June 23, 2020
Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind Turns 50

“When Shunryu Suzuki first saw a published copy of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, he looked it over for a minute and commented, “Good book, I didn’t write it, but it looks like a good book.” That was fifty years ago, the summer of 1970. He and a few students were in the foyer of the San Francisco Zen Center’s City Center standing around some boxes of the newly published hardcover.” —David Chadwick, from the new afterword of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind

Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind turns 50 this summer, with a beautiful new cover and updated afterword by David Chadwick. We were in the beginning stages of planning a big celebration when the pandemic hit but hope to have some events online this coming fall.

David Chadwick has devoted an extensive section of his website to the history of Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind, including a chart annotating his new afterword.

To purchase a copy of the 50th Anniversary edition, contact the SFZC bookstore at bookstore@sfzc.org or call 415-354-0397.