The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A.: Tales of a Buddhist Monk in America [Paperback]

Bhante Walpola Piyananda (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 10, 2008

Truth is regularly stranger than fiction for the abbot of a Buddhist temple in the far-from-tranquil inner city of Los Angeles, California. Whether he is talking a dangerously unbalanced man out of buying a gun, confronting a naked woman in his meditation hall, or helping gamblers reform, Bhante Walpola Piyananda demonstrates that every experience can be an opportunity for learning and appreciating the Buddha's teachings.

Bhante Piyananda also reflects on social and political issues such as the racial tension in his neighborhood after the Rodney King trial and the destruction of the Bamiyan Buddha statues in Afganistan.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Piyananda, a Sri Lankan Buddhist monk who came to America decades ago, tells simple stories about people with problems he has counseled in the course of his tenure at a Theravada Buddhist temple in Los Angeles. The problems are common: anorexia, gambling, anger, illness. The simplicity of his storytelling belies the depth of his knowledge of Buddhist sutras, which he invariably applies in resolving whatever problem is presented to him. But he is a student of human nature as well as scripture. His school of Buddhist practice spends relatively less time on meditation, leaving time to encounter problems with compassion and to work on cultivating virtuous conduct. The author's tone is both cheerful and compassionate; he is the kind of clergy one would hope to find at every church, temple or mosque. Some Buddhist students will wonder where the focus on enlightenment went; others will find refreshing proof of the power of compassion and of the wisdom of the Buddha for daily life and its vicissitudes. (June 10)
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Review

“Refreshing proof of the power of compassion and the wisdom of the Buddha for daily life and its vicissitudes.”—Publishers Weekly

"Venerable Walpola Piyananda skillfully expresses deep messages about Buddhist philosophy, ethics, and morality in an effective and profound way."—Bhante Henepola Gunaratana, author of Mindfulness in Plain English 

"Bhante Piyananda illuminates the multifaceted complexities of modern-day urban American life with a sparkling fusion of engaging personal tales and classical teachings from the Buddhist scriptures."—Ajahn Amaro, co-abbot of Abhayagiri Monastery

"Bhante Piyananda is a pioneering Theravadin Buddhist monk in the U.S. who teaches us that Buddhism has much to offer in confronting the dilemmas and challenges of modern life."—George D. Bond, Professor of Religion, Northwestern University 

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 192 pages
• Publisher: Shambhala (June 10, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159030568X
• ISBN-13: 978-1590305683
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,253,718 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read, March 16, 2011

By 

Franklin Miranda "Bodyofmovement" (Queens,NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A.: Tales of a Buddhist Monk in America (Paperback)

I absolutley love this book.The author being a Thervada monk shares his stories about his crossings with everyday individuals in america, and the problems and situations they come accross. Every story and situation has a relating story on how Buddha solve the situation. The stories are perfect to contemplate on one by one. Dealing with everyday situations we have or might come across one time or another. The stories stay vivid in your head to help you deal with it in case you ever come across a particular situation.An excellent read!!!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More of the same -- and that's great!, October 9, 2008

By 

Sean Hoade (Las Vegas, Nevada USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A.: Tales of a Buddhist Monk in America (Paperback)

Bhante charms with another collection that's very much like his first book, Saffron Days in L.A. -- charming, informative Dhamma stories with a touch of humor and which truly address life in these modern times in our United States. Highly recommended.

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, entertaining, humorous and absorbing!, May 2, 2010

By 

Ravi C. (San Francisco, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A.: Tales of a Buddhist Monk in America (Paperback)

A jewel of a book! Piyananda is the only author/monk of his kind, and this book and his earlier book SAFFRON DAYS IN L.A. contain wonderful stories of his life in America, the difficulties he encountered and those brought to him, and how he dealt with them using Buddhist teachings. Piyananda illustrates all the basic principles of Theravada Buddhism through these absorbing, entertaining and often humorous tales. I laughed out loud many times when reading about the crazy cross cultural mixups that happen when a robed monk meets American society. This book and its sibling can each be read in an afternoon, but they will stay with you for a long time. I look forward to revisiting the book in the future. Definitely 5 stars!