The following books give clear fundamentals about human existence from a Far Eastern perspective, with insight into suffering, the cause of suffering and the Way out of suffering:
The following books are published by The Zen Centre, London, and can be purchased directly from the Rinzai Zen Centre
Introducing Buddhism by Irmgard Schloegl (Myokyo-ni)
The Zen Way by Irmgard Schloegl (Myokyo-ni)
Living Buddhism by Myokyo-ni
Gentling the Bull by Irmgard Schloegl (Myokyo-ni)
The Great Wisdom Gone Beyond with Comments by Myokyo-ni
Mumonkan: The Gateless Gate by Mumon Ekai with commentary by Soko Morinaga Roshi
Yoka Daishi’s Realizing the Way Translation and Commentary by the Venerable Myokyo-ni
________
What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Sri Rahula
The First Zen Reader Compiled and Translated by Trevor Leggett.
(Charles E. Tuttle Company, Inc. USA & Japan 1960. Reprinted 1989.)
________
Specialist reading:
The Essentials of Buddhist Philosophy by Junjiro Takakusu. Edited by Wing-Tsit Chan and Charles A. Moore. University of Hawaii, Honolulu, T.H. (1974 University of Hawaii. Reprinted 1956 Oriental Books Reprint Corporation New Delhi).
The Central Conception of Buddhism and The Meaning of the Word ‘Dharma’ by Th. Stcherbatsky. (Motilal Banarsidass 1923 — Reprinted 1974).
________
Monkey by Wu Ch’Eng-En (16the century China) Translated by Arthur Waley – Unabridged
The introduction tells us that ‘Tripitaka, whose pilgrimage to India is the subject of the story, was a real person, better known to history as Hsuan Tsang … in the seventh century A.D.’