Below is a list of useful books on the teachings of Chan (Zen) and Buddhism at general. They are listed in order of importance, but you can read them in order or pick any one from each subheading.
There are three subheadings: Chan Buddhism, Chinese Buddhism, and Buddhism in General.
There are sub‐sections under each subheading. How the books are divided should all be self explanatory.
I. Chan Buddhism:
Dharma Drum Chan Lineage by Chan Master Sheng Yen
Introductory
Getting the Buddha Mind
Subtle Wisdom
Zen Wisdom
Orthodox Chinese Buddhism
Why Take Refuge in the Three Jewels?
Theory
Hoofprint of the Ox
Practice
The Mind Dharma of the Sixth Patriarch
Faith in Mind
Song of Mind
Sword of Wisdom
Shattering the Great Doubt
Method of No‐Method
Translation of Premodern Chan Texts
Foundation/Theory
The Zen Teaching of Bodhidharma. By Red Pine
The Sutra of Hui‐Neng: Grand Master of Zen. Tr. by Thomas Cleary
Zen Teaching of Instantaneous Awakening. Tr. by John Blofeld
Classics
The Zen Teaching of Huang‐Po. By John Blofeld
The Record of Linji. By Ruth Sasaki and Thomas Kirchner
Swampland Flowers. By J.C. Cleary
Record of Tung‐Shan. By William Powell
Cultivating the Empty Field. Tr. by Taigen Dan Leighton
Zen Letters. Tr. by J.C. Cleary
The Sayings of Layman P’ang. By James Green
Tracing Back the Radiance. Robert E., Jr. Buswell
Sounds of Valley Streams. By Francis Cook
Hakuin on Kensho. By Albert Low
The Gateless Barrier: The Wu‐Men Kuan. Tr. and Comments by Robert Aitken
The Blue Cliff Record. Tr. by Thomas Cleary
Other Zen Teachers
Zen Mind Beginner’s Mind. By Shunryu Suzuki
The Mind of Clover. By Robert Aitken
Empty Cloud. Charles Luk [biography of our great grand master]
Novice to Master. By Soko Morinaga
Peace is Every Step. By Thich Nhat Hanh
II. Chinese Buddhism:
Foundation
The Way to Buddhahood. By Yin‐shun
Inquiry into the Origin of Humanity. By Peter Gregory
Scriptures
The Sutra of Hui‐Neng: Grand Master of Zen. Tr. by Thomas Cleary
There is no Suffering. By Master Sheng Yen
Complete Enlightenment. By Master Sheng Yen
III. Buddhism in General:
Foundation
Foundation of Buddhism. Rupert Gethin
Early Buddhist Scriptures
Dhammapada. Tr. by Juan MascaróIn the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon. Tr. by Bhikkhu Bodhi
Later Buddhist Scriptures
The Diamond Sutra. Tr. and Comments by Red Pine
The Vimalakirti Sutra. Tr. by Burton Watson
The Lotus Sutra. Tr. by Burton Watson
Contemporary Teachers
The Dalai Lama at Harvard. By the 14th Dalai Lama
Alone with Others. By Stephen Batchelor
Start Where You Are. By Pema Chodron
What the Buddha Taught. By Walpola Rahula