Book Review: Bright Dawn

Review by Rachel Alm

Bright Dawn is the story of how Rev. S. Koyo Kubose, a Professor of Psychology and Buddhist minister, infuses Buddhist teachings and Japanese American values into his seemingly mundane morning routine. He masterfully weaves a uniquely playful form of mindfulness into brushing his teeth, using the restroom, tying his running shoes, and eventually, his daily journey to greet the sunrise.

Rev. S. Koyo Kubose follows in his father's literary legacy with Bright Dawn. His father, Rev. Gyomay M. Kubose, was the head minister of the Buddhist Temple of Chicago which he founded in 1944 in the aftermath of the Japanese relocation. Rev. Gyomay Kubose wrote a beloved temple bulletin featuring short essays that have come to define a distinctly American form of Buddhism that can be practiced in everyday life.

Through humor and gentle insight, Bright Dawn is an exploration of what it means to be human. May we all find ways to be better at it each day.

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Note: This book is available for purchase online.

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