Michael Froilan reviews Zen Rohatsu…

Buddhism is one of the world’s most intriguing religions and has carried a compelling aura around it for years. Although technically not a religion, it has influenced millions of people to practice its sacred philosophies with devotion. Zen Rohatsu is a far-ranging book that primarily summarizes the Buddhist holiday globally celebrated on the Gregorian calendar’s eighth day of the twelfth month, which is believed to be the day Guatama Buddha achieved enlightenment while meditating under a banyan fig tree. Written by author Nora D’Ecclesis, this compact book contains a substantial amount of unique teachings, history, and traditions regarding Buddhism, not to mention a vast background on Zen which “is just one branch of the Buddhist tree.” 

I treasure this masterpiece. The well-thought words and information Nora D’Ecclesis writes encouraged introspection and inspired me to take my spiritual practices more seriously. It’s interesting to ponder just how much Buddhism has positively impacted many people’s lives on a universal scale. D’Ecclesis does a remarkable job accentuating this truth. For instance, she mentions King Ashoka, who renounced warfare and devoutly committed himself to spread Buddhism worldwide. I also enjoyed learning more about other historic spiritual giants, especially the stories of Siddhartha Gautama’s life, which D’Ecclesis tells poetically. Most people tend to overlook that it took Buddha six years to reach enlightenment, and there were many enlightened ones before him. Living in a fast-paced world, we want our desires to quickly manifest so that we tend to forget to cherish and be mindful of every fleeting moment. Zen Rohatsu was refreshing to read because it made me realize that nothing worthwhile comes from forcing anything. Praiseworthy, formidable, and exceptional, this is a monumental book from which I sincerely believe all strata of society can benefit.