Book Review - The Monkey And The Way Of Zen by Serena Choo



Come, sit for a while. There is no rush. No urgency.

Thus begins this book. It takes you on a leisurely journey laced with wisdom and timeless insights.

The story starts with a monkey who is not satisfied with a mundane existence. When he seeks out his friends, asking them whether they ever feel that there is more to life, they ridicule him. Not finding anyone to share his views and thoughts, the monkey gets frustrated. 

One day, he learns about a master who seemingly had answers to all the questions of life. The monkey sets off in search of him, thus earning the name, 'The Wandering Monkey'. He meets the master as a frustrated and restless monkey, irritated with the trials and tribulations of life and seeking peace. 

The monkey represents the quintessential human, always in search of something that would provide unshakeable peace, something that would provide answers to all the questions in life. The book proceeds to show the monkey's transformation - from a grumbling, disturbed and troubled soul, to someone who realizes that he was always free and unbound. 

The monkey's conversations with the master are timeless in their wisdom. The chapters are extremely soothing to read. The master's guidance seeks us out, providing solutions to the several problems that humankind faces on a daily basis. Be it the fear of judgement, be it the disappointments that the days bring, be it the fear of the future - this book has a chapter dedicated to all of these.

I am becoming a huge fan of zen-centric stories. Their essence, the backdrop of these stories - usually a monastery snuggled amidst majestic hills, or as in the case of this book, a dense jungle through which a river flows, the wise masters that grace every story - all these make zen-centric books a meditative experience. 

This book is simply brilliant and I am highly recommending it for readers looking for peace, or searching for that elusive 'something' that keeps bothering the mind. You will definitely find your answers in this book.

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