This Truth Never Fails: A Zen Memoir in Four Seasons

by David Rynick

This Truth Never Fails is a playful yet well-grounded narrative of a year in the life of an unusual Zen master. Far from the silent and detached stereotype of Zen teachers, Rynick writes with disarming humor, offering both the struggles and the joys of ordinary life as opportunities for insight. Anyone looking for inspiration to bring a simple spiritual awareness into their daily lives, and also those interested in finding ways to more deeply integrate faith (in any tradition) with practice will find this book reassuring and encouraging.

This book appeals to the broad "mindfulness" and "general spirituality" audiences that transcend any one formal tradition. Leaning toward Anne Lamott's humor, universal spirituality, and Mary Oliver's love of the natural world, Rynick's writing bypasses Zen theory and doctrine. Simple, clear prose illustrates, vividly, an insightful and tender appreciation of ordinary life as the Way itself.

Includes a brief "study guide for further inquiry" offering opportunities for personal reflection and exploration on themes touched on in the book.

Genres: Spirituality, Memoir, Zen

248 pages, Paperback

First published June 5, 2012

Reviews

[Boris Gregoric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great quote from this book:

'I want to trust the aliveness of the moment and be able to follow the unfolding long enough to come to some new place. i don't want to write about what I know. I want to write about what I don't know —about the passionate and beating heart of things that takes no fixed form'.


...these are homey, humble, suburban north(east) american's zen reflections. one chapter, 'instructions for an ordinary symphony' though was totally lost on me. a failed attempt at surrealism? without that chapter and the one on the author's beloved hostas (boring), the book reads even better.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a series of narrative snapshots of everyday life, and seeing the sacred in it. Rynak shares the 'pleasing' and 'displeasing,' at times, the hilarious. He does not write down to the reader. Being a co-founding teacher of Boundless Way Zen and certified Rinzai and Soto teacher, one would not know based on the content. Zen Buddhists and anyone other simply interested in living wisely and celebrating life can glean inspirations here.

Rynak is clear on the humanness and struggles he lives with, as well as the daughtless urge onward, affirming life as it is. Clearly, at least to this reader, he does not see enlightenment as a sweetly succulent place of eternal rest.

The treatise is not prescriptive, but invitation to overehear and engage the author's stories with our story. The writing is clear and crisp, the snapshots short enough to spend a few minutes daily with each. The book has a study guide at the end for reflection. Some books exceed expectation, this did for me.

[Les · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great little book. Its a collection of short essays by the author that illustrates the precepts and ideas of Buddhism using events in his own life. This book makes Buddhism more practical and accessible than books that focus primarily on philosophy.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Need to buy this one. Every two-page essay gave me something to think about. Definitely worth dipping into over and over again.

[Jason Arias · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rynick reminds us of the gift of being still and the ridiculousness of the restless mind. This book was a good reminder of the important things.

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quite enjoyable light collection of very short pieces espousing a very Zen approach to life. I loved reading a few of these a night (they are only 1-2 pages each). Very uplifting.