Review of How to Cook Your Life (2007) by David E — 30 Dec 2008

Didn't know what this would be like, but I remained mildly interested. The information peppered around about the Zen center and Mr. Brown's early days as a young baker aren't particularly gripping, to be facetious. Neither are the brief, yet numerous introductions to persons like organic farmers or even students of Brown. These and other bits combine to make a less than vitally important documentary.

However, I don't want to be too harsh. It goes down easy. So for anyone unfamiliar with Zen, or as in my case one who has lost track of it over time while incessantly thinking, thinking, thinking myself into an unpleasant box of frustration, worry, and expectation, it's refreshing. I was not bored by this film. Some or much of it I simply wasn't terribly interested in, but it holds its share of daily wisdom. And there's something to be said for a Buddhist introduction to, or perception of, food.

Perhaps the most interesting segment for me occurs with Mr. Brown speaking about Western and Zen approaches to soil, as in gardening. The Western person approaches the soil with a list of objectives and an arsenal of means that are set to be employed in attaining said goals. The approach is simple, and probably seems pretty normal for us. The soil is going to do X for me, and I'm going to force it to do X. And it damned well better produce X after all this work that I AM doing, because if the soil fails then that's it. That is, the Western approach begins with the desired results, thereby setting itself up for shortcomings and failure, and the inherent suffering to follow. The Zen approach, on the other hand, begins with a respect for the soil, and the means to be carefully applied to the soil in order to help it be fruitful and productive. This probably could be better explained than as is by Mr. Brown, but the effect is clear: don't be so demanding! Don't become attached to expectations, because the world is going to work things out despite your efforts. This doesn't mean don't have expectations or goals, it just means develop a more compassionate approach, and a more open-minded reception.