------------------------------
Amazon #1 Bestseller!
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The AMAZON US #1 Bestseller (2015/11/29)
From Ben Stevens, International Bestselling author of THE ENNIN MYSTERIES, BIG SOUND TEMPLE & A GAIJIN'S GUIDE TO JAPAN
'As an American Buddhist priest planning to travel to Japan soon, I ate this book up. Wonderfully done...' winterchevy
Most foreigners travel to Japan to work as language teachers.
Very few go to live and work at a 16th century Buddhist temple.
Ben Stevens has been at Daionji (the name of the temple in Nagasaki City) for over six years.
In this revealing book, he details his life there, set against a rich tapestry of Japanese history, culture and tradition -
* Exactly what is 'Buddha's Breakfast'?
* Who is the mysterious Old Man of the Mountain - and why is he being sought by the police?
* What do Buddhist priests and monks get up to in their 'down-time'?
* What takes place at the temple, when the hours of darkness and light are equally balanced?
* And are there really any benefits to building your own coffin, and then praying to it while you are still alive?
Confessions of a Japanese Temple Gardener: (P.S - Who's from London, England) is a 'must-read' for anyone interested in the Land of the Rising Sun.
AMAZON REVIEWS
'Impossible to put down...' Angela
'Stevens writes about a culture and a way of life denied to most, if not all other foreigners... Absolutely fascinating - read this!...' Robert Twigger, International Bestselling Author of ANGRY WHITE PYJAMAS: AN OXFORD POET TRAINS WITH THE TOKYO RIOT POLICE
'A great book for those with an interest in Japan who are looking for a new perspective into the land of the Rising Sun...' Cheree Smith
'Beautiful reading... Flowing, engaging, inspiring.Loved the book, lived the stories that emerge and creating this beautiful book. Thank you! I will look into some other books by Ben Stevens...' A C
'A great sense of humor and gives a down-to-earth perspective that readers are not likely to encounter in other books...' Alan J. Webb
'I am sorry to have finished it... A fresh look at Japan from an unique perspective....' Chad E Johnson
'Terrific... Especially the stories about temple life...' Anon
'An interesting and educational memoir by an Englishman adopted into Japanese life. Sometimes very funny, it also points up the underlying differences between Japanese and Western society...' C Saunders
'Great insight into life at the temple...' Faith Buckley
'Completely engaging... Stevens writes with a cadence that is nearly poetic, a pace and style that draws the reader in... I can see the temple and the people in my own mind as though I had actually been there...' Lloyd Tackitt (AMAZON #1 Bestselling author of the EDEN series)
'An insider's look at a Japanese Buddhist temple... I enjoyed Ben Stevens' voice in this book...' Shikoku 88
'Well written and maintained my interest to the end...' Spanish Traveller
'Fascinating... Talk about an unique point of view. And the man can write...' Kathleen
'An entertaining, quirky guide to the everyday goings-on in the Land of the Rising Sun...' Joseph Rejek
'An insider's view of everyday life at a Japanese temple...' Shikoku 88
'Definitely not your typical, starry-eyed 'I love everything' Japanese book... Worthwhile...' Russell P. Westbrook, Jr
'I love the books written by Ben Stevens.... Who better to write about life in Japan than from the inside out? Brilliant!...' Chantal Cox
'An excellent insight into life at a Buddhist temple... Particularly enjoyed the insights into the different characters involved in temple life...' Mossyrocks
'Ben Stevens is a neat guy, funny, and you can't beat the insider's view of a Buddhist
temple and the inner workings thereof. I like that his gaijin account isn't a lot of woe-is-me and pain of nail being hammered down stuff. But he actually loves his job, is fascinated by the place he works, and he seems to get along with the boss/relatives. Kinda refreshing...' Tami (Goodreads)
'Very entertaining...' Vikas Datta
Amazon #1 Bestseller!
------------------------------
The AMAZON US #1 Bestseller (2015/11/29)
From Ben Stevens, International Bestselling author of THE ENNIN MYSTERIES, BIG SOUND TEMPLE & A GAIJIN'S GUIDE TO JAPAN
'As an American Buddhist priest planning to travel to Japan soon, I ate this book up. Wonderfully done...' winterchevy
Most foreigners travel to Japan to work as language teachers.
Very few go to live and work at a 16th century Buddhist temple.
Ben Stevens has been at Daionji (the name of the temple in Nagasaki City) for over six years.
In this revealing book, he details his life there, set against a rich tapestry of Japanese history, culture and tradition -
* Exactly what is 'Buddha's Breakfast'?
* Who is the mysterious Old Man of the Mountain - and why is he being sought by the police?
* What do Buddhist priests and monks get up to in their 'down-time'?
* What takes place at the temple, when the hours of darkness and light are equally balanced?
* And are there really any benefits to building your own coffin, and then praying to it while you are still alive?
Confessions of a Japanese Temple Gardener: (P.S - Who's from London, England) is a 'must-read' for anyone interested in the Land of the Rising Sun.
AMAZON REVIEWS
'Impossible to put down...' Angela
'Stevens writes about a culture and a way of life denied to most, if not all other foreigners... Absolutely fascinating - read this!...' Robert Twigger, International Bestselling Author of ANGRY WHITE PYJAMAS: AN OXFORD POET TRAINS WITH THE TOKYO RIOT POLICE
'A great book for those with an interest in Japan who are looking for a new perspective into the land of the Rising Sun...' Cheree Smith
'Beautiful reading... Flowing, engaging, inspiring.Loved the book, lived the stories that emerge and creating this beautiful book. Thank you! I will look into some other books by Ben Stevens...' A C
'A great sense of humor and gives a down-to-earth perspective that readers are not likely to encounter in other books...' Alan J. Webb
'I am sorry to have finished it... A fresh look at Japan from an unique perspective....' Chad E Johnson
'Terrific... Especially the stories about temple life...' Anon
'An interesting and educational memoir by an Englishman adopted into Japanese life. Sometimes very funny, it also points up the underlying differences between Japanese and Western society...' C Saunders
'Great insight into life at the temple...' Faith Buckley
'Completely engaging... Stevens writes with a cadence that is nearly poetic, a pace and style that draws the reader in... I can see the temple and the people in my own mind as though I had actually been there...' Lloyd Tackitt (AMAZON #1 Bestselling author of the EDEN series)
'An insider's look at a Japanese Buddhist temple... I enjoyed Ben Stevens' voice in this book...' Shikoku 88
'Well written and maintained my interest to the end...' Spanish Traveller
'Fascinating... Talk about an unique point of view. And the man can write...' Kathleen
'An entertaining, quirky guide to the everyday goings-on in the Land of the Rising Sun...' Joseph Rejek
'An insider's view of everyday life at a Japanese temple...' Shikoku 88
'Definitely not your typical, starry-eyed 'I love everything' Japanese book... Worthwhile...' Russell P. Westbrook, Jr
'I love the books written by Ben Stevens.... Who better to write about life in Japan than from the inside out? Brilliant!...' Chantal Cox
'An excellent insight into life at a Buddhist temple... Particularly enjoyed the insights into the different characters involved in temple life...' Mossyrocks
'Ben Stevens is a neat guy, funny, and you can't beat the insider's view of a Buddhist
temple and the inner workings thereof. I like that his gaijin account isn't a lot of woe-is-me and pain of nail being hammered down stuff. But he actually loves his job, is fascinated by the place he works, and he seems to get along with the boss/relatives. Kinda refreshing...' Tami (Goodreads)
'Very entertaining...' Vikas Datta
