
Discovering the True Self
Kodo Sawaki's Art of Zen Meditation
Failed to add items
Add to Cart failed.
Add to Wish List failed.
Remove from wishlist failed.
Adding to library failed
Follow podcast failed
Unfollow podcast failed
$0.99/mo for the first 3 months

Buy for $17.19
No default payment method selected.
We are sorry. We are not allowed to sell this product with the selected payment method
-
Narrated by:
-
David Shih
About this listen
"You can't see your true Self. [But] you can become it. Becoming your true Self is zazen."
As an orphan in the slums of Tsu City, Japan, Kodo Sawaki had to fight his way to adulthood, and became one of the most respected Zen masters of the twentieth century. He had a great understanding of Dogen Zenji's teaching and he knew how to express Dogen's philosophy. Sawaki's primary mission was to bring all people to an awareness of the Self, which he believed came through Zen meditation.
His humor and straightforward talk garnered Sawaki followers from all walks of life. Though he remained poor by choice, he was rich in spirit. Two of his students who became known in America as well as in Japan were Kosho Uchiyama, abbot of Antaiji Temple and author of Opening the Hand of Thought, and Gudo Nishijima, Zen teacher and translator of Dogen's Shobogenzo.
A student of Kosho Uchiyama, Arthur Braverman has compiled an anthology of Sawaki's writings and a garland of sayings gathered from throughout his lifetime. One of a few collections of Sawaki's teachings published in English, his life and work bracket the most intriguing and influential period of modern Zen practice in Japan and America.
©2020 Arthur Braverman (P)2022 TantorListeners also enjoyed...
-
Opening the Hand of Thought
- Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice
- By: Kosho Uchiyama, Tom Wright - editor translator, Jisho Warner - editor translator, and others
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For over 30 years, Opening the Hand of Thought has offered an introduction to Zen Buddhism and meditation unmatched in clarity and power. This is the revised edition of Kosho Uchiyama's singularly incisive classic. This new edition contains even more useful material: new prefaces, an index, and extended endnotes, in addition to a revised glossary.
-
-
One of the best books on Zazen
- By Otto Hannah on 09-07-23
By: Kosho Uchiyama, and others
-
Being-Time
- A Practitioner's Guide to Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji
- By: Shinshu Roberts, Norman Fischer - foreword
- Narrated by: Leslie Howard
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Being-Time thoroughly explores Dogen's teaching on how we practice as Buddhas by understanding the relationship between being and time as it is—and as we perceive it to be. Using Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji (The True Dharma Eye, Being-Time), Shinshu Roberts offers a twofold analysis of this teaching: the meaning of the text and practice with the text, giving examples how we apply Dogen's complex teaching to our daily lives.
-
-
A Wonderful Book with Excellent Narration
- By Chris on 09-26-24
By: Shinshu Roberts, and others
-
The Other Side of Nothing
- The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being
- By: Brad Warner
- Narrated by: Brad Warner
- Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A listener-friendly guide to Zen Buddhist ethics for modern times. In the West, Zen Buddhism has a reputation for paradoxes that defy logic. In particular, the Buddhist concept of nonduality—the realization that everything in the Universe forms a single, integrated whole—is especially difficult to grasp. In The Other Side of Nothing, Zen teacher Brad Warner untangles the mystery and explains nonduality in plain English.
-
-
Big fan of Brad Warner
- By Amazon Customer on 06-08-22
By: Brad Warner
-
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
- Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
- By: Shunryu Suzuki
- Narrated by: Peter Coyote
- Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few. So begins this most beloved of all American Zen works....
-
-
terrific book. Horrible recording.
- By Matthew Wash on 06-29-18
By: Shunryu Suzuki
-
Crooked Cucumber
- The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki
- By: David Chadwick
- Narrated by: David Chadwick
- Length: 21 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shunryu Suzuki, author of the beloved classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, is lovingly remembered as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of the 20th century - whose legacy is felt in every facet of American Zen. This monumental biography of Suzuki, written and read by his student David Chadwick, weaves together a rich tapestry of stories and memories of Suzuki’s students, family, and friends. In this updated and revised audiobook edition, Chadwick also offers rare excerpts from archived recordings of Suzuki’s teachings in the great Zen master's own voice.
-
-
Beautiful narration
- By Maurice Echeverria on 08-03-22
By: David Chadwick
-
Shōbōgenzō
- The Treasure House of the Eye of the True Teaching
- By: Eihei Dōgen
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 55 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Shōbōgenzō is the recognized spiritual masterpiece by the 13th- century Japanese Sōtō Zen Master Eihei Dōgen. It is comprised of discourses that he gave to his disciples, in person or in writing, at various times between 1231 and his death 22 years later at age 53. These discourses cover a wide range of topics pertinent to those in monastic life, though often also relevant to those training in lay life.
-
-
I'm just amazed
- By Amazon Customer on 05-01-21
By: Eihei Dōgen
-
Opening the Hand of Thought
- Foundations of Zen Buddhist Practice
- By: Kosho Uchiyama, Tom Wright - editor translator, Jisho Warner - editor translator, and others
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
For over 30 years, Opening the Hand of Thought has offered an introduction to Zen Buddhism and meditation unmatched in clarity and power. This is the revised edition of Kosho Uchiyama's singularly incisive classic. This new edition contains even more useful material: new prefaces, an index, and extended endnotes, in addition to a revised glossary.
-
-
One of the best books on Zazen
- By Otto Hannah on 09-07-23
By: Kosho Uchiyama, and others
-
Being-Time
- A Practitioner's Guide to Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji
- By: Shinshu Roberts, Norman Fischer - foreword
- Narrated by: Leslie Howard
- Length: 9 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Being-Time thoroughly explores Dogen's teaching on how we practice as Buddhas by understanding the relationship between being and time as it is—and as we perceive it to be. Using Dogen's Shobogenzo Uji (The True Dharma Eye, Being-Time), Shinshu Roberts offers a twofold analysis of this teaching: the meaning of the text and practice with the text, giving examples how we apply Dogen's complex teaching to our daily lives.
-
-
A Wonderful Book with Excellent Narration
- By Chris on 09-26-24
By: Shinshu Roberts, and others
-
The Other Side of Nothing
- The Zen Ethics of Time, Space, and Being
- By: Brad Warner
- Narrated by: Brad Warner
- Length: 15 hrs and 7 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
A listener-friendly guide to Zen Buddhist ethics for modern times. In the West, Zen Buddhism has a reputation for paradoxes that defy logic. In particular, the Buddhist concept of nonduality—the realization that everything in the Universe forms a single, integrated whole—is especially difficult to grasp. In The Other Side of Nothing, Zen teacher Brad Warner untangles the mystery and explains nonduality in plain English.
-
-
Big fan of Brad Warner
- By Amazon Customer on 06-08-22
By: Brad Warner
-
Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
- Informal Talks on Zen Meditation and Practice
- By: Shunryu Suzuki
- Narrated by: Peter Coyote
- Length: 2 hrs and 58 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's there are few. So begins this most beloved of all American Zen works....
-
-
terrific book. Horrible recording.
- By Matthew Wash on 06-29-18
By: Shunryu Suzuki
-
Crooked Cucumber
- The Life and Zen Teaching of Shunryu Suzuki
- By: David Chadwick
- Narrated by: David Chadwick
- Length: 21 hrs and 28 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shunryu Suzuki, author of the beloved classic Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, is lovingly remembered as one of the greatest spiritual teachers of the 20th century - whose legacy is felt in every facet of American Zen. This monumental biography of Suzuki, written and read by his student David Chadwick, weaves together a rich tapestry of stories and memories of Suzuki’s students, family, and friends. In this updated and revised audiobook edition, Chadwick also offers rare excerpts from archived recordings of Suzuki’s teachings in the great Zen master's own voice.
-
-
Beautiful narration
- By Maurice Echeverria on 08-03-22
By: David Chadwick
-
Shōbōgenzō
- The Treasure House of the Eye of the True Teaching
- By: Eihei Dōgen
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 55 hrs and 11 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Shōbōgenzō is the recognized spiritual masterpiece by the 13th- century Japanese Sōtō Zen Master Eihei Dōgen. It is comprised of discourses that he gave to his disciples, in person or in writing, at various times between 1231 and his death 22 years later at age 53. These discourses cover a wide range of topics pertinent to those in monastic life, though often also relevant to those training in lay life.
-
-
I'm just amazed
- By Amazon Customer on 05-01-21
By: Eihei Dōgen
-
Ordinary Wonder
- Zen Life and Practice
- By: Charlotte Joko Beck, Brenda Beck Hess
- Narrated by: Barbara Barnes
- Length: 6 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
In this collection of never-before-published teachings by Charlotte Joko Beck, one of the most influential Western-born Zen teachers, she explores our “core beliefs” - the hidden, negative convictions we hold about ourselves that direct our thoughts and behavior and prevent us from experiencing life as it is. Wryly humorous and relatable, Beck uses powerfully clear language to show how our lives present us with daily opportunities to move from thinking to experiencing, from compulsivity to confidence, and from anguish to peace.
-
-
Thank you
- By fred on 08-01-21
By: Charlotte Joko Beck, and others
-
Zen Master Tales
- Stories from the Lives of Taigu, Sengai, Hakuin, and Ryokan
- By: Peter Haskel
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 5 hrs and 37 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zen Master Tales collects never-before-translated stories of four prominent Zen masters from the Edo period of Japanese history (1603–1868). Drawn from an era that saw the “democratization” of Japanese Zen, these stories paint a picture of robust, funny, and poignant engagement between Zen luminaries and the emergent chonin or “townsperson” culture of early modern Japan. These masters affirmed that the essentials of Zen practice could be conveyed to all members of Japanese society in ordinary speech, including even comic verse and work songs.
-
-
Great stories
- By Rishat on 09-20-23
By: Peter Haskel
-
After the Ecstasy, the Laundry
- How the Heart Grows Wise on the Spiritual Path
- By: Jack Kornfield
- Narrated by: Jack Kornfield
- Length: 9 hrs and 52 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
When does enlightenment come? At the end of the spiritual journey? Or the beginning? In After the Ecstasy, the Laundry, Jack Kornfield brings into focus the truth about satori, the awakened state of consciousness, and enlightenment practices today. The result is this extraordinary look at the hard work we all must do - the laundry - no matter how often we experience ecstatic states of consciousness through meditation and other disciplines.
-
-
Title points to meat of the message
- By Remived on 10-26-15
By: Jack Kornfield
-
Old Path White Clouds
- Walking in the Footsteps of the Buddha
- By: Thich Nhat Hanh
- Narrated by: Edoardo Ballerini
- Length: 16 hrs and 39 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Old Path White Clouds presents the life and teachings of Gautama Buddha. Drawn directly from 24 Pali, Sanskrit, and Chinese sources, and retold by Thich Nhat Hanh in his inimitably beautiful style, this book traces the Buddha's life slowly and gently over the course of 80 years, partly through the eyes of Svasti, the buffalo boy, and partly through the eyes of the Buddha himself. Old Path White Clouds is destined to become a classic of religious literature.
-
-
Breathtaking accomplishment!
- By Karamelfun on 05-14-16
By: Thich Nhat Hanh
-
The Lankavatara Sutra
- By: D.T. Suzuki
- Narrated by: Ratnadhya
- Length: 13 hrs and 45 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Lankavatara Sutra, dating from the early years of the Common Era, sometime before 443, is one of the most important Mahayana Buddhist texts, not least because of its influence on later Tibetan, Chinese and Japanese Buddhism. One of its possible early translators in the 8th century was Gunabhadra, who is sometimes regarded as the first father of Zen in China. The Sutra takes the form of a dialogue between the Buddha in his cosmic form (as opposed to the historical figure of the Pali Canon) and the Bodhisattva or ‘Great Being', Mahamati.
-
-
Excellent!
- By Skeet Fortner on 11-09-23
By: D.T. Suzuki
-
An Introduction to Zen Buddhism
- By: D. T. Suzuki
- Narrated by: David Rintoul
- Length: 4 hrs and 31 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
One of the world's leading authorities on Zen Buddhism, D. T. Suzuki was the author of more than a hundred works on the subject in both Japanese and English, and was most instrumental in bringing the teachings of Zen Buddhism to the attention of the Western world. Written in a lively, accessible, and straightforward manner, An Introduction to Zen Buddhism is illuminating for the serious student and layperson alike.
-
-
great introduction to zen
- By Cliente de Kindle on 05-07-23
By: D. T. Suzuki
-
The Three Pillars of Zen
- Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment
- By: Roshi Philip Kapleau
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 14 hrs and 27 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
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.
-
-
Enlightenment achieved
- By S. C. Miller on 08-21-18
-
The Vimalakirti Sutra
- By: Anonymous, Burton Watson - translation
- Narrated by: Taradasa
- Length: 5 hrs and 23 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Vimalakirti Sutra is one of the most popular Mahayana sutras. One reason for the Sutra’s popularity is that its principal character, Vimalakirti, is not a Buddha or a Bodhisattva or even a monk but a layman with a family living in India, leading - apparently - a secular life. This does not hinder his ability, the Sutra proclaims, to be a man of remarkable spiritual understanding and attainment - so much so that he confidently lectures and advises arhats (enlightened monks) and bodhisattvas (perfected individuals working for the enlightenment of all) on spiritual matters.
-
-
Excellent performance of a classic
- By Anonymous on 01-18-19
By: Anonymous, and others
-
Zen Is Right Here
- Teaching Stories and Anecdotes of Shunryu Suzuki, Author of Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind
- By: Shunryu Suzuki, David Chadwick - editor
- Narrated by: Brian Nishii
- Length: 1 hr and 15 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Shunryu Suzuki’s extraordinary gift for presenting traditional Zen teachings using ordinary language is well known to the countless readers of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind. In Zen Is Right Here, his teachings are brought to life through stories told by his students. These living encounters with Zen are poignant, direct, humorous, paradoxical, and enlightening - and their setting in real-life contexts makes them wonderfully accessible.
-
-
Best for a curious beginner
- By JL Heller on 01-23-24
By: Shunryu Suzuki, and others
-
Practical Zen
- Meditation and Beyond
- By: Julian Daizan Skinner, Shinzan Miyamae - foreword
- Narrated by: Julian Daizan Skinner
- Length: 11 hrs and 30 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Zen master Julian Daizan Skinner guides the listener through a sequence of meditation techniques that can safely lead even a complete novice through to advanced levels. Based on his own long experience of the Rinzai Zen tradition, as taught by the great 17th-century masters Hakuin and Bankei, Daizan highlights the key points for success and addresses the pitfalls. Structured around a traditional teaching framework called 'the two wings of a bird', Daizan clearly lays-out how these methods build and combine to create a transformative and sustaining practice.
-
-
Practical Zen
- By Adin on 04-08-24
By: Julian Daizan Skinner, and others
-
Zen
- The Authentic Gate
- By: Yamada Koun
- Narrated by: Sean Runnette
- Length: 8 hrs and 22 mins
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
Why practice Zen? What sets Zen apart from religion? What are its different practices? These questions, and more, are examined and answered by Zen Master Koun Yamada, whose Dharma heirs include Robert Aitken, Ruben Habito, and David Loy. Through compelling stories and a systematic approach, he guides the listener through creating and sustaining a lifelong practice. Warm and ecumenical in tone, Koun uses the insights of Zen to bring a deeper understanding of faith.
-
-
Slow down and listen
- By Captain Morgan on 11-22-22
By: Yamada Koun
-
Words of My Perfect Teacher
- A Complete Translation of a Classic Introduction to Tibetan Buddhism
- By: Patrul Rinpoche
- Narrated by: Homer Todiwala
- Length: 17 hrs and 1 min
- Unabridged
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
The Words of My Perfect Teacher is the classic commentary on the preliminary practices of the Longchen Nyingtig—one of the best-known cycles of teachings and a spiritual treasure of the Nyingmapa school—the oldest Tibetan Buddhist tradition. Patrul Rinpoche makes the technicalities of his subject accessible through a wealth of stories, quotations, and references to everyday life. His style of mixing broad colloquialisms, stringent irony, and poetry has all the life and atmosphere of an oral teaching.
-
-
Great text, poorly pronounced
- By Emma on 03-24-23
By: Patrul Rinpoche
What listeners say about Discovering the True Self
Average customer ratingsReviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.
-
Overall
-
Performance
-
Story
- John
- 02-11-24
Narrator Mistakes Nonfiction For Drama
The book itself is throughly mediocre among Zen literature, but worthwhile. The narrator, however, seems to be a frustrated or aspiring voice actor desperate for a role. It eventually becomes unbearable to listen to his dramatization of what should be simply reading quotations. EVERYTHING is injected with some strange urgency of tone and silly raspiness to it whenever Sawaki is quoted. The printed book would be preferable.
Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
You voted on this review!
You reported this review!