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Alex Kakuyo
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Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life Kindle Edition

by Alex Kakuyo (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 332 ratings
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In this practical, easy to understand book Alex Kakuyo explains how the Four Noble Truths and Eightfold Path of Buddhism can help us in daily life. Drawing from personal experiences on farms, in temples, and in the U.S. Marines, Alex tells stories that show how the daily grind of work, traffic jams, and family drama is the source of our enlightenment.
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  1. Print length
    241 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publication date
    March 6, 2020
  5. File size
    1566 KB
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Editorial Reviews

Review

Sensei Alex Kakuyo is one of the most interesting young Buddhist teachers around today. His take on Buddhism is refreshingly different. The fact that he's ex-military gives Alex a very different take on a lot of issues that concern American Buddhists. I think a lot of people who wouldn't ordinarily be interested in Buddhism will find Alex's writing appealing.
-Brad Warner, Soto Zen Priest and author of Letters to a Dead Friend about Zen


Sensei Alex Kakuyo has that rare gift for making Buddhist teachings interesting and accessible without watering them down. Kakuyo caps off each pithy, readable chapter with a lucid lesson that recasts traditional Dharma principles in a contemporary light. You've heard this stuff before, you just haven't heard it quite like this.
-Shozan Jack Haubner, Rinzai Zen Monk and author of Zen Confidential


Alex Kakuyo does a wonderful job of conveying the simple yet profound teachings of Buddhism while simultaneously sharing some of his own personal life stories. If you're looking for a book that covers all the basics in a thorough and well thought out manner, this is the book for you.
-Noah Rasheta, Host of the Secular Buddhism Podcast


Sensei Alex has written a very thoughtful and engaging book about lived Zen. Throughout this book, he tells relatable stories that illuminate the presence of the Dharma in everyday experiences. He blends balanced advice about interacting with the world with meditations on the great beyond. This is a handbook of lessons that you can return to constantly.
-Raymond Lam, Senior Writer at Buddhist Door Global


I absolutely loved reading Sensei Alex Kakuyo's book, Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life. He covers his content in a substantial manner and his words are clear and straightforward. And the examples he uses make you smile and want to keep reading. If you take a little taste of this book, you'll want to eat it all up!
-Rev. Koyo Kubose, President of The Bright Dawn Center of Oneness Buddhism


No nonsense language and a wry sense of humor dishing practical advice for living a life with less suffering and more ease. These are the kinds of stories you'd expect from your wise, old grandmother. Yet they weave together the fundamentals of Buddhism and everyday common sense to craft profound teachings that will not only make you smile, but also show you that life can be better with practice.
-Dhammapida Konin Cardenas, a nun in the Theravada Forest Tradition in the West and in the Soto Zen Buddhist Tradition


Sensei Alex Kakuyo's "Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life" goes to the heart of the Buddhist experience. Written by a former Marine who eventually became an American Buddhist minister, it is a field guide for the rest of us whose objective is to bring meaning to our own lives and the lives of others. Sensei Alex weaves his own experiences and the fundamental teachings of Buddhism into an easy-to-follow narrative that is both educational and entertaining. Semper Fi, Alex!
-Ven. Shih Ying-Fa, Abbot of CloudWater Zendo, the Zen Center of Cleveland


Many books offer the Dhamma, but few are as accessible as "Perfectly Ordinary." Sensei Kakuyo has shown a compassionate thoughtfulness in his short passages, and sayings such as, "Nirvana exists on a spectrum," shall stay with me on my own path. Read him cautiously and deeply.
-Jennifer Hawkins, Community Director of The Secular Buddhist Association


Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life is a rare treat. Alex Kakuyo has a wonderful talent for presenting complicated Buddhist teachings in plain English without sacrificing the integrity of those teachings. I would highly recommend Perfectly Ordinary to anyone interested in Buddhism.
-Rev. CJ Daiyo Marbutt


Sensei Alex has not written a book about Buddhism, he has written a gentle guide on how to detoxify modern life, and I think it is just what we needed. It is full of relatable stories and quotes you will want to copy to your bathroom mirror or refrigerator door to see and inspire every day.
 -Jim Two Snakes, Shamanic practitioner and co-host of the Around Grandfather Fire podcast


This debut book by the Zen Sensei (Teacher) Alex Kakuyo is a refreshing, practical, guide to bringing Buddhist contemplation and meditation into our real lives. Written in beautiful jargon-free English, Sensei uses examples from his life as a former Marine, a corporate cog, and farm intern to illustrate the empowering joy of being a master of your own mind and emotions in any situation. He writes, "our pain lessens as we stop piling emotional baggage on top of it." That is the truth. This fresh American voice can teach you how.
-Loppon Yudron Wangmo, Mayum Mountain Foundation, Oakland, California

From the Author

Many Dharma books have been written from the perspective of Buddhist monks. Even more have been written for academics and philosophers. But there are very few Buddhist books that have the householder in mind; the person who wants to devote themselves to spiritual practice, but still has a job, a family, or a home that requires their attention.
I wrote this book for those individuals. In Perfectly Ordinary: Buddhist Teachings for Everyday Life, I take the core teachings of Buddhism and use simple language to explain not only how they work, but how they can help us with everyday struggles. Some of the topics covered include:
  • Traffic jams
  • Family drama
  • Feelings of loneliness
  • Difficult co-workers
  • Experiencing universal love
The end result is a book that's useful both for people who've been walking the path for decades and others who are just finding their way.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0852GYDXX
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published (March 6, 2020)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ March 6, 2020
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1566 KB
  • Simultaneous device usage ‏ : ‎ Unlimited
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 241 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 167376939X
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.6 4.6 out of 5 stars 332 ratings

About the author

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Alex Kakuyo

Alex Kakuyo

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Alex Kakuyo is a Buddhist teacher and breathwork facilitator. A former Marine, he served in both Iraq and Afghanistan before finding Buddhism through a series of happy accidents. He holds a B.A. in philosophy from Wabash College and the focus of his ministry is helping students integrate spirituality with their daily life through movement, gratitude, and meditation. Learn more at thesameoldzen.com.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
4.6 out of 5
332 global ratings
Clear, lucid, helpful.
5 Stars
Clear, lucid, helpful.
If I had to sum up what I got from this book, and its writer, it would be "sincerity." Sensei Alex Kakuyo has clearly dedicated himself to his practice, and his writing expresses a genuine joy to convey the beneficial things he has learned. His writing is lucid, clear, straightforward, and encouraging, drawing upon his unique experiences in corporate America, on sustainable farms, in the Marines, growing up, and more. But it's his insights into the "everyday" situations we all experience -- stressful days at work, wanting to be liked by a friend group, getting stuck in traffic, doing a hobby -- that really shine. Check out a sincere book and then get on the cushion!
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Top reviews from the United States

Cindy H.
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting read for an introduction to Buddhism
Reviewed in the United States on September 8, 2021
Verified Purchase
I really knew very little about Buddhism before I picked up this book. This is an easy read and the author makes the subject interesting. It is written from the perspective of and for "everyday people" wanting to know a bit about Buddhism and understand the basic principles. I enjoyed it very much and learned a lot.
2 people found this helpful
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lucas oswalt
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, lucid, helpful.
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2020
Verified Purchase
If I had to sum up what I got from this book, and its writer, it would be "sincerity." Sensei Alex Kakuyo has clearly dedicated himself to his practice, and his writing expresses a genuine joy to convey the beneficial things he has learned. His writing is lucid, clear, straightforward, and encouraging, drawing upon his unique experiences in corporate America, on sustainable farms, in the Marines, growing up, and more. But it's his insights into the "everyday" situations we all experience -- stressful days at work, wanting to be liked by a friend group, getting stuck in traffic, doing a hobby -- that really shine. Check out a sincere book and then get on the cushion!
Customer image
lucas oswalt
5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, lucid, helpful.
Reviewed in the United States on November 2, 2020
If I had to sum up what I got from this book, and its writer, it would be "sincerity." Sensei Alex Kakuyo has clearly dedicated himself to his practice, and his writing expresses a genuine joy to convey the beneficial things he has learned. His writing is lucid, clear, straightforward, and encouraging, drawing upon his unique experiences in corporate America, on sustainable farms, in the Marines, growing up, and more. But it's his insights into the "everyday" situations we all experience -- stressful days at work, wanting to be liked by a friend group, getting stuck in traffic, doing a hobby -- that really shine. Check out a sincere book and then get on the cushion!
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8 people found this helpful
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Robert Schwab
4.0 out of 5 stars Practical Buddhism
Reviewed in the United States on November 27, 2021
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This is a very readable, uncomplicated application of Buddhist principles to everyday life. Anyone curious about the practice would benefit from this book. It deliberately avoids too much depth and thus remains ver readable throughout. A great and practical introduction
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Daniel
5.0 out of 5 stars Buddhism for Everyone!
Reviewed in the United States on June 1, 2020
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I think Sensei Alex is the future of Buddhism. I don't say that lightly. He is insightful and clever. In this text he draws from his life experience and his great insight into the human condition. His work is equal parts clarity, simplicity, and depth. Alex has a sort of everyman, approachable quality. This shines through even though he wears robes when he teaches and has lived a different life than most of us. He has a great ability to explore some of the deep and heavy buddhist teachings while bringing them down to earth for anyone to understand and relate to.
12 people found this helpful
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sd
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for any American interested in the Path
Reviewed in the United States on May 13, 2022
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As with most Dharma books there is always some meandering, or oversimplification. However, that doesn't detract from the book, as this is probably one of the top 10 most assessible books. And the beauty of over-simplification is you never miss a point. Where you understand one thing immediately, there are other points where you are happy for the elaboration. It's hard to find writings that are practical within American culture, and this is it. I promise you, you will re-read 3/4 of this book or more. A lot of gems, a whole vein. You hit pay dirt! In my view he should be up there with Thich Nhat Hanh. He is our American Thich. One day he will be appreciated for this work in the way he should be. For $10 this is an amazing value on top of everything.
One person found this helpful
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Sherrie
5.0 out of 5 stars LOVE THIS BOOK!
Reviewed in the United States on October 2, 2021
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I love this book. I am still reading it, but I wanted to leave a review. It is straight forward and the author does two very important things... gives examples of what he means and a one sentence "lesson" My favorite quote/lesson so far... "You do not need to save the world, just the person in front of you" I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for a very practical way to learn and put into practice the buddhist way. Love, love, love.
3 people found this helpful
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Nannette Moore
5.0 out of 5 stars Exactly what the title says
Reviewed in the United States on October 17, 2021
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I knew nothing about Buddhism but I love spiritual teachings and this book was an excellent introduction to Buddhism, full of every day ways to incorporate spiritual lessons into life. I really enjoyed reading it and would recommend the book to anyone with an interest in growing spiritually while learning more about Buddhism.
One person found this helpful
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Patricia
3.0 out of 5 stars We're not all teachers just because we want to be
Reviewed in the United States on August 12, 2021
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It's ok I guess. It didn't hold my attention. I moved on after reading a third of it. Why do so many people think they are teachers? Everyone wants to write a self help book. Get over it.
2 people found this helpful
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