Blue Jean Buddha
   Edited by Sumi Loundon
  2001 Wisdom Publications, Boston, MA
    ISBN: 0861711777


What does Buddhism really mean to young people in a century when the Dalai Lama's image is used to sell computers & “Nirvana” is a rock band?

In his Foreword, Jack Kornfield poses the question: “What if Buddha were born in North America, in our times?...In Thailand, where I lived...as a monk, traditionally almost all young men and women would have to spend some time in their twenties undertaking spiritual practice in a monastery. Otherwise, the Elders would say their hearts would not become “ripe”, that they would stay green, like an unripened fruit.”

With all our emotional chaos since September 11th, 2001 -- sitting down with a group of young Buddhists has given me much comfort & peace. With our President telling us to go back to work, the hauling of water, chopping of wood, preparing of food & washing of dishes seem to have taken on a fresh meaning, a closer walk with all our relations, another way of looking at danger, religion & feelings.

Sumi Loundon, born into the North American Buddhist culture & coming into her third decade of life, is also asking questions. “What is being a Buddhist in today's Western world?” As she finds her answers, she also finds she is not alone & so Blue Jean Buddha evolved: a collection of enchanting, first-person essays from young Buddhists all over this globe.

Like pebbles on a beach, each story is fascinating as the writers tell of strife & stillness, yearning & bliss, hectic full lives & sudden glimpses of spiritual stillness in this modern, manic mirage we call life.

I felt honored to sit in a quiet corner as these thoughtful & lighthearted youngsters tell us what it is like in their lives in this consumer-driven, relationship-torqued, schizophrenic society. Reading their bios was like taking a cup of tea with them & their presence in their photographs is remarkable.

While Sumi Loundon does offer us a glossary -- it is not nearly as thorough as it needs to be, for these young Buddhists speak so easily with words we non-Buddhists have not head before -- although I think a couple of them are used in a television comedy now. Needless to say, I went off exploring -- ah, how little both my dictionaries know of the world of Buddhist words.

For a look at the world through another window where our senses & our monkey minds are engaged as never before, pick up a copy of Blue Jean Buddha & if you don't get it on the first read -- keep it! Then take it down during a particularly hyper-active period in your life & see how others have walked through their chaos into the Buddhic balance & life-affirming consciousness.

Refreshing, tantalizing & everso comforting. Well worth the read! Gave me much about which to think & write!

Do buy yourself a copy & visit its website: www.bluejeanbuddha.org

Sumi Loundon was born in 1972 into a small Zen community in rural New Hampshire. She has a B.A. in Fine Arts from Williams College & is now studying Buddhism & Sanskrit as a graduate student at the Harvard Divinity School.

A word about Wisdom Publications: a not-for-profit organization dedicated to publishing fine Dharma books for the benefit of all sentient beings & is dependent upon the kindness & generosity of sponsors in order to do so. www.wisdompubs.org & sign up for their occasional newsletter letting us know what's new in the reading world of Buddhism.
(10/28/01)

Rebecca