How To Cook Your Life

I can watch this video many times and never tire of it, which is why I purchased it after watching a copy. It combines great humor, serious spiritual practice and commentary on our lives with inspiration and lightness. Suzuki's simple teaching of "letting the bird come home to your heart" when the monk is disturbed by the blue jay cawing outside his window while he tries to study is the jewel of the film. Edward Espe Brown is a funny, serious, charming man and he brings his human vulnerabilities to us all with compassion and authenticity. The chanting and bells are beautiful background to the inviting journey to this magical place. I highly recommend this film to anyone interested in Zen, meditation, good food and spirituality. It is a gem.

If you have a little patience while watching this film, you will be greatly rewarded. Edward Espe Brown is not only a wonderful cooking teacher, but a humorous and humble spiritual guide. The side stories about food that illuminate this film's philosophy are enlightening and thought provoking without having to resort to disturbing film footage about our corporate food industry's ugly side. I don't purchase many DVDs, but I had to have this for my small collection. I love to cook, and having this film is like having a spiritual guide at my side to help me be patient and have reverence while I prepare food for my loved ones and myself.

A great film on food and Buddhism. The film mixes subjects such as counciousness, justice,compassion quality in a way that is fun and thoughtful. Of course if you like to bake its perspective on this topic is refreshing and entertaining. Plus you can bake some awesome bread but you'll have to buy the book that includes recipes to do that.

I cannot believe they let this guy do this. You can see right through him. He is clearly not in command of any type of spiritual merit and has apparently learned nothing in all these years. He's also not funny and not nice. If I could give a negative star I'd do that. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME.

I happen to come upon this video by accident one day as it played on a pbs channel. Days after seeing it, I was still thinking about it. It was kind of a "DUH, go to Amazon and buy that thing" moment. Although it's not a "cooking guide" it is a recipe for a thoughtful, mindful life. I will often play it as I am doing something mindless like washing dishes and just listen to the lessons. In these horribly rushed and busy days it's nice to be reminded to just chill and appreciate. AND... eat to fill your soul.

I was not as impressed with this DVD as I thought I'd be. It made many good points about food, but took a negative look at other natural eating philosophies such as Macrobiotics. That put me off the content somewhat because I really didn't want to hear critiques of other ideas, but just simply wanted to see what positive messages they could put forward. However, if this doesn't bother other buyers, it has some interesting points and may suit them better.

I guess that your algorithms did not let you know that I am the "star" of this movie How to Cook Your Life. And excuse me, yes, I think it's great. But as I say about food, you make your best effort and some people like it, some people don't. See where your taste is at: check it out. No, I do not know how to perform impeccably, but is that what life is all about? "You're only as good as your last performance." Or can you be you, and share your heart and your food with family and friends with joy and well-being? Love and blessings. And Guten Appetite.

I love Doris Dorrie's movies very much. This examination of a Zen practitioner named Edward Espe Brown is a fun look at his life and his cooking. The movie calls him a "Master". He doesn't seem happy but I don't know any masters to compare with him. I find Zen monasteries interesting as, to teach a non-individual view, they seem want to force all students into a "mold", following a recipe followed by past teachers. Seems to be more of a Asian thing than a Buddhist thing. Still, if it's a Dorrie movie, it's a movie that will show the cold, naked truth at all times, generally with a generous helping of love.

This delightful and insightful film from German director Doris Dorrie (Enlightenment Guaranteed) demonstrates, in the tradition of great Buddhist teachings, the marvel of life that is and always has been right under your nose, right at your fingertips, right there waiting for you to really see it, really feel it, really smell and taste it. Ostensibly a profile of American Soto Zen priest Edward Espe Brown , for 30 years the head cook of the California Tassajara Zen Center, the film is in the end more about how we relate to food, and ultimately how we relate to life. In Japan's Soto Zen tradition, cooking is more than just feeding the monks. It's about close attention to detail. It's about respect for the produce of the Earth. In the process, its as much about preparing yourself as it is a meal. For a more thorough review, with trailer, see my blog, FullThangka. #

Ich hatte den wunderbaren Film von Doris Dörrie vor vielen Jahren im Kino gesehen und ihn endlich mal gekauft. Eine Ode an den Zen-Buddhismus. Er ist voller Weisheiten, die auch heute noch gelten. Ein Film über das Leben, die Menschen, ihre Gefühle und die Weisheit und Tiefe des Zen. Und viel feiner spiritueller Humor. Ein Film auch über die Erde, den Konsum und das Leid, das wir durch unsere Konsumhaltung verursachen. Sollte in Schulen im Religionsunterricht gezeigt werden, auch im Fernsehen statt Kochshows.

This was a great purchase and was very happy with it!

Uno splendido, avvicente - ed anche commovente - documentario sulla vita e la pratica di un maestro zen. Molto affascinante la connessione che si traccia tra l'attività del cucinare e lo zen. Assolutamente consigliato.

Love love love this film! Although this has German subtitles, it is still a wonderful glimpse into Buddhism as a way of life. Bought this one as a gift, but watch mine every so often to centre, uplift and inspire about what really matters. Love.