bodhi tree swaying » writing

Introduction of “Living as a River” available free

bodhipaksa — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 14:32:40 +0000

Amazon has an amazing new widget that allows bloggers to post chapters of books online. That’s bloggable in itself, since it makes book selling (and buying) a heck of a lot easier. I think Amazon have a winner here, especially given that the widget not only plugs Amazon’s Kindle reading device, but allows people to buy Kindle books at the click of a button. (One question — why do they assume that people reading a book online are only interested in the Kindle edition? Why not have a direct link to paperback and hardback editions as well?)

Speaking of which, here’s the direct link to the Kindle edition, and to the paperback versions on Wildmind, Sounds True, Amazon.com, and Amazon.co.uk.

Anyway, what I meant to say was that you can read the introductory chapter to Living as River below. I’d suggest switching the reader to full screen (look for the icon at the top center of the widget — it looks like a TV set. One design flaw (in my opinion) of the widget is that too much space is taken up by the tools, meaning that the default reading space is tiny. Hopefully they’ll tweak the display a little.

Another reason I want a Kindle

bodhipaksa — Mon, 04 Oct 2010 15:38:26 +0000

I’m buzzed. I just heard that the Kindle edition of Living as a River is available on Amazon.com.

It doesn’t seem to be listed as a Kindle edition on Amazon.co.uk — can people in the UK buy from the US Amazon Kindle store?

Anyway, click here to see the Amazon.com Kindle listing.

I must say I’m tempted to buy the Kindle edition just to see what it looks like. I don’t have a Kindle, but I have the Kindle app on my iPhone and it would be lovely to be able to carry a copy of the book around in my pocket. And I hold out the hope that we’ll have enough money so that I can get a Kindle for my birthday or Christmas. Of course that hope extends to having enough time to actually read books again. What used to be my reading time is now my putting-children-to-bed time.

My book’s on the way!

bodhipaksa — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:05:45 +0000

It’s been a long wait, but copies of my book have arrived in the Sounds True offices, and a copy is now on its way to me. I’m hoping they sent it overnight. They probably did, since the crew at the True are exceptionally kind and generous…

The back cover blurb for my forthcoming book.

bodhipaksa — Sun, 30 May 2010 13:47:45 +0000

Sounds True recently sent me the copy for the back cover of Living as a River:

“At a time when it’s increasingly challenging to find clear and honest direction on the spiritual path, Living as a River offers contemporary insight into an ancient practice and wise counsel we can trust. This book is both beautifully written and useful to all serious seekers.”
—Mariana Caplan, PhD, author of Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path and Halfway Up the Mountain: The Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment

To face reality is to embrace change; to resist change is to suffer. This is the liberating insight that unfolds with Living as a River. A masterful investigation of the nature of self, this eloquent blend of current science and time-honored spiritual insight is meant to free us from the fear of impermanence in a world defined by change.

The primary vehicle for this journey is Buddhism’s traditional Six Element Practice, a deconstructive process of deep reflection that helps us let go of the belief in a separate, static self—the root of unhappiness. Bodhipaksa takes readers through a systematic yet poetic analysis of the self that supports the realization of:

A sense of spaciousness and expansiveness that transcends the limitations of the physical body

Profound gratitude, awe, and a feeling of belonging as we witness the extent of our connectedness with the universe

Freedom from the psychological burden caused by clinging to a false identity

The relaxed experience of “consciousness, pure and bright”

Engrossing and incisive, Living as a River is at once an empowering guide and a meditative practice we can turn to again and again to overcome our fear of change and align joyfully with the natural unfolding of creation.

“Living as a River” hits the Big Apple!

bodhipaksa — Thu, 27 May 2010 02:00:02 +0000

Shelly, on the the publicists at Sounds True, has been pushing my forthcoming book, Living as a River: Finding Fearlessness in the Face of Change, at Book Expo America in NYC. (I’m sorry for using the phrase “The Big Apple.” It’s tacky and I promise not to do it again.) Anyway, Shelly kindly sent me a couple of photos of the book from the expo!

On the way to publication

bodhipaksa — Sun, 17 Jan 2010 23:50:15 +0000

The other day I was sent a draft of the blurb for “Living as a River,” to be published by Sounds True on October 1, 2010.

This will give you an idea of what the book’s about.

I must say that I’m enormously impressed by the degree of skill shown by all the staff at Sounds True, the blurb-writers included. Incidentally, I was told “Joe, our Copy Chief who wrote this copy said to tell you that he (like many of us) has a great feeling about this book!” How very encouraging!

10.01.10

bodhipaksa — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 22:40:51 +0000

10.01.10 is the date (US-style) of when my book, Living As a River, is published by Sounds True. The date has a rather symmetrical loveliness.

I just got the MS back from my editor today, along with her suggested changes and with some lovely comments.

She said: “I have totally fallen in love with this book.”

She also said: “It has opened my heart and mind up in countless ways.”

These are nice things to hear.

A valentine’s day thought on loving ourselves

My book almost has a title!

bodhipaksa — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:03:55 +0000

I received this email from my publisher today:

I saw the content from the book that you sent to Jaime, and it really looks like it’s coming along. I think it’s going to be a truly brilliant book.

We had a meeting today to discuss the title and subtitle, and to brainstorm a bit around it. The goal was to create a title that really represents what’s in the book, but also conveys the benefit the reader might receive. This is a tough balance to strike! But we hammered something out that Tami and I both think is great. You’ll see we stole from the title of the podcast here, which we both liked a great deal. With some subtitle iterations, and in the order of our preference, our proposals are:

LIVING AS A RIVER: Finding Fearlessness in the Face of Change
LIVING AS A RIVER: Becoming Fearless in the Face of Change
LIVING AS A RIVER: Being Fearless in the Face of Change

I likewise preferred the first of the titles. So that might be it:

LIVING AS A RIVER: Finding Fearlessness in the Face of Change

What do you think?

A short video about my Nov 13 book launch party

bodhipaksa — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 23:40:35 +0000

Come to my online book launch party, Friday Nov 13

bodhipaksa — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 17:41:19 +0000

Friday, November 13. An easy date to remember!

It’s the day that the new and updated edition of my book on Buddhism and Vegetarianism, Vegetarianism: A Buddhist View, will become available.

I’m celebrating the day by dedicating my whole time to being on Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/bodhipaksa), (Facebook), and my blog (that’s where you are right now), talking about Buddhism and vegetarianism. And just generally hanging out as well, so that things don’t get too serious.

As well as playing the suave host and urging people to mingle, mingle, mingle, I’ll be posting articles, quotes, and video to feed into a discussion about this important topic. I’ll also be happy to take questions.

I’ll be online all day, from 9 until 9 (Eastern), but you can drop by on any of those three platforms (again, that’s Twitter, Facebook, my blog). Just remember to say “hi”! Unless you post a comment I won’t know you’re there. That’s the internet for you.

Oh, and I genuinely almost forgot to add this — I’ll post links in case you want to buy my new book from Amazo