Table of Contents

Preface
Prologue in China
Chapter One -The Pioneers
Chapter Two-Dogen Kigen
Chapter Three-Dogen's Successors
Chapter Four-Chinese Connections
Chapter Five-Hanazono's Zen Masters
Chapter Six-Temple Founders
Chapter Seven-Bassui
Chapter Eight-Ikkyu Sojun
Chapter Nine-Zen Style
Chapter Ten-Takuan Soho and Martial Zen
Chapter Eleven-Suzuki Shosan
Chapter Twelve-Four 17th Century Masters
Chapter Thirteen-Bankei Yotaku
Chapter Fourteen-The Poet
Chapter Fifteen-Shoju Rojin and His Disciple
Chapter Sixteen-Hakuin Ekaku
Chapter Seventeen-Hakuin's Heirs
Chapter Eighteen-Sengai Gibon and Ryokan Daigu
Chapter Nineteen-The Meiji Era
Epilogue in Chicago
Acknowledgements
Notes
Bibliography
Index of Stories

About the Author

Rick McDaniel taught at the University of New Brunswick and Saint Thomas University before working in International Development with the YMCA, where he was instrumental in creating the YMCA Peace Medallion. He is also the creator and driving force behind a five-part documentary series called '80/20: A Developing World' and coauthor of the textbook A Two Way Approach to Understanding: Issues in Global Education. Dr. McDaniel describes himself as a Roman Catholic by birth and heritage and a Zen practitioner by nature and temperament. He studies at the Montreal Zen Center with teacher Albert Low.

Reviews

"McDaniel writes in a very straightforward, easy manner and eschews flaunting his Zen knowledge so beginners will find this easy-going. This would be a handsome volume on any Zen student's bookcase and is especially valuable for those new to the practice." --The Zen Site

"It is a testament to Zen Masters of Japan that it raises so many thorny issues. McDaniel says the pursuit of the Zen Ox requires Great Doubt, Great Perseverance and a willingness to engage in Dharma combat. At first glance, one might make the mistake of thinking this collection of short narratives is another twist on the Chicken Soup for the Soul series --perhaps Miso Soup for the Buddhist Non-Soul. But that is not how Zen stories work. They're not fluffy, and they bite. Better get back on that meditation cushion…" --John Negru, editor of Sumeru-books.com