Here is a comprehensive introduction to Zen Buddhism for those who don't know how or where to begin, nor what to expect once they have started practicing.

It includes the fundamentals of meditation practice (posture, technique, clothing), descriptions of the basic teachings and major texts, the teacher-student relationship, and what you will find when you visit a zendo, plus a history of Zen from the founding of Buddhism to its major schools in the West.

In addition to answering the most frequently asked questions, it offers a listing of American Zen centers and resources, an annotated bibliography, and a glossary.

Jean Smith's enormously practical approach ensures that The Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism will become the book teachers and students alike will recommend.

Beginner's Guide to Zen Buddhism, Jean Smith, Harmony, Paperback, 208 pp, $13.95

Jean Smith is the editor of four well-established and much-admired collections of Buddhist teachings -- Breath Sweeps Mind, Everyday Mind, Radiant Mind, and 365 Zen. She divides her time between New York City and the Adirondack Mountains.