The Laughing Buddha of Tofukuji

Whether you have known Keido Fukushima for decades or are encountering him for the first time through the pages of this intimate portrait, we all have the pleasure of meeting him as if he were an old and dear friend. Samples of his calligraphy provide further glimpses into the heart and mind of a leading Zen master of the modern world. Roshi Fukushima, as the Japanese Zen master is called, is generally sparing with personal details of his life. Even old friends of his, however, will be surprised by some of the revelations Professor Ishwar Harris has managed to uncover and share with us in this volume. Through these intimate details the reader can feel the pulse of a Zen master as a flesh-and-blood human being. We can see into the heart of a man who happens to be a Zen master. This approach provides an extraordinary occasion to come into touch with Zen Buddhism through one modern master’s life, love, and laughter. The Zen Buddhist tradition, as Professor Harris mentions, is said to begin with the selfless smile of Buddha’s disciple Mahakasyapa. Zen springs to life when we share the joy of this "open secret." See if you don’t find yourself breaking into a broad smile and beaming with delight every now and then as you read through this account.