Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

[Nenka]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

Me as an adult, I have just baked bread 4 times in my life, but as soon as I can I think I will start learning how to make bread too.

If you do, check out Ed's Tassajara Bread Book. There are some fabulous recipes and detailed instructions in there.

Gassho
Jen

[Kyonin]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

If you do, check out Ed's Tassajara Bread Book. There are some fabulous recipes and detailed instructions in there.

I will! Actually I plan on buying a couple of his books

[Dosho]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

Hi all,

My wife and I watched this a few nights ago and it turned out that I had gotten her to watch it with me a couple of years ago, but she didn't seem to mind wathcing it again. Ed is definitely an interesting character who reminds me of myself in one way: He lives with his emotions very close to the surface and seems to express them very openly (as I do) but at the same time he seems very at ease with that (something I do not do). The scene where he was openly weeping in one moment and laughing the next is the way I can often feel but would never have felt able to express that in front of people let alone being filmed! I also enjoyed the scene where he was rocking back in forth on a bench as the camera panned towards the folks who were, presumably, supposed to be sitting with him. His free flowing anger at times, but his obvious care for others was equally clear. I had a strong appreciation for his ability to use himself as an eample of what not to do but also in how he used that to show what it means to truly be a human being.

The other thing I found striking were the scenes where they took the less than pristine food and loaded it into chinese food containers to give to the homeless, who without fail took it with appreciation and gratitude. I don't think I shall ever forget that and will have to check out Ed''s books which sound very interesting. I'd also very much like to know where he gets his shirts and aprons...I think he should open his own store.

Looking forward to our next feature!

Gassho,
Dosho

[Kyonin]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

I'd also very much like to know where he gets his shirts and aprons...I think he should open his own store.

LOL I also thought of that. Loved his T-shirts!

[andyZ]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

Thank you John for bringing up this movie.

What it showed me is that there're numerous ways how one can teach the Dharama using their strengths and talents. In case of Edward Espe Brown it's the cooking, in case of Daido Loori Roshi it was the arts, in case of Jundo it's his "jewish" right to the point, no nonsense approach, in case of Taigu it's the sewing etc.

What was also interesting is that despite his 40 years of meditation he's still a "normal" human beings with a wide range of emotions from tears to even bouts of anger (when he was trying to open that cheese packet

As Choco mentioned I am too a cook in my spare time and it's an inspiration to see somebody to be so passionate about cooking.

[Amelia]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

I want to eat that bread so badly. I have to get that book...

[Zen_Fire]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

I really appreciated when he cited Suzuki sensei's sentence: "Let all things come home to your heart". It reminded me once more that if there is a possibility for peace and contentment to exist, each one of us is responsible for it in the way that we receive what the World has to offer us. Existence is food, and each one is a mixing bowl, the cooling pot that is going to transform just food into nurturance. It is up to us to not make life and living a hell's kitchen.

[Nindo]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

What was also interesting is that despite his 40 years of meditation he's still a "normal" human being

Isn't it meditation that makes you normal? :P

I will publish my husband's bread recipe tomorrow if I don't forget. He started baking bread after watching this film (otherwise he is not into Zen or Buddhism at all), and he has been doing it every week for a couple of years now. The recipe is an adaptation from Ed's. I have a wheat allergy and cannot eat the bread, but I sure love the smell in the kitchen!

[Dosho]

Re: Now Playing: How To Cook Your Life (2007)

Hi all,

I didn't have a ton to say about this film back when I posted, but I did want to add that in the days since I have found myself having a greater appreciation for foods that are less than pristine. It's not that I've started eating every stale item in my kitchen or every leftover from my fridge, but I'm more likely to eat that little bit of cereal at the bottom of the cereal container or have the previous night's dinner for lunch that wasn't quite my favorite or think to myself, "Why did I throw out that perfectly ripe banana just because we bought some new ones?"

Quite literally, food for thought!

Gassho,
Dosho