Thank You And Ok!: An American Zen Failure in Japan: Diary of an American Zen Failure in Japan - Softcover

Chadwick, David

3.89

291 ratings by Goodreads

9780140194579: Thank You And Ok!: An American Zen Failure in Japan: Diary of an American Zen Failure in Japan

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0140194576 ISBN 13: 9780140194579

Publisher: Penguin, 1994

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Thank You and Okay! Living in San Francisco and working as maitre'd at the Green Gulch Zen Centre, the author decided to move to Japan to continue his training. Each of the vignettes or episodes of this book contributes to an account of his encounters with Japan, both inside and beyond the monastery walls.

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Review:

" Hats off to Chadwick. . . . His writer's skill is evident in everything from skin-crawling descriptions of mukade (dreaded scorpion-like insects) to a benevolent look at takuhatsu, formal monks' begging." -- Publishers Weekly" Written down with good humor and keen observations. . . . This book is not a serious examination of Zen Buddhist practices nor a major study of East-West relations but a rollicking, anecdotal mishmash of incidents about the foibles of monks, abbots, ' housewives, ' and fellow students of the author' s. Read with this understanding, this book is good entertainment." -- Library Journal" Vivid, lighthearted, and unself-consciously profound." -- Kirkus Reviews

“Hats off to Chadwick. . . . His writer’s skill is evident in everything from skin-crawling descriptions of "mukade" (dreaded scorpion-like insects) to a benevolent look at "takuhatsu," formal monks’ begging.”—"Publishers Weekly"
“Written down with good humor and keen observations. . . . This book is not a serious examination of Zen Buddhist practices nor a major study of East-West relations but a rollicking, anecdotal mishmash of incidents about the foibles of monks, abbots, ‘housewives,’ and fellow students of the author’s. Read with this understanding, this book is good entertainment.”—"Library Journal"
“Vivid, lighthearted, and unself-consciously profound.”—"Kirkus Reviews"
"The" Catch-22" of Zen."—Daniel Leighton, author of "Faces of Compassion "
“Asked why Zen was brought from India to China, master Zhao Zhou replied, 'The oak tree in the garden.' This is exac

"Hats off to Chadwick. . . . His writer's skill is evident in everything from skin-crawling descriptions of mukade (dreaded scorpion-like insects) to a benevolent look at takuhatsu, formal monks' begging."--Publishers Weekly

"Written down with good humor and keen observations. . . . This book is not a serious examination of Zen Buddhist practices nor a major study of East-West relations but a rollicking, anecdotal mishmash of incidents about the foibles of monks, abbots, 'housewives, ' and fellow students of the author's. Read with this understanding, this book is good entertainment."--Library Journal

"Vivid, lighthearted, and unself-consciously profound."--Kirkus Reviews

"The Catch-22 of Zen."--Daniel Leighton, author of Faces of Compassion

"Asked why Zen was brought from India to China, master Zhao Zhou replied, 'The oak tree in the garden.' This is exactly what Chadwick gives us here--no grand sweeping statements about the 'real' nature of Zen or Japan--just specific experience rendered with a peculiar intensity that lingers in your memory. The writing is excellent. The artistic integrity is the very finest."--Robert Pirsig, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance

"Totally delightful--fantastic couch potato Zen. Chadwick saves you the trouble of going to Japan by making all the mistakes for you."--Jack Kornfield

From the Author:

Happy to find my book on Amazon.com
Dear Readers, What a treat to come on Amazon.com and find my own book. And thanks to those readers who had such kind things to say. My wife and I miss Japan. We loved it. But we love it here in Sonoma County California too. I miss studing Zen in Japan too, but I meditate on a cushion and on everything else and enjoy being a alumnae of the San Francisco Zen Center. I love Zen but... well, I once wrote a song called "I Hate Zen" so there are at least two sides to my feeling. I have a new book Suzuki (who's mentioned a bit in TY&OK!) Amazon.com sells it next door. I'm also starting a web site (cuke.com) for the new book. But while I'm at it I think I'll set aside a section for TY&OK! I could put on a bunch of reviews, add some background data, and answer any questions. Whatever - we'll see. Anyway, it's been very well received and has been a rewarding experience having written it. I invite you to buy one and read it and I'll be here or on my web site to answer any questions.

Nuff said. Take care.

David Chadwick

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