Zen Cancer Wisdom: Tips for Making Each Day Better

by Suzanne Friedman

With a much-needed sense of levity, Daju Suzanne Friedman teaches the art of keeping one’s body, mind, and spirit together while living with cancer."Layman Wang once asked his attendant,'What would you do if a dragon suddenly arrived here?' His attendant answered, 'I wouldn't pay attention to anything else.' This is how it feels when you've been diagnosed with cancer. Your attention and focus shift dramatically towards just this one thing. While single-minded focus can be beneficial, it is also important to remember that you are more than your diagnosis, and that there is more to life than being a patient." --from the introductionIn Zen Cancer Wisdom , Daju Suzanne Friedman--Zen teacher, Chinese medicine doctor, and Qigong specialist--shares the inspirations, insights, and humor that helped her to continue to live fully in the face of cancer. With sections devoted to soothing the spirit, harnessing the mind, nourishing the body, and qigong stretches for soothing aches and pains, Friedman provides thoughtful guidance on topics ranging from hair loss and constipation to coping with stress and learning to laugh again. Each chapter begins with an anecdote drawn from the Zen tradition, followed by personal reflection, and a brief guided practice specifically for cancer patients. Pocket-sized, with short, buoyant chapters, and meditation exercises designed to be practicable anywhere in only a few minutes time, Zen Cancer Wisdom is the perfect companion book for cancer patients.

320 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 9, 2014

Reviews

[Karen Mellish-May · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have stage III cancer, which has metastasized. In spite of a less than brilliant prognosis, and unpleasant things over which I have no control, I want to be able to get joy out of every day of my life, and contribute to society and the people around me. Along with meditation, and teaching from local Buddhists, this book has helped me. The writer's humorous and practical advice hit the nail on the head! I was saddened to learn that the author died shortly after she finished writing the book......she had metastatic lung cancer. However I am grateful for the help she has provided.

[4shBlake · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this for my dad, 61, who has been given a few months to live due to his cancer diagnosis. Only recently has he discovered Buddhism, and has been reading a couple of chapters every morning, each are short and easy to read. I have been reading it alongside him while he sleeps beside me in hospital.

Although this book is not for terminal patients; it has completely changed his attitude and brought him so much peace, and for myself. Both of us have been so moved and changed by this book and I’d recommend it to anyone who is going through cancer, or knows somebody who is. It made me smile, contemplate, and cry. I have taken note of many quotes in this book. Even if you do not have a relationship with cancer at all, it is a read that will benefit you greatly.

Thank you Suzanne for your wisdom, I offer my prayers to you in your current and following lives. Even in death, you continue to positively impact the world and change people’s lives. 🙏🏼

[Sara Patrin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suzanne was my friend, colleague, and teacher. She was also hilariously funny, wickedly smart, and had a gift for cutting straight to the quick.

This book is all of those things because it is clearly, without affectation, her voice. Although Zen Cancer Wisdom is a book about cancer, it's not simply that. Like Suzanne, it's many things, wrapped into one powerful package. If you find yourself with a cancer diagnosis, this book is a great companion but even if you don't, its slim chapters provide Suzanne's keen insight into the simplest, most basic components of what it means to live a good life, regardless of how much time you have left.