THE NOVICE
Why I became a Buddhist Monk, Why I Quit & What I Learned
by Stephen Schettini
In this unforgettable memoir, an angry young man finds himself disillusioned by the expectations of his parents, teachers, and culture. Desperate to live his fullest life and articulate his deepest hopes and dreams, he discards his education and career to abandon home, family, and possessions and journey through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in search of his life’s purpose. Narrowly escaping death by sickness and drugs, he encounters the Tibetan refugees in exile and, entranced, finally stops running. He takes the ancient teachings to heart but, eight years later, finds that his path is neither straight nor narrow . . . and that there’s no turning back.
Soft Cover: CAD $24.95
—Available shortly
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SPECIAL EDITION
Hard Cover: CAD $49.95
—with author’s personalized inscription
—includes shipping within Canada
IT BEGINS WITH SILENCE
The Art of Mindful Reflection
by Stephen Schettini
Is it really possible to find peace and happiness in our increasingly negative, dysfunctional world? Is the calm insight of meditation compatible with the hectic lifestyle of consumer culture? In this intimate, beautifully illustrated and accessible book, Stephen Schettini, meditation teacher, former Buddhist monk and author of The Novice combines story, verse and commentary to shine a three-dimensional spotlight on the teachings of the historical Buddha, revealing their power to ease the fragmenting stresses of the twenty-first century. The key is mindful reflection not just living in the present moment but opening to others with a whole-life attitude of self-discovery. By integrating mindful reflection into your life, you learn to map the continuous changes in all you know and the consciousness with which you know it. Here in heartfelt, everyday language is the ancient middle way to peace and balance These daily practices lead you beyond conventional thinking to the root of your conscious and unconscious responses to pain, fear, anxiety and stress. They train you to let go of cyclic mental habits and direct your potential for change towards what the Buddha called awakening a permanent letting-go. This landmark book dispels the mystique of meditation and returns it to its rightful place in the daily life of ordinary men and women.
