CONFLICT AND ZEN

A collection of stories about meeting conflict with Zen.

Viner, a social anthropologist, marketing strategist, and consultant, speaks through the voice of a fictional Zen teacher in this parable-based book about conflict. He invites readers “to view conflict not as an enemy to be conquered, but as a field in which to cultivate clear seeing, free of familiar distortions.” “Part I: Discovering Presence” introduces readers to the practice of maintaining awareness amid everyday tension. Through vignettes in which the narrator encounters people experiencing conflict and offers a non-reactive perspective, the author explores how compassion, listening, and validation help defuse conflict. “Part II: Deepening Practice” moves from simple interpersonal exchanges to more layered conflicts. “The Time of the Bamboo” finds a woman warring with her brother over their deceased father’s estate; rather than resist or deny her anger over the situation, the narrator encourages her to be like bamboo—not fighting the wind but moving with it. “Part III: Embracing Difficulty” focuses on loss, mortality, and moral contradictions. “The Last Window,” in which the narrator visits a dying acquaintance with whom he had a conflict, demonstrates that resolution is not always possible, or even necessary. “Presence does not depend on perfect repair,” the author states. “It depends only on the willingness to remain.” In “Part IV: Integration and Wisdom,” the narrator not only understands and imparts Zen lessons, he embodies them, emphasizing silence. He shares lessons on remaining, returning, and witnessing as ways to meet challenges. Viner concludes by reminding readers that “Presence does not promise a perfect ending. It offers instead the capacity to meet whatever comes with an open heart.”

The book consists of gentle nudges toward a more awakened, peaceful approach to life. The writing is spare yet evocative, philosophical yet accessible. The author asserts that returning to the present moment is a lifelong practice, stating, “Presence is built, breath-to-breath, through a thousand choices.” He offers wise and practical advice: “To address a conflict, we must first stop treating the surface alone. Ask not only what was said, but what has not been said.” Readers are invited to go deeper through insightful questions like, “What is fragmenting? What is emerging in its place? What was never viable before, but could be possible now?” The metaphors are effective and illustrate Viner’s points well, as seen in the example of koi leaving no trace in the pond, which conveys the importance of letting go after interactions. The author’s scene-setting is evocative, as when he describes a café where “the walls were cracked with salt air and time, and the windows looked out toward the harbor. The chairs were mismatched. The tea was hot, but not good.” However, some scenes feel contrived and drag on; the teachings would have been more impactful if presented in a concise format. The narrator’s unwavering calm, while aspirational, may be unrelatable or even irritating to some readers. Lessons like, “Each day offers its own unexpected turns, just as each tide brings different gifts and challenges to shore” may feel dismissive to those in serious tumult. Structurally, the book could benefit from page breaks; as is, one chapter rolls into the next without the pause of white space.

An enlightening book about conflict that sometimes slips into a holier-than-thou tone.