The Life and Letters of Tofu Roshi Book

Tofu Roshi—the fictional "Dear Abby" of Zen Buddhism—counsels his readers about their spiritual problems in this hilarious spoof of America's search for enlightenment. Selections from his advice column alternate with commentary from narrator and disciple Ichi Su.

Publishers Weekly

This collection of spiritual advice from Tofu Roshi of the No Way Zen Center, including a running commentary from narrator and disciple Ichi Su concerning her complicated relationship with the master (she is not even sure if Tofu is a man or a woman), pokes gentle fun at New Age believers. In his answers to readers' letters, Tofu gives out free-wheeling counsel that ranges from the practicalfor the concerned parents whose daughter is trying to convert their cat to a strict vegetarianto questions of deep philosophical nature: ``Why is there something, rather than nothing?'' and ``What is the meaning of life?'' Tofu has remedies for everyone in this diverting book, but often, ``like a basketball that teeters a long moment on the rim, only to fall outside the Hoop of True Understanding,'' it is difficult to ascertain just what Tofu has prescribed. There is a breath of scandal here, too, because in the sacred bowels of the No Way Zen Center, Ichi Su and Tofu are discovered passionately shaving each other's heads. Moon is coauthor of Risking Peace. Photos not seen by PW. (Oct.)