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How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment Paperback – Illustrated, November 8, 2005

by Eihei Dogen (Author), Kosho Uchiyama Roshi (Author)
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 159 ratings
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This modern-day commentary on Dogen’s Instructions for a Zen Cook reveals how everyday activities—like cooking—can be incorporated into our spiritual practice

In the thirteenth century, Zen master Dogen—perhaps the most significant of all Japanese philosophers, and the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen sect—wrote a practical manual of Instructions for the Zen Cook. In drawing parallels between preparing meals for the Zen monastery and spiritual training, he reveals far more than simply the rules and manners of the Zen kitchen; he teaches us how to "cook," or refine our lives.

In this volume Kosho Uchiyama Roshi undertakes the task of elucidating Dogen's text for the benefit of modern-day readers of Zen. Taken together, his translation and commentary truly constitute a "cookbook for life," one that shows us how to live with an unbiased mind in the midst of our workaday world.
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Previous page
  1. Print length
    136 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Shambhala
  4. Publication date
    November 8, 2005
  5. Dimensions
    6 x 0.42 x 9 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    9781590302910
  7. ISBN-13
    978-1590302910
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This is a book that should grace the shelves of any practitioner, not only because of Dogen's classic text but also for the unequivocal way in which the commentary amplifies the text and makes the very important point that a Buddhist practice, if it is to mean anything, must touch every area of life and not just the confines of the meditation cushion."—The Middle Way

"I am glad to see Uchiyama Roshi's classic commentary to Instructions for the Zen Cook back in print. Dogen's original text (here in Thomas Wright's lucid translation) is particularly applicable to everyday spirituality in the world, and Roshi's commentary, full of gritty, funny stories about his early days as a monk in pre- and post-war Japan, and charming tales from Buddhist and Japanese folklore, evidence a plain-speaking, shoot-from-the hip approach to Zen that is as refreshing now (possibly more so!) as it was when the book first came out. Zen masters of this full-bodied tasty vintage are hard to find these days!"—Zoketsu Norman Fischer, former abbot, San Francisco Zen Center; founder and teacher, Everyday Zen Foundation; author of Taking Our Places: The Buddhist Path to Truly Growing Up

About the Author

Dogen (1200–1253) is known as the founder of the Japanese Soto Zen sect.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ 1590302915
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala; Illustrated edition (November 8, 2005)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 136 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 9781590302910
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1590302910
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.42 x 9 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 159 ratings

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Kōshō Uchiyama

Kōshō Uchiyama

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Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
159 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Martin Johnson
5.0 out of 5 stars What an apt title: "How to Cook Your Life"!
Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2023
Verified Purchase
"How to Cook Your Life" is an incredible text; my copy has penciled underlines and notes on nearly every page. The first 20 pages of this book is Dōgen's "Tenzo Kyōkun" ("Instructions for the Zen Cook"), which is the first chapter from his book "Eihei Shingi" ("Pure Standards for the Zen Community") -- available on Amazon. The next roughly 80 pages is Kōshō Uchiyama's commentary.

At one level this text serves as just what it says, practical instructions for a tenzo, a Zen cook. At another level this is a wonderful metaphor for life, which Uchiyama flushes out with great clarity and depth. Without a doubt, for someone who is open to it, this is a life changing text.
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Romulo Vallejo
5.0 out of 5 stars A true gem!
Reviewed in the United States on January 11, 2022
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May the wisdom of the tenzo reach everyone who is in search of the way. This is one of the most profound and at the same time practical texts on Buddhist spirituality I have read. A blessing and a source of inspiration that I will treasure in the years to come.
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MJ Smith
5.0 out of 5 stars A great book of Eihei Dogen’s writing, with commentary by a great Zen Master
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2020
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This is one of Dogen’s profound works. Passages from this great work are read in the kitchen at San Francisco Zen Center, as well as Tassajara Mountain Zen Center. It is a clearly written, inspirational guide on how to practice Soto Zen Buddhism, based on how the Monastery head cooks, called the Tenzo, live Zen through cooking. The book contains the writings of Dogen, with commentary by one of the truly great Zen Masters, Kosho Uchiyama, who writes in such a clear, lucid and at times entertaining style, that he makes Dogen’s words much more accessible.
5 people found this helpful
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EH555
5.0 out of 5 stars Best used book purchase ever!
Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2022
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The seller wrapped the book in a nice tissue paper and included a business card that functions nicely as a bookmark. This was more like an Etsy purchase than an Amazon purchase. Thanks for the nice touch!
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Richard M. Brown
5.0 out of 5 stars Everyday Zen
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2021
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This is a wonderful book, actually 2 wonderful books by 2 Zen masters, centuries apart about integrating Zen into everyday life. As a Zen student of over 30 years, I highly recommend it.
One person found this helpful
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Bill Thompson
5.0 out of 5 stars Cook your life!
Reviewed in the United States on August 21, 2021
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A most enjoyable text and commentary
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Russ
3.0 out of 5 stars So so
Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2014
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Nice story but I think it could have been done much better. It was a good read but not one I will read more than once.
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Concerned Consumer
5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism In The Kitchen
Reviewed in the United States on May 11, 2020
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This timeless book brings Zen Buddhist practice into the kitchen. Further bring Buddhism into everyday life.
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Keith McL
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Clear Zen Practice Instructions
Reviewed in Canada on April 5, 2021
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"How to Cook Your Life" is an amazing guide to practicing zazen and how to life out the Reality of a pure-life. Koshi Uchiyama Roshi is at his best when he comments on Dogen's works.

Dogen Zenji's audience when he wrote "Instructions For the Zen Cook" were monks; so he assumes the reader knows the basics of practicing zazen. Uchiyama Roshi uses Dogen's work as a springboard to comment on subjects like dealing with thoughts, fantasies and other important issues that arise during zazen and life.

This book is a very good guide in living Zen and how to not turn one's life into an improvement project.

I rank this book with Shunryu Suzuki's "Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind." I will refer back to it often to keep my practice natural.

Highly recommended for both beginner and long time Zen practioners.
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Maximvs
5.0 out of 5 stars Cozinhar é Zazen.
Reviewed in Brazil on February 9, 2021
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O livro nos apresenta a ligação entre cozinhar e meditar. Indo muito além do simplesmente se manter imóvel numa almofada, meditar também é andar, limpar a casa, cozinhar; servir. Inclusive, a nomenclatura de samurai, nada mais significa que; aquele que serve. Assim, podemos ser grandes guerreiros quando não desperdiçamos aquele último grãozinho de arroz preso no fundo da tigela, quando damos atenção a quem precisa ou quando alimentamos um cachorro de rua. Em verdade, cozinhar envolve o uso de todos os seis sentidos usualmente conhecidos no Japão, posto que para se colocar mais temperos, o cozinheiro se transporta para dentro da panela, e lá exerce a prática. Se os koans são forma, a cozinha é a prática. Neste texto de Dogen e no comentário do Roshi, encontramos uma pérola tão rara, quanto aquelas encontradas pelas Ama do Japão.
4 people found this helpful
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Carlos
5.0 out of 5 stars Obra significativa muy recomendable
Reviewed in Spain on December 4, 2017
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Libro significativo y relevante para entender y orientarse, en un sentido práctico, en nuestra vida cotidiana, en la práctica del Budismo zen.
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KeithBroad
5.0 out of 5 stars My favourite Buddhist text
Reviewed in Australia on June 21, 2020
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This is a joyous book that explains, simply, how to live a good life: before it’s too late.
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UNNIKRISHNAN P S
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in India on November 16, 2015
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