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Rice Eyes: Enlightenment in Dogen's Kitchen
A poetic presentation of Dogen's essay Tenzo Kyokun, Instructions to the Cook, by Zen Priest and Poet Tai Sheridan. 'Rice Eyes' is a metaphor for the non-dual world, the essential Buddhist experience of oneness. Dogen uses the role of Tenzo, or head cook, to demonstrate how to live, work, and experience a spiritual life that brings benefit to everyone.
Dogen lived from 1100 to 1153. He was the grandfather of the Soto lineage of Zen in Japan, a school of Zen now firmly rooted in America and the West. His seminal essay, Instructions to the Cook (Tenzo Kyokun), is an important expression about living an aware and joyful life during daily activities.
The author has transformed Dogen's essay from prose into poetry, and created subdivisions by topic that clarify the essay. He has also replaced the twelfth century idioms with contemporary language and images to render Dogen's ideas more understandable. He has maintained the sequence of Dogen's essays and uses the original images to structure and build the verses.
Dogen lived from 1100 to 1153. He was the grandfather of the Soto lineage of Zen in Japan, a school of Zen now firmly rooted in America and the West. His seminal essay, Instructions to the Cook (Tenzo Kyokun), is an important expression about living an aware and joyful life during daily activities.
The author has transformed Dogen's essay from prose into poetry, and created subdivisions by topic that clarify the essay. He has also replaced the twelfth century idioms with contemporary language and images to render Dogen's ideas more understandable. He has maintained the sequence of Dogen's essays and uses the original images to structure and build the verses.
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First published February 22, 2011
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
September 28, 2021
A collection of poems addressed to a chef -- I didn't like it as much as I thought I would, but I have no doubt that I will enjoy it more on consequent read throughs.
If you read it linearly at your usual reading pace, < 10 mins. But maybe a day or two to actually digest? YMMV.
If you read it linearly at your usual reading pace, < 10 mins. But maybe a day or two to actually digest? YMMV.
August 20, 2017
Hmm
I am not sure what to make our of this. It was an odd read. I've read some of Two's other books this was not the same.
I am not sure what to make our of this. It was an odd read. I've read some of Two's other books this was not the same.
November 18, 2021
Monotonous.
August 21, 2012
This poetic book is based on Dogen's essay "instructions to the Cook" by Zen priest and Poet, Tai Sheridan. This book is all about non-duality and the world we live in. This book demonstrates how to live and experience life as it should be lived. If you want to learn how to have present time awareness and make the most of each moment by living in the moment, this book is for you.
May 24, 2012
I found it interesting. It might not have been as successful as Tai Sheridan wanted it to be, but intriguing nonetheless.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews