I.                     Essential reading for Mandala students

• Kukai, Major Works by Yoshito Hakeda

• Shingon, Japanese Esoteric Buddhism by Taiko Yamasaki

• The Mahavairocana Sutra, translated by Chikyo Yamamoto

• The Way of Great Enjoyment (Rishu Kyo) translated by Rev. Taisen Miyata

• Kaji: Empowerment & Healing in Esoteric Buddhismby Ryuko Oda

• Tantric Poetry of Kukai by Morgan Gibson & Hiroshi Murakami

• Awakening of Faith by Asvagosha, translated by Yoshito Hakeda

II.                   Other readings in Esoteric Traditions

• A Study into the Thought of Kogyo Daishi Kakuban by H. Van der Veere  

• Japanese Mandalas by Elizabeth Grotenhois

• Mudra, A Study of Symboloc Gestures in Japanese Buddhist Sculpture by E Dale Saunders

• The Tantric Ritual of Japan by Richard Karl Payne

• The Esoteric Iconography of Japanese Madalas by Lokesh Chandra

• The Weaving of Mantra by Ryuichi Abe

• Evolution of the Garbhadhatu Mandala by Ulrich Mammitzsch

• Buddhism Flammarion Icongraphic Gudes by Louis Fredric

• Indian Esoteric Buddhism, A Social History of the Tantric Movement by Ron Davidson

• A Study of the Ritual Mudras in the Shingon Tradition and their Symbolism by Rev. T. Miyata

• The Matrix and Diamond World Mandalas in Shingon Buddhism by Adrian Snodgrass

• Mudras in Japan by L. Chandra and S. Rani

III.                 Sutras and traditional sources

• Dhammapada, translated by Ananda Maitreya

• The First Discourse of the Buddha translated by Dr. Rewata Dhamma

• Thus Have I Heard, The Long Discourses of the Buddha translated by Maurice Walshe

• The Middle Length Discourses of the Buddha translated by Bhikkus Bodhi and Nanamoli

• The Connected Discourses of the Buddha translated by Bhikkus Bodhi

• The Flower Ornament Sutra, translated by Thomas Cleary

• The Threefold Lotus Sutra tranlated by B. Kato, Y. Tamura and K. Miyasaka

• The Lankavatara Sutra translated by D.T. Suzuki

• Diamond Sutra translated by A.F. Price and Wong Mou-Lam

• The Bodhisattvacharyavatara by Shantidev 
  

•       Mahayana Sutras in English    Direct Link

• English/Japanese Translation of the Heart Sutra  Direct Link
  

IV.                 Japanese Buddhism

• The Unfettered Mind by Takuan Soho

• Myoe the Dreamkeeper by George J Tanabe Jr

• A Primer of Soto Zen by Dogen

• Rational Zen translated by Thomas Cleary

• One Robe, One Bowl by Ryokan

• Wild Ways by Ikkyu

• Penetrating Laughter, Hakuin’ Zen & Art by Kazuaki Tanahashi

V.                   Japanese History and Culture

• Japanese Inn by Oliver Statler

• Japanese Pilgrimage by Oliver Statler

• Japan: The Story of a Nation by Edwin O Reischauer

• Sacred Calligraphy of the East by John Stevens

• Zen Word, Zen Calligraphy by E.T Shimano and K. Tani

• Japan, A Short Cultural History, G.B. Sansom

• The Bushido by Inazo Nitobe

• A Book of Five Rings by Miyamoto Musashi

• The Hagakure by Yamamoto Tsunetomo

• The Heart of Karate-Do by Shigeru Egami

• Shinto, The Kami Way by Sokyo Ono

• The Art of Peace by Morihei Uueshiba
  

• Short Kukai Bio Compiled by Ron Green  Direct Link

VI.                 Japanese Buddhism in the United States

• Zen Mind, Beginners Mind by Shunryu Suzuki Roshi

• Endless Vow, by E. Shimano, K. Tanahashi and R.S. Chayat

• The Zen Eye  by Sokei-an

• Returning to Silence by Dainin Katagiri

• Zen for Americans by Soyen Shaku

VII.               Contemporary Buddhism

• Born in Tibet by Chogyam Trungpa

•       What the Buddha Taught by Walpola Rahula
  

• Dharma Paths by Ven.. Khenpo Karthar Rinpoche

• Mountain Record of Zen Talks by John Daido Loori

• The Dharma Bums by Jack Kerouac