Description
Book SynopsisFor Satyadasa the Buddhist path has been fulfilling and often joyous, but also full of doubts and obstacles. What does it mean to be a Buddhist in the West in the twenty-first century? And is being born with one hand a curse - or a blessing? "I'm just pretending to be a Buddhist. I'm only on this solitary retreat because I've heard it's a good idea ... successful people don't need to meditate in damp huts ... they go on proper holidays. I am not successful, ergo, here I am."
Trade ReviewThis beautifully written memoir goes surprisingly deep because it is so exceptionally honest....' - Vishvapani Blomfield, Buddhist contributor to BBC's Thought for the Day; '...absolutely wonderful - there were times when I laughed out loud, it's utterly delightful, very funny, touching, full of gorgeous details and wonderful characters.' - Mimi Khalvati, poet and founder of The Poetry School; '...both profound and moving as well as hilariously funny in places.... I recommend it wholeheartedly.' - Vidyamala Burch, OBE
Table of ContentsAbout the author xi Publisher's acknowledgements xii Preface to the second edition xiii 1 Stumped 1 2 The breakfast table 10 3 Ontology 25 4 Out of my head 44 5 A long way to go 60 6 Buddhists in Bethnal Green 71 7 Very strange, very okay 83 8 Cult 91 9 Freedom within 103 10 Moon metaphors 111 11 My guru reads the Daily Telegraph 128 12 Funny teeth 137 13 The Middle Way 147 14 Cats and dogs 163 15 After the ecstasy, the laundry basket 174 16 On solitary 181 17 It makes sense at every level, except the one on which I live 190 18 Prosthetics 205 19 We are where we are 217 20 Big mind 230 21 Making merit 242 22 In the bardo 255 23 Death and rebirth 262 24 Lineage 279 Author's Note 292
