Spiritual Adventures of a Sushi Chefby Masao Maki
Spiritual Adventures of a Sushi Chef
by Masao Maki
150 pages
Published by Cadence Books
Publication date: October 1997
ISBN: 1569312184
Reviews:
I.G., 11/1/97 Hilarious and heartbreaking story of the modern spiritual quest
Alternately hilarious and heartbreaking, Masao Maki's Spiritual Adventures of a Sushi Chef takes us through the looking glass of the modern spiritual quest. Inspired by a series of strong coincidences, he sets off for India in search of the Leaves of Agasthya, which he hopes will reveal his destiny. In the process, he encounters many of India's modern saints and also some charlattans . . . and a few who might be a bit of both.
His spiritual quest has all the intensity of a sincerely striving soul, yet it is very modern in its many, sometimes bewildering array of modalities and devotional focuses. Through Maki-san, we encounter Sai Baba, Gurumayi, Osho Rajneesh, Shri Shri Ravi Shankar, and Poonjaji. In addition, we meet Shinto priests, Japanese hippies, and a healthy dose of the American New Age movement.
Throughout all his adventures and misadventures, spiritual elations and crushing disappointments, Masao Maki maintains his optimism (and reminds us to do the same), but spiced with a healthy skepticism and growing spiritual self-reliance. I hope a lot of people read this book for the insight it brings to the modern spiritual quest. Bravo, Maki-san!