Author: Graham Norman

Zen Master Udo is really irritating, and dangerous too when the razors fly, but can you help but love him? Well, maybe, perhaps, after enough Fiery Jack to blow your brains onto the ceiling. His pupil, Crudo Bhappat, is never sure but at least he has the consolation of being married to the lovely Jasmintha and owning a fine donkey for a pet. And he is a better footballer than Udo – and has gorgeous hair. But, somehow Udo, Zen Master extraordinaire, always has the upper hand, the last word, the wise punch line. Or does he? Is he simply an aggressive misogynist with a few good wrestling moves? Or is he the cleverest man in Aberdabubajerstan? Do we really care? Travel the Silk Road to China to find out (maybe). Click here, or comment below, to contact us for an advance review copy of The Irritating Zen Master Excerpt If you are imagining that we are on our way to the temple for some ritual induction ceremony with priests, incense and chanting, you’d be wrong. There is no religion in Aberdabubajerstan to speak of. We do have gods, of course. All men have them like camels have fleas. They need us more than we need them. Mainly, though, we don’t bother, preferring wisdom and wit to awe and anger. Hence the popularity of Zen Masters. There is not...

Here is a taster. If you like it and feel hungry for more please feel free to buy a paperback or ebook.   If you are imagining that we are on our way to the temple for some ritual induction ceremony with priests, incense and chanting, you’d be wrong. There is no religion in Aberdabubajerstan to speak of. We do have gods, of course. All men have them like camels have fleas. They need us more than we need them. Mainly, though, we don’t bother, preferring wisdom and wit to awe and anger. Hence the popularity of Zen Masters. There is not much true Zen left in the mix, these days. No one likes meditating or is interested in reincarnation, suffering and sublimation but we do prefer direct experience over creed and the dubious revelations of scripture. So these days, Zen Masters in Aberdabubajerstan are simply smart arses. We also like good story telling and the neat lifestyle choices offered by shaven headed men in need of a bath and a good nag by a woman. So, no temple but a barber’s shop; ear piercing and head shaving for two grobbels and a morning of sweeping the floor and wiping the blood off the furniture. This was the fifteen year old boy’s initiation into the world of work which is also called manhood. The first thing, though was to...