Resources for 2026 Intensive

JANUARY INTENSIVE: How To Cook Your Life

There will be a Daylong Retreat on Saturday, January 17th. Here is a link to the Retreat Schedule.

Introductory thought from Reverend Master Vivian The other morning, I was sitting quietly drinking my coffee and watching the morning light gradually arrive into this world, while also reading How to Cook Your Life (see below).  I began to panic as I realized how much I needed to read before January in order to lead our 2026 Intensive Practice Period well. But then I thought, “Actually, the Tenzo Kyokun (Dogen’s Instructions to the Chief Cook) is enough. That, along with How to Cook Your Life is more than enough.” I decided that I would only study those two things for the Intensive. Nothing more was needed. Then, instead of panicking, I could remain in the beautiful stillness of that morning.

Even so, I am listing other resources below which you can explore. They are a small sampling of what is out there on this fascicle of Dogen’s which has been written and spoken about much. You are also free to explore the internet for other finds. Try Googling “Tenzo Kyokun,” or “Instructions to the Chief Cook,” or “how to cook your life,” or whatever else might occur to you. And then enjoy!

You are not required to read anything in order to attend the Intensive Practice Period. If you read one thing, please read a translation of Tenzo Kyokun (Instructions to the Chief Cook). This will be our primary resource during our time together.

List of Readings and Resources

  • Rev. Master Jiyu Kennett, the founder of the OBC, translated this work in her early publication, Zen Is Eternal Life, which is available on the Shasta Abbey website here. The Tenzo Kyokun begins on page 165.
  • Kosho Uchiyama, Roshi wrote an excellent book on the Tenzo Kyokun called How to Cook Your Life: From the Zen Kitchen to Enlightenment. (We studied his book, Opening the Hand of Thought, at one of our Intensives several years ago. You may remember that he is Shohaku Okumura’s teacher.) Tom Wright offers a translation of the text, and then Uchiyama’s commentary, which is straightforward and yet profound. 
  • Another fine book, Nothing Is Hidden: Essays on Zen Master Dogen’s “Instructions for the Cook,” edited by Jisho Warner, Shohaku Okumura, John McRae, and Taigen Dan Leighton (Weatherhill, 2001). To get this book at a reasonable price you will probably have to buy a used copy (it is available on Amazon). It contains the translation by Foulk mentioned below.
  • Bernard Glassman wrote a book called Instructions to the Cook, which is his commentary on the Tenzo Kyokun, presumably with a translation, and it is probably a looser commentary than Uchiyama’s. I read this book many years ago and don’t remember my impressions of it, but I imagine it is also good, and would appeal to some (or all) of us.
  • Upaya is focusing on Dogen’s “Tenzo Kyokun” for their Winter Practice Period which runs from 8 – 30 January, 2026. You might want to register for this. That will give you access to their Dharma talks, which will augment our own. You can register for free and offer a donation if you wish. Here is the link to register.
  • YouTube video How to Cook Your Life – No Recipe! Edward Espe Brown Talks with Jon Joseph. Brown was the tenzo (cook) at San Francisco Zen Center (especially Tassajara) for many years.
  • Documentary in which Brown is interviewed by Doris Dorrie which costs money to watch. You can Google it.
  • Rev. Allard Kieres of Shasta Abbey gave a talk on the Tenzo Kyokun which is available here.
  • Rev. Master Daishin Yalon was the Chief Cook at Shasta Abbey for many years. Here is a link to his Dharma talk series on the Tenzo Kyokun.
  • I would encourage you to investigate at least two translations of the Tenzo Kyokun.  Available translations are: