Library's review
'It seems obvious that van e Wetering's eight months in a Kyoto monastery still afect the course of his existence.'-The Boston Globe
'A vivid humorous, and slightly disillusioning account of a Dutchman's frustrating struggle toward enlightenment in a Japanese Zen monastery. Insightful, funny.'-Carl
'As might be expected, the author shows a deep respect for the taechings of Zen. What makes this account extraordinary, however, is that the book contains none of the convert's irritating certitude, and no suggestion that the reader rush to follow the author's example.'-Time
'What is accessible is the day-to-day description of life, of the monks themselves and of the others he met, of the jokes they played and tthe food they ate, of the moments of satori, the explosive moment of an understanding surpassing understanding.'-Los Angeles Times
'What emerges is a work of nonfiction told through the ingenuous presona of van de Wetering, that is as enjoyable to read as a well-crafted novel.'-East West Journal
Contents
The gate of the monastery, a chicken, and a vendor of noodles
Meditating hurts
Life is suffering
Caught between the tigers
A large glass of soya sauce and a dengerous snake
A thirsty fish
A difference of rank and a pigeon's egg
The first sesshin and the whale's penis
A little black magic
Rohatsu, week of weeks
The eightfold path and a jump into the swamp
A shameless day and satori in the willow quarter
Devils are no good, you know that, don't you?
If you don't hold out your hand a Zen master will be murdered
A court lady iscourteously treated
Attempted manslaughter and doing some shopping
Is a cloud a member of the sky?
Whatever ends begins
'A vivid humorous, and slightly disillusioning account of a Dutchman's frustrating struggle toward enlightenment in a Japanese Zen monastery. Insightful, funny.'-Carl
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Rogers'As might be expected, the author shows a deep respect for the taechings of Zen. What makes this account extraordinary, however, is that the book contains none of the convert's irritating certitude, and no suggestion that the reader rush to follow the author's example.'-Time
'What is accessible is the day-to-day description of life, of the monks themselves and of the others he met, of the jokes they played and tthe food they ate, of the moments of satori, the explosive moment of an understanding surpassing understanding.'-Los Angeles Times
'What emerges is a work of nonfiction told through the ingenuous presona of van de Wetering, that is as enjoyable to read as a well-crafted novel.'-East West Journal
Contents
The gate of the monastery, a chicken, and a vendor of noodles
Meditating hurts
Life is suffering
Caught between the tigers
A large glass of soya sauce and a dengerous snake
A thirsty fish
A difference of rank and a pigeon's egg
The first sesshin and the whale's penis
A little black magic
Rohatsu, week of weeks
The eightfold path and a jump into the swamp
A shameless day and satori in the willow quarter
Devils are no good, you know that, don't you?
If you don't hold out your hand a Zen master will be murdered
A court lady iscourteously treated
Attempted manslaughter and doing some shopping
Is a cloud a member of the sky?
Whatever ends begins
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Genres
ISBN
312207743
Publication
St. Martin's Griffin 175 Fifth Avenue New York, NY