---
product_id: 5103676
title: "Taking the Path of Zen"
price: "COP 69051"
currency: COP
in_stock: true
reviews_count: 13
url: https://www.desertcart.co/products/5103676-taking-the-path-of-zen
store_origin: CO
region: Colombia
---

# Taking the Path of Zen

**Price:** COP 69051
**Availability:** ✅ In Stock

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- **What is this?** Taking the Path of Zen
- **How much does it cost?** COP 69051 with free shipping
- **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship
- **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co](https://www.desertcart.co/products/5103676-taking-the-path-of-zen)

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## Description

There is a fine art to presenting complex ideas with simplicity and insight, in a manner that both guides and inspires. In Taking the Path of Zen Robert Aitken presents the practice, lifestyle, rationale, and ideology of Zen Buddhism with remarkable clarity. The foundation of Zen is the practice of zazen, or mediation, and Aitken Roshi insists that everything flows from the center. He discusses correct breathing, posture, routine, teacher-student relations, and koan study, as well as common problems and milestones encountered in the process. Throughout the book the author returns to zazen, offering further advice and more advanced techniques. The orientation extends to various religious attitudes and includes detailed discussions of the Three Treasures and the Ten Precepts of Zen Buddhism. Taking the Path of Zen will serve as orientation and guide for anyone who is drawn to the ways of Zen, from the simply curious to the serious Zen student.

Review: Clear, Grounded Introduction to Zen Practice — Practical & Transformative - Taking the Path of Zen isn’t a flashy or poetic “Zen-inspiration” book — it’s a manual for practice, written by someone who lived the discipline every day. Aitken breaks down meditation, posture, breath, koans, and the structure of Zen training in a way that’s incredibly accessible without watering anything down. What stands out: • ✅ Straightforward, practical instruction you can apply immediately • ✅ Emphasis on discipline, ethics, and daily practice, not quick comfort or trendy mindfulness • ✅ Great explanations of zazen posture, breath, and mental focus • ✅ Clear intro to koan study — something most Zen books barely touch • ✅ Tone is gentle but uncompromising — respectful to beginners, true to tradition What to know going in: • This isn’t a “feel-good, motivational” Zen book — it’s more like sitting down with a real teacher and being told, kindly, “Okay, here’s how to practice.” • If you’re looking for Zen stories and philosophical musing, there are other titles better for that. This one is about doing the work. Bottom line: If you’re serious about meditation or curious about authentic Zen practice beyond aesthetic memes and buzzwords, this is a must-read. It’s a book you return to again and again as your practice deepens. Highly recommended for beginners and seasoned meditators alike.
Review: One of the best introductions to Zen Buddhist practice there is - Robert Aitken was one of the most influential early students of Zen Buddhism in the United States when it was first getting established. He is highly esteemed and well respected in the Soto Zen Tradition, and this foundational book, is one of the best for explaining how to sit zazen and begin practicing. It is well written, easy to understand, and gives very specific instructions. What is particularly helpful, is that he introduces how to begin, and then gives you instructions on what steps to take next continue to advance with your practice. It is summed up best on the back cover of the book: “In Taking The Path of Zen, Robert Aitken presents the practice, lifestyle, rationale, and ideology of Zen Buddhism with remarkable clarity.

## Technical Specifications

| Specification | Value |
|---------------|-------|
| Best Sellers Rank | #170,547 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #55 in Zen Spirituality |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 252 Reviews |

## Images

![Taking the Path of Zen - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/71mJBBe1TEL.jpg)

## Customer Reviews

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Clear, Grounded Introduction to Zen Practice — Practical & Transformative
*by J***. on October 30, 2025*

Taking the Path of Zen isn’t a flashy or poetic “Zen-inspiration” book — it’s a manual for practice, written by someone who lived the discipline every day. Aitken breaks down meditation, posture, breath, koans, and the structure of Zen training in a way that’s incredibly accessible without watering anything down. What stands out: • ✅ Straightforward, practical instruction you can apply immediately • ✅ Emphasis on discipline, ethics, and daily practice, not quick comfort or trendy mindfulness • ✅ Great explanations of zazen posture, breath, and mental focus • ✅ Clear intro to koan study — something most Zen books barely touch • ✅ Tone is gentle but uncompromising — respectful to beginners, true to tradition What to know going in: • This isn’t a “feel-good, motivational” Zen book — it’s more like sitting down with a real teacher and being told, kindly, “Okay, here’s how to practice.” • If you’re looking for Zen stories and philosophical musing, there are other titles better for that. This one is about doing the work. Bottom line: If you’re serious about meditation or curious about authentic Zen practice beyond aesthetic memes and buzzwords, this is a must-read. It’s a book you return to again and again as your practice deepens. Highly recommended for beginners and seasoned meditators alike.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ One of the best introductions to Zen Buddhist practice there is
*by M***H on March 2, 2019*

Robert Aitken was one of the most influential early students of Zen Buddhism in the United States when it was first getting established. He is highly esteemed and well respected in the Soto Zen Tradition, and this foundational book, is one of the best for explaining how to sit zazen and begin practicing. It is well written, easy to understand, and gives very specific instructions. What is particularly helpful, is that he introduces how to begin, and then gives you instructions on what steps to take next continue to advance with your practice. It is summed up best on the back cover of the book: “In Taking The Path of Zen, Robert Aitken presents the practice, lifestyle, rationale, and ideology of Zen Buddhism with remarkable clarity.

### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ A good book to read for anyone interested in the basic Zen philosophy and practices.
*by J***E on October 28, 2014*

I have been interested in the philosophy of Zen for most of my life. Even though I have read and wrote reviews for numerous Zen books, I had never read this one (Taking the Path of Zen by Robert Aitken) until recently. This is not a new book. It was published in 1982, but most of the advice is timeless. This book is organized into nine chapters. There is also a foreword written by Gary Snyder. Chapter one covers the fundamentals in the practice of Zen. Chapter two explains the method of Zen. Chapter three deals with appropriate means and covers more breathe counting information, the Zen center organization, ritual and other subjects. Chapter four goes into the delusions and pitfalls of Zen practice. Attitudes in religious practice are the focus in chapter five. The three Zen treasures are covered in chapter six. Chapter seven is essential reading because it deals with the ten grave precepts of Zen. Chapter eight gives tips on establishing the practice of Zen. The final chapter covers the koan Mu. There a several different approaches to the study of Zen and this book provides one of the ways a person who is interested in this philosophy can begin their practice. I do not agree with everything in this book; however, for those who desire to learn some basic information on Zen, this book is a good read. Rating: 4 Stars. Joseph J. Truncale (Author: The Samurai Soul: An old warrior’s poetic tribute).

## Frequently Bought Together

- Taking the Path of Zen: 0001 (Taking the Path of Zen Ppr)
- The Three Pillars of Zen: Teaching, Practice, and Enlightenment
- Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

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*Product available on Desertcart Colombia*
*Store origin: CO*
*Last updated: 2026-10-11*