Rules on reading zen books in your tradition
I've been sitting meditation for 15 years on and off. I've always enjoyed reading Buddhist books. Last year I found a neat zendo close to my new place. I have only missed a day of zazen since then. I enjoy the place and I like the master. However there's a doubt I have about the instructions regarding zen books.
The master has told us not to read any books at all, even shobogenzo although she firmly follows his teachings and even quotes him in teisho. The only book she allows reading of is "zen mind beginner's mind" by Shunryu Suzuki.
I asked her about this rule and she stated that I'm supposed to empty my mind in zazen, but books fill it. I understand that reading won't improve my practice. But I feel that reading Dogen does benefit me. I feel that knowing my tradition's history and reasoning connects me to our dharma ancestors and provides context to the practice and its development. I wanted to ask the master how she empties her mind - since she reads a lot of books. But unfortunately the time in dogsan was already up.
Is this firm stance on not reading books normal for your zen traditions? The tradition of the master in question is sanbo zen.