Novice to master: an ongoing lesson in the extent of my own stupidity

✍ Scribed by Morinaga, Sōkō;Yamakawa, Belenda Attaway

• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Year: 2012
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 116 KB
• Category: Fiction
• City: Boston
• ISBN: 1614290202

✦ Synopsis

As can be seen in its glowing endorsements and reviews -- from Publishers Weekly to well-known Buddhist figures -- this modern spiritual classic has been embraced by readers of all types. In his singularly humorous and bitingly direct way, Zen abbot Soko Morinaga tells the story of his rigorous training at a Japanese Zen temple, his spiritual growth, and his interactions with his students and others. Morinaga's voice is uniquely tuned to the truth of the condition of the human mind and spirit and his reflections and interpretations are unvarnished and succinct.;pt. 1. Novice -- The prospect of my own death -- Nothing is certain -- The encounter at misery's end -- There is no trash -- Consumed with cleaning -- Confucius gives Jan Yu a scolding -- Working it out for myself -- "I can't do it" -- Between teacher and student -- That's between him and me -- Tree types of students -- "For the disposal of your corpse" -- The meaning of courage -- What am I doing here? -- Living out belief in infinite power -- pt. 2. Training -- A heart that does not move -- Getting to know my own idiocy -- Routine in the monastery -- No end to practice -- pt. 3. Master -- What's it all about? -- God is right here -- Is death something we cannot know? -- We are like water -- The death of my grandfather -- Inexhaustible Dharma -- To die while alive -- Give yourself to death -- Buddha life.

✦ Subjects

RELIGION -- Buddhism -- General