Novice to master by Soko Morinaga

Novice to master by Soko Morinaga has the subtitle : an ongoing lesson in the extent of my own stupidity. I guess this nice subtitle made me buy this book.

Morinaga is a Zen master, the book is an autobiography.

It has 3 parts: novice, training, master.

Part I: Novice
The core statements of this part were:
- there is no trash, any work is worth to be honored (even cleaning)
- Never think "I can't do it". If you think you can't do it, you also won't be able to do it
- Important is the relationship between student and master. The author told very interesting stories. I cannot summarize it. It is better to read the book.
- At the end of part I the author had to go a monastery to go on with his studies. On his very last day he was given some money with the words: "for the disposal of your corpse". Meant is, that now he will learn to let go of the ego. "No matter how cleverly we might manipulate ideas, coming right down to it, our real motive is to pamper our own precious selves. Unless we practice to overcome the obstinate attachment to looking out for our own dear person first, we cannot open our mind's eyes. (p.63)
- Courage for Morinaga means to stick to the original resolution, no matter what will come, how difficult it might be.

Part II:
In short: no food, if food, then bad food, not enough sleep, very strict routines, stern masters, begging, koans.

Part III:
Part three is about death, which is part of life like birth. Everybody has to die there is no doubt. It is difficult to prepare because those who are dead cannot tell how it is to die and the others do not know.

The life of Morinaga seems to be rather ascetic and hard, so I wondered about the last sentences: "And as I've mentioned, when I end a lecture, I often ask everyone to please forget everything I have just said. But nonetheless, it is my earnest desire that this clumsy narrative be a stimulus that may, in some way, help you to lead your own life - living each and every instant with great care, aware that just this is the great, dynamic, lively dancing life." (p. 154)