The Buddha Walks into a Bar: A Guide to Life for a New Generation

There's a new thirst for spirituality among young people today—but they're less inclined to adjust their lives around traditional religious forms than they are to look for transformation within their existing lifestyles. And they have a natural affinity for Buddhism. This is a book for them—by one of them. Lodro Rinzler speaks the language of Generation O, as his compatriots are known, and he's a respected Buddhist teacher in his own right. His book is a complete introduction to Buddhism, without the cultural trappings, in language that anyone can understand but that will be especially appreciated by young people today under thirty. It's entertaining, chatty, and often funny, but also very serious. It's for anyone who wants to use the Buddha's teachings to awaken like he did.

"Can the younger generation discover Buddhism more easily if Siddhartha Gautama is referred to as Sid? That is an open question in this guide by Rinzler, a 28-year-old teacher in the Shambhala Buddhist tradition. Aiming at young people who 'like to have a beer once in a while, enjoy sex, have figured out that parents are crazy, or get frustrated at work,' Rinzler explores classic Buddhist techniques and concepts such as shamatha (calm abiding) and vipashyana (insight) meditation, the five kleshas (afflictive emotions), and the six paramitas (perfections). His lens for doing so is the 'four dignities' (tiger, snow lion, garuda , and dragon) of Shambhala Buddhism, based on teachings by Chogyam Trungpa Rinpoche and currently led by his son Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche. Examples are drawn from situations that might be encountered by 20-somethings coping with work and relationship challenges; practices are included. Rinzler's focus on distinctive aspects of the warrior training taught by Shambhala Buddhism may narrow this guide's appeal compared to more comprehensive introductions to this Eastern philosophy." Publishers Weekly Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

This isn’t your grandmother’s book on meditation. It’s about integrating that “spiritual practice” thing into a life that includes beer, sex, and a boss who doesn’t understand you. It’s about making a difference in yourself and making a difference in your world—whether you’ve got everything figured out yet or not. Lodro Rinzler is a bright and funny young teacher with a knack for showing how the Buddhist teachings can have a positive impact on every little nook and cranny of your life—whether you’re interested in being a Buddhist or not.

Lodro Rinzler is a teacher in the Shambhala tradition of Vajrayana Buddhism. He has taught numerous workshops and retreats. His column What Would Sid Do (Sid = Siddhartha, the Buddha) has appeared regularly on Beliefnet.com since 2009, and his posts there have also appeared in the Huffington Post.