Don't Be a Jerk: And Other Practical Advice from Dogen, Japan's Greatest Zen Master

by Brad Warner

Overview

The Shōbōgenzō (The Treasury of the True Dharma Eye) is a revered eight-hundred-year-old Zen Buddhism classic written by the Japanese monk Eihei Dōgen. Despite the timeless wisdom of his teachings, many consider the book difficult to understand and daunting to read. In Don’t Be a Jerk, Zen priest and bestselling author Brad Warner, through accessible paraphrasing and incisive commentary, applies Dōgen’s teachings to modern times. While entertaining and sometimes irreverent, Warner is also an astute scholar who sees in Dōgen very modern psychological concepts, as well as insights on such topics as feminism and reincarnation. Warner even shows that Dōgen offered a “Middle Way” in the currently raging debate between science and religion. For curious readers worried that Dōgen’s teachings are too philosophically opaque, Don’t Be a Jerk is hilarious, understandable, and wise.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781608683895
Publisher:	New World Library
Publication date:	02/15/2016
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	328
Sales rank:	844,749
File size:	3 MB

About the Author

Soto Zen priest Brad Warner, the author of books including Hardcore Zen and Sit Down&Shut Up, is a filmmaker, Japanese monster movie marketer, punk bassist, and popular blogger. Warner is the founder of Dogen Sangha Los Angeles.

Editorial Reviews

02/22/2016
The Shobogenzo (SBGZ) by Eihei Dogen is considered one of the masterpieces of Zen literature, but its length and the many opaque, philosophical koans often prevent general readers from approaching the text. Warner (Sit Down and Shut Up), a Soto Zen priest, popular blogger at www.hardcorezen.info, and punk bassist, offers a spiritual summary of the first 21 chapters of the SBGZ for those unfamiliar with it but interested in an exploration of the work. He maintains a consistent structure throughout: a short introduction to each chapter, a rephrasing of the text in modern language, and then commentary and reflection. Warner gives readers the rich historical and textual history of the SBGZ, covering times when the Japanese Soto School shrouded the work in secrecy and also providing a brief synopsis of its translation history. Due to his spiritual proximity to his teacher, Gudo Nishijima, Warner's rephrasing looks often to the classic Nishijima and Cross translation of the SBGZ, but Warner's voice is unique and sometimes irreverent. His liberal attempts to paraphrase the text can be jarring and awkward, including strained references to pop culture (the Flintstones, Twinkies, etc.). Despite some awkward choices in wording and oddly timed tangents, Warner renders the esoteric SBGZ into a fun, readable text, conveying its spirit with humor and deep respect. The self-serious aside, those interested in a preliminary romp through the SBGZ should find this an enjoyable read. (Mar.)

Publishers Weekly

“A delightful blend of irreverent everydayness, precise scholarship, and heartfelt commitment to practice, Don’t Be a Jerk is just the kind of book to stub your toe on.”
— Stephen Batchelor, author of After Buddhism

“Warner renders the esoteric [Shobogenzo] into a fun, readable text, conveying its spirit with humor and deep respect.”
— Publishers Weekly

"What's clear in reading Warner's book is his deep respect and lifelong engagement with Dogen. I have spent decades of my own life trying to unpack this 800-year-old voice from medieval Japan because, behind all the paradox and poetry, something powerful seems to shine through. So while Warner's approach to Dogen may be unorthodox, its freshness might be exactly what the doctor ordered for anyone wanting a way in to the old monk's still fresh perspective."
— Adam Frank, 13.7 blog, NPR.org

“Each chapter opens with a passage from the original, which is then carefully and often humorously unpacked. The book provides plenty of resources in case readers want to subsequently dive into the original work, and Warner clearly explains why he chose some words over others. His tone is direct and engaging, and his paraphrases bring Dogen’s thoughts to life for a modern audience. Although the tone may be irreverent and humorous, the book shows the utmost respect for the monk, who has influenced so many over the centuries.”
— Booklist

“You couldn’t ask for a better guide through The Treasury of the Right Dharma Eye. A most warmly recommended read!”
— Nexus Magazine, Germany

From the Publisher