"The Zen Teacher" by Dan Tricarico: An Update

Dan Tricarico
Tricarico, Dan (Subject). (2019). [Digital Image]
Retrieved from https://www.thezenteacher.com/about-me/ 

My Progress in The Zen Teacher by Dan Tricarico

The novel I have chosen to read this semester is The Zen Teacher by Dan Tricarico. The author's aim is to show "teachers how to maintain a sense of focus, simplicity, and tranquility" while navigating through the path of being an educator (Tricarico, 2015, p. 3). 

The book is divided into three main parts, titled "Zen," "Meditation and Mindfulness," and "Space, Stillness, and Self-Care." Each part has its own sections/chapters in which Tricarico elaborates more on the topics, such as how to find your own Zen practice or how to be mindful. I appreciate the way he organized the book because it is quite simple to read and understand when it is laid out into short sections. 

So far, I have read the "Zen" section and found it very useful and interesting. Tricarico says that Zen is "when you notice your world exactly as it is— free from judgment and with detachment from anticipated outcomes" (Tricarico, 2015, p. 7). How to find Zen is very personal, and it can be any activity that helps you focus and find peace in any moment (Tricarico, 2015, p. 10.) Tricarico explains the importance of approaching new areas of interest with a "Beginner's Mind," in which it is okay to not know the answer to everything (Tricarico, 2015, p. 17). Throughout the whole section, the author emphasizes that it is important to be awake and alert, intuitive, non-judgmental, kind, compassionate, grateful, detached from expectations, and accepting (Tricarico, 2015). 

After each chapter, there is a "Zen Teacher Assessment" in which the reader can do some self-reflecting. Sometimes a series of questions are asked, and other times the author suggests a Zen practice, such as "Start and end each day with a Gratitude Sentence" (Tricarico, 2015, p. 45). This is a great way for the author to interact with the reader and allows the reader to make the content of the book more personal. 

Thus far, I am really enjoying this book. I think that it can definitely be very useful to new and experienced teachers, and I look forward to keeping in in my personal collection to revisit later on in my career. 

Tricarico, D. (2015). The Zen Teacher. San Diego, CA: Dave Burgess Consulting, Inc.

Tricarico, Dan (Subject). (2019). [Digital Image] Retrieved from https://www.thezenteacher.com/about-me/