Abstract

This book offers a clear and simple explanation of Zen teachings and other Buddhist principles, presented in a way that can be applied to everyday life.
Whether you lack confidence, feel unsure about what you want to do, or feel exhausted by the distance between yourself and others, this book addresses the struggles and uncertainties that everyone has experienced at some point. It offers gentle guidance, blending Zen teachings with relatable topics, such as “It's okay to have days when you can't muster the strength,” “Even things you can't do well have important meaning,” “There's no need to compare yourself to others,” and “You are already precious just as you are.”

Author’s Information

Head priest of Hōtai-ji Temple, Myōshin-ji School of the Rinzai sect. Born in 1944 in Hōtai-ji Temple, located in the castle town of Sunpu (Shizuoka City), the seat of Tokugawa Ieyasu, which was renowned for its beautiful gardens and played an important historical role as a lodging and resting place for Korean envoys (equivalent to modern ambassadors) during the Edo period. After graduating from Kyoto University's Faculty of Law, he underwent rigorous training at the specialized monastery of Tofuku-ji Temple in Kyoto. He became a disciple of the renowned monk Rin Keikyo Roshi (Head Monk of Tofuku-ji Temple's Monastery and Head of the Tofuku-ji School). He has held various positions, including President of the Myoshin-ji School Missionary Association, Director of the Myoshin-ji School's Academic Affairs Department, and Director of the Cultural Development Division of the Shizuoka Young Men's Association. He has also served as an English teacher at a high school and as a part-time lecturer at Hamamatsu University. Currently, he is a lecturer at SBS Academy. His sincere approach to counseling those in distress has earned him the trust not only of younger monks within the sect but also of parishioners and local residents.