The Wild, White Goose: The Diary of a Female Zen Priest

by Jiyu Kennett

Book by Jiyu-Kennett Reverend Master, Roshi P. T. N. H.

Genres: Buddhism, Biography, Zen, Nonfiction

544 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1977

Reviews

[Thane Lawrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing story about my Zen hero. Reverend Master Jiyu founded a monastery that I visit regularly and the book is an inspiration to me. The book is a warts and all account of the experience of maybe the first western woman to be accepted into a Japanese Zen monastery. At times she is treated terribly but some how comes through it all and comes back to found a Zen community that still thrives to this day.

[Andy McLellan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book which contains the diaries of Jiyu Kennett, the first western woman to be authorised to teach Zen after training in Japan. She went to Japan in the early 1960s, and trained at Sojoji, which is one of the two main training temples of Soto Zen Buddhism.

Jiyu faced a great deal of opposition from other monks, including senior figures who were responsible for ther training. Throughout this, and political struggles in the monastery, her relationship with her teacher, Zenji Sama, and her commitment to practice, keeps her going. For me, this importance of sticking with your own practice and ethics, regardless of what is happening around you, is a key take away from the book.

This account from Jiyu is a warts and all retelling of what it was like to train in a Japanese Zen monastery. Whether it is still like that, I do not know. I think there is more openness to westerners, at least in some places, but I imagine the politics and jostling for power and influence continue to be the same.

[Jean Gill · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astonishing read, it’s written as a narrative but is,in fact, the diary of a British woman who was one of the first women to become a Zen Master.
The misogyny is brutal. The resentment against foreigners is appalling. But the description of Zen enlightened is awesome. It’s also good to know how messed up other people’s religion can be too.

[Cat · Rating 5 out of 5]

A priceless diary of a woman Buddhist priest in Japan. This is a must-read for any contemporary practitioner of Buddhism, monastic or lay person. A book to read again for the annotations, and then again.

[AJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a diary of a white English woman who moved to Japan in the 1950s to study Zen at one of the most prestigious temples at the time. It's absolutely shocking the politics, hatred, anger and violence that beset her, and watching her mindset through the process is truly moving. Religious or not, everyone should read this book.

[Terry Monk · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting read about the first English woman to become a Zen Priest. Shows the trials she goes through to reach her goal, enlightenment. Must read the footnotes as you go through this book. I read book one and two.

[Rolanda Crockpot · Rating 4 out of 5]

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