Novice to Master : An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity

by Morinaga, Soko; Yamakawa, Belenda Attaway

• ISBN13: 9780861713196
• ISBN10: 0861713192
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-06-15
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications

Summary

A modern spiritual classic-part humorous memior, part cultural portrait, and part inspiring teaching there's something Novice to Master that will appeal to almost anyone.

Author Biography

Soko Morinaga, was head of Hanazono University and abbot of Daishu-in in Kyoto, one of the twenty-four sub-temples of Daitoku-ji. After finding himself adrift following World War Two, he took up Zen training at Daishuin under Goto Zuigan, formerly abbot of Myoshin-ji and at that time abbot of Daitoku-ji. Morinaga later became the Dharma successor to Oda Sesso Roshi, becoming head monk of Daitoku-ji. He taught regularly at Rinzai temples in California and in England during the latter part of his life. He is author of Pointers to Insight: Life of a Zen Monk, The Ceasing of Notions: Zen Text from the Tun-Huang Caves, and Novice to Master: An Ongoing Lesson in the Extent of My Own Stupidity. Morinaga Roshi passed away in 1995.

Belenda Attaway Yamakawa is a longtime student of Zen. She lives with her husband and children near the Sea of Japan.
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Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	9	(2)
Preface	11	(4)
Part I: NOVICE
The Prospect of My Own Death	15	(4)
Nothing Is Certain	19	(6)
The Encounter at Misery's End	25	(2)
There Is No Trash	27	(6)
Consumed with Cleaning	33	(4)
Confucius Gives Jan Yu a Scolding	37	(4)
Working It Out for Myself	41	(2)
``I Can't Do It''	43	(6)
Between Teacher and Student	49	(4)
That's Between Him and Me	53	(4)
Three Types of Students	57	(4)
``For the Disposal of Your Remains''	61	(4)
The Meaning of Courage	65	(6)
What Am I Doing Here?	71	(4)
Living Out Belief in Infinite Power	75	(6)
Part II: TRAINING
A Heart That Does Not Move	81	(4)
Getting to Know My Own Idiocy	85	(4)
Routine in the Monastery	89	(16)
No End to Practice	105	(6)
Part III: MASTER
What's It All About?	111	(6)
God Is Right Here	117	(4)
Is Death Something We Cannot Know?	121	(4)
We Are Like Water	125	(4)
The Death of My Grandfather	129	(4)
Inexhaustible Dharma	133	(6)
To Die While Alive	139	(6)
Give Yourself to Death	145	(6)
Buddha Life	151	(4)
About the Author	155	(1)
About the Translator	155