Encouraging words

As the senior Zen master in the West, Aitken Roshi stands at the forefront of a pursuit both unprecedented and complex: the creation of an American Zen. Through his writings and teaching he provides an introduction to Zen practice at once faithful to Eastern tradition and responsive to Western problems and attitudes. His writings are remarkable for their clarity and insight. Encouraging Words is a collection of short talks and brief essays that Aitken has offered his. Students at extended meditation retreats during the past two decades. These essays and talks are arranged according to themes…