The Tale of Zen Master Bho Li

About the Story The Tale of Zen Master Bho Li is an original, beautifully illustrated, winsome Zen fable that imparts three essential lessons for an awakened life. The reader meets a cast of endearing characters that assist an 8 year-old orphan on his journey to become a beloved Zen Master. o The Firethroat, a rare bird that saves him from a life threatening circumstance o The “Dangerous Granny” who civilizes the feral child he'd become without taming his wild heart o Master Wu, abbot of Silent Thunder Monastery o Master Bho Li's three most problematic disciples from each of whom he learns an important lesson. The fable format conveys nuanced wisdom simply without minimizing impact. The story engages the reader with themes as diverse as our human relations to nature, impermanence, coping with difficult situations – including death, and the triumph of compassion. Despite these mature themes, the book is accessible to readers as young a ten years of age. As one reader [male, age 26] put it, “There's a lot in this little book.”

Barbara Verkuilen began Zen practice in 1971 at the Chicago Zen Buddhist Temple with Soyu Matsuoka Roshi. She then studied under the guidance of Dainin Katagiri Roshi for 15 years. Following Katagiri Roshi's death in 1990, she continued formal training with his Dharma heir, Shoken Winecoff, by whom she was ordained in 1997. Barbara and her husband Dale, also a Zen priest, co-founded the Midwest Soto Zen Community in 2001, based in Madison, Wisconsin. Barbara holds an MA in Education and an MS in Counselor Education. She is also the author of Dokusan with Dogen: Timeless Lessons in Negotiating the Way, ISBN 978-098309-7211.