Saltwater Buddha A Surfers Quest to Find Zen on the Sea

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Here are a sample of advanced reviews for this book: “Jaimal Yogis has done, in this terrific first book, what every artist and writer strives to do: he has made something beautiful and universal from the particulars of his own life. He writes well about surfing; he writes well about Buddhism; he writes well about what it feels like to be a person; but mostly, he just writes well. Yogis’s sentence are clean, clear, and disciplined, and his story-telling instincts are strong, so strong that this book will surely find the audience it deserves–among surfers, among seekers, and among those who enjoy being swept along on a curious ride.” Daniel Duane, author of Caught Inside: a surfer’s year on the California Coast “Jaimal Yogis starts off as an Everyteen with two deep hungers—to learn surfing and to calm his mind—and his simple, amused, deadly serious report on how he tries to satisfy those desires may ultimately launch an entirely new breed of memoir: the coming-of-sage story. Yogis’ prose is etched yet effortless, a conversation with a friend who pretends to be naïve, but has clearly drunk up so much life experience that you trust his authority as a truth-telling more than you know. He rocked me happily for chapters as he recounted his journey from Atlantic island to California suburb to a series of beach towns (including, memorably, Brooklyn). But each time I was lulled, I always was also on edge, wondering if bigger surf may be coming. Indeed, it was: several moving, sharp-edged episodes—sets, really—that will stay vivid in my mind for a long, long time.” Bruce Kelley, editor-in-chief, San Francisco Magazine “Saltwater Buddha is a wryly told, compelling nonfiction saga of a young man’s apprenticeship in breaking waves and the deep, still waters of Buddhism. A pilgrim’s progress, this attractively self-deprecating narrative makes no grandiose claims for either the teller’s surfing or for his soul. Still, we perceive, finally, that surfing becomes him–as does writing. Saltwater Buddha will be rich reading for both surfers and spiritual seekers, who are, we learn here, sometimes one and the same.” Thomas Farber, author of The Face of the Deep “It’s the perfect read for those who love the ocean as much as their yoga mats, or for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual practice that is surfing.” Karen Macklin, Yoga Journal “At sixteen, Jaimal Yogis ran way on a spiritual journey of a magnitude few of us even dream of, to learn to ride the waves of the world’s oceans, and the bigger surf within his own mind. As Jaimal gains hard-won spiritual lessons with a teenager’s eagerness and a surfer’s passion, we cannot help but see our own spiritual life with fresh, beginner’s eyes. His journey started in nothingness–at least in a material sense. But it ends in deep riches of spiritual insight, human warmth and humor. The pages kept turning. I couldn’t put this book down.” Michael Ellsberg, author of The Power of Eye Contact (HarperCollins, forthcoming) “The quality of Yogis writing is up there with, amongst others, Daniel Duane, Allan Weisbecker, Kem Nunn, Tim Winton etc. Surfers and searchers alike will love it. Out in May 2009….reserve a copy!” Matt Strathern, extremehorizon.blogspot.com “A personal Odyssey in which the writer has followed his dreams and listened to the quiet whispers of his soul as if they were carried on a gentle offshore wind. It’s an inspiring and thought-provoking book which may well have you returning to it again and again.” Tim Kevan, author of Why Lawyers Should Surf “Excellent” Alex Wade, author of Surf Nation “In a time when the world seems to be ready to self destruct a little, this book brings with it a message of fun, wisdom, inner exploration and a way to find and lose yourself in the most prevalent element on the planet, water…will make a timeless addition to anyone’s collection whether you are a surfer or not.” South West Surf Review “Anyone who has a love of the ocean, the beach and the waves and is overwhelmingly drawn to them will truly enjoy this book!” Rob Nixon, blogger and founding Member of the South Texas Chapter of the Surfrider Foundation “I am not a surfer; still Jaimal openly welcomes me into his world of passion for surfing, both the actual wet, cold, hard-rock bottom of the sport and the mistiness of the analogy for life.” Ross Anthony, Hollywood Report Card “I have always had an interest in things Zen since reading Zen and the Art of motorcycle maintenance as a young man. Now thirty years on Jaimal Yogis has written his version, all be it from a more youthful point of view, founded in the surf of Hawaii, California and New York.” Tony Foster, surfr.blogspot.com “Great book to put on the book shelf between ‘i am that’ and ‘The mindless ferocity of sharks” kiwihobo.blogspot.com