an, Sosan, éditions Albin Michel, Spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
Poem of the Faith of Mind (Shin jin mei), written by Master Sosan in 6th-century China, translated and annotated by Taisen Deshimaru. A major text of essential richness.

• Le chant de l’Éveil, Kodo Sawaki, éditions Albin Michel, Spiritualités vivantes. 
Kodo Sawaki, one of the greatest Zen masters of the 20th century, comments on Yoka Daishi's Shodoka in a direct language with sharp words and the precision of an acupuncture needle.

• Le chant de l’immédiat satori, Yoka Daishi, éditions Albin Michel, spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
The Shodoka, is one of the essential texts of Zen, written by Yoka Daishi in the 7th century in China. Translated and annotated by Master Deshimaru.

• La source brille dans la lumière, Shunryu Suzuki, éditions Sully. 
Shunryu Suzuki comments on the San do kai of the Chinese Master Sekito Kisen. In simple and lively language, he expresses the essence of Zen in all its subtlety and depth.

• Retour au silence, Dainin Katagiri, éditions du Seuil, Points Sagesses. 
Through his humanity, his wisdom and the depth of his teaching, Dainin Katagiri speaks to the heart with the dimension of the spirit. A book that accompanies our life and our practice like a friend of the way.

• Les fleurs de Bouddha, Pierre Crépon, éditions Albin Michel, spiritualités vivantes Poche. 
Selected pieces of the main teachings of Buddhist masters, all traditions combined.

• Shobogenzo Zuimonki, les enseignements du Maître zen Dogen, éditions Sully. 
Master Dogen teaches his disciples; he seeks to help them understand the reality of Buddha and encourages them to practise. This teaching is for all those who sincerely seek to realise the way of Buddha. Translated and annotated by Kengan D. Robert.

• Instructions au cuisinier zen, Eihei Dogen, éditions le Promeneur. 
This is the translation of Tenzokyokun, by Janine Coursin. In this short text of universal significance, Master Dogen gives instructions to the tenzo. These teachings, ‘dedicated to the sages of future generations who will study the Way’, are the very essence of the practice.

• Shobogenzo, La vraie Loi, trésor de l’œil, Eihei Dogen, Traduction intégrale annotée de Yoko Orimo, éditions Sully. 
The Shobogenzo reveals the depth of Dogen's teaching. For those who already have a long practice. Four volumes have already been published.

• Traité de Bodhidharma, présentation et traduction de Bernard Faure, éditions du Mail. 
The beginnings of Chan in China, with a historical presentation of one of the oldest texts representative of this emerging tradition.

• Les entretiens de Mazu, traduction de Catherine Despeux, éditions Les Deux Océans. 
Lessons from one of the great masters of Chinese Chan, representative of the golden age of Chan in China during the Tang period.