No Beginning, No End: The Intimate Heart of Zen

This is the first book I have read on the spirit of Zen that I could begin to relate to. I could not put it down, nor can I wait to dip into it again and again for its many messages. The book spoke to me in a way my sporadic attempts to learn about Zen through sittings at various Zen Centers have not. I have attempted sittings -- even overnight retreats -- at Centers with Asian Zen Masters, plus sittings at Zen Centers led by American Zen Masters. These sittings did not work for me. I could not connect and did not know why. After reading NO BEGINNING NO END,I have finally found my connection. The connection is because Roshi Jakusho Kwong was born and raised in America of Chinese ancestry and we speak the same language. Roshi's childhood, formative teenage and adulthood years were all here in California. He grew up in a small town with very few Asians, played football with his American classmates -- yet spoke Chinese before he spoke English.Roshi is one of the early American pioneers instrumental in introducing Zen to America. Roshi communicates Zen to Americans in a manner that relates to their cultural context and milieux. Roshi's book and teachings are rare examples from a teacher who has bridged two cultural traditions. There are not many,if any,other American Zen Masters of Asian heritage who have transplanted the Zen that is practiced in Japan onto native American soil and has produced a new American home grown variety.I highly recommend this classic not just for oneself, but as gifts for friends you feel can appreciate its uniqueness. I would have bought NO BEGINNING NO END just for its artful, powerful book jacket.

This gem of a book truly offers us a glimpse into the heart of zen. Kwong Roshi's words are as down to earth and accessible as they are thought-provoking and profound. It is clear that his is the voice of experience and that his teachings are based on years of personal, devoted practice of Dharma. This book would be helpful for those wanting to learn more about the practice of meditation or for any seasoned student of zen. His teachings are pithy and can be applied to the obstacles and challenges we face every day in our lives. We are fortunate to have the teachings of this living master available to us. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested enriching their lives through the practice of meditation and the cultivation of wisdom. What a treasure!!!!

In the most intimate voice, this book offers the wisdom and compassion of a great-hearted American Zen master. The promise Shunryu Suzuki saw decades ago in his young student Jakusho Kwong has been lovingly cultivated into a lifetime of conscious compassion, wisdom and care. Chapter after chapter offers the benefits of such a life in a way that makes the book a real page turner, though I suggest you read it slowly. Let the teachings, the vision and the kindness seep in.So many spiritual books based on their author's talks fall short of allowing the reader to feel included. They make you feel that you wish you had been at the actual event. This book is the opposite. Each chapter made me feel I was actually sitting with a true Zen master who was helping me to understand my life and parts of myself in ways I never had. It was like having a private interview with someone who really saw me for who I was and wanted to help me to become whole.One last thing. I have read gazillions of Zen books. I look to them as a kind of spiritual companion or friend. Often the relationship is pretty good, but not quite the perfect fit. This book, however, like Suzuki's Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind, is that friend. We go places together. I take it with me when I want to be with someone who understands me, and I find that it helps me to understand myself in new ways each time. Books that are called "classics" are books that "last a lifetime." For me, No Beginning, No End is one of these

As someone who hasn't been studying Zen for very long, I sometimes find Zen writings to be a bit elusive. Kwong's book, however, is a welcome change. His prose exudes wisdom, simplicity, sincerity, sensitivity, and warmth. Kwong's chapters gracefully navigate through various topics and bring the reader full circle, gently reminding him of the lesson he is bringing to the table. No Beginning, No End is written with incredible clarity; it is unadorned and highly accessible. Kwong has a lot to say, and he brings his collected thoughts to readers with an impressive degree of compassion and love. Quite simply, this is a beautiful, beautiful book.

This book is very moving and very gentle. Kwong has an energy that is serious but very lively and engaging at the same time - it clearly comes across. The stories he tells are subtle but extremely insightful. The drawings in the book are rather beautiful and different than most Zen drawings because there is something American about them. This is a perfect companion to Suzuki's "Zen Mind, Beginner' Mind".