Error loading page.
Try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, there may be a network issue, and you can use our self test page to see what's preventing the page from loading.
Learn more about possible network issues or contact support for more help.

Zen Confidential

Confessions of a Wayward Monk

ebook
2 of 2 copies available
2 of 2 copies available
A screenwriter and stand-up comic’s hilarious and profound account of his journey into Zen monkhood—featuring a foreword by Leonard Cohen

Shozan Jack Haubner is the David Sedaris of Zen Buddhism: a brilliant humorist and analyst of human foibles, whose hilarity is informed by the profound insights that have dawned on him—as he's stumbled and fallen into spirituall practice. Raised in a truly strange family of Mel-Gibson-esque Catholic extremists, he went on to study philosophy (becoming very un-Catholic in the process) and to pursue a career as a screenwriter and stand-up comic in the clubs of L.A. How he went from life in the fast lane to life on the stationary meditation cushion is the subject of this laugh-out-loud funny account of his experiences.
 
Whether he’s dealing with the pranks of a juvenile delinquent assistant in the monastery kitchen or experiencing profound compassion in the presence of his spiritual teacher, Haubner’s voice is one you'll be compelled to listen to. Not only because it’s highly entertaining, but because of its remarkable insight into the human condition.
  • Creators

  • Publisher

  • Release date

  • Formats

  • Languages

  • Reviews

    • Publisher's Weekly

      April 8, 2013
      American Buddhist monk Haubner (a pseudonym) asks his readers to “lease be embarrassed for me” in provocative essays exploring his experiences of Zen. The author’s search to “grow into a true human being” is described with startling metaphors, acute insights, and humor (his seduction by the “lush, seething dharma” of American Buddhist nun Pema Chodron’s writing is priceless). Haubner writes of defecating in his robes rather than leave his post at a meditation session; musing on the abortion “koan” due to a pregnancy scare; tormenting his oddball kitchen assistant. Tender portraits emerge as Haubner brings hard-won Zen insights to the legacy of a sometimes violent, “radical conservative” father, and finds a beloved mentor in a hard-living former Zen monk. The collection is uneven: funny, self-deprecating essays about the hard realities of life as a Zen monk jostle against sometimes self-indulgent dissections of his nastier traits. Overall, Haubner’s unorthodox take on the spiritual search, marked by moments of grace, and his strength as an essayist will win over a specific audience willing to accept his dare. Some women readers may find it to be offensive lad lit.

    • Library Journal

      September 1, 2013

      A good Zen monk needs determination, courage, and devotion--but above all, he needs a willing disposition. A ready wit and a clever comeback help as well. Shozan Haubner (a pseudonym) has all these characteristics. He surely got his start on them in his earlier life as a stand-up comic and Hollywood screenwriter. More recently he's been head monk at a Zen monastery in California. The head monk in the monastery does ordinary business such as scheduling and procurement, sees to monastic discipline, and serves as aide to the abbot. In these "personal vignettes" that Haubner began at the start of his Zen journey, he writes of finding the work challenging and at times exciting. His abbot (amazingly) is 105 years old and so requires the head monk's constant care. This author helps readers see that out of all this more or less ordinary work, coupled with constant meditation, can come the enlightenment a Zen monk seeks. VERDICT This refreshing book avoids the usual cliches. A strong choice for anyone trying to live an attentive and well-examined life.--James F. DeRoche, Alexandria, VA

      Copyright 2013 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Formats

  • Kindle Book
  • OverDrive Read
  • EPUB ebook

Languages

  • English

Loading