The Supreme Doctrine: Psychological Studies in Zen Thought

This book is not an easy read, not so much due to its translation as to its depth and subtly. Like the mark of great Teachers words remembered in hindsight; with each re-reading of this book deeper and deeper lessons can be learned. Though this is not for the novice, nor would I call Beniot a Zen master as such, this book sits side by side on my shelf of important works along with Philip Kapleau's Three Pillers, and Shunryu Suzuki's Beginners Mind.

Enhanced for the reader with an informative Foreward by Aldous Huxley, Hubert Benoit's The Supreme Doctrine is a masterful survey and exploration of Zen Buddhism. A spectrum of issues and subjects are addressed including the existential, mechanistic, and metaphysical aspects of Zen. Exceptionally well reasoned, written, and presented, this major treatise is a highly recommended and very welcome contribution to the growing library of Buddhist literature for the Western reader.

This is one of the great books of all time. The author was a psychiatrist who was bed ridden and took the opportunity to investigate the human mind and body. He used scientific observation as his tool. As many eastern Zen masters have said. Just watch as a good shepherd watches his flock. The sheep will be contented and well cared for. He will know each one by their sound. These are not different techniques.Benoit created with this book a western scientific basis of Zen. Carlotte Joko Beck and her students have created a new Zen called "Ordinary Mind Zen" from a synthesis of Benoit's work and Japanese formal Zen practice.This is a very difficult book to read. The book was translated from the French. Long paragraphs are one sentence. The book is also written in a dry academic style. The translator was must not have been able to understand what Hubert Benoit wrote, except in a literal sense. I was only able to read it by reading a couple of pages at a time each morning as I took a tub bath. I have read it several times that way. It does get easier the third or fourth time. Unfortunately, formal mediation practice over years would be necessary for a practical usage of this material. The book does have great academic value for people who are interested in the real thing.

...Refer to Charlotte Joko Beck's book "Nothing Special." She writes that it is the best book on Zen that she's ever read. Apparently, it is very difficult to read because it was translated from the original French version. Author was in a serious accident and pondered the human mind for years as he rehabilitated.