Bhante

REVIEWS

Dr. Jaffe’s book is a gift to the world. At a time when our lives are governed by noise and ever increasing pressure to have more and be faster we lose focus of what is really important. Our heads are firmly embedded in technological clouds, we seem to be interconnected like never before and, yet, our hearts and souls feel lost and hollow. World events are shaped by mindless, ignorant leaders lacking compassion, thus creating great uncertainty for us all. At a time like this we need to change course, dive deep and find ourselves by increasing our self-awareness. Dr. Jaffe shares with us Bhanté Dharmawara’s experiences and teachings and shows us how we can develop our spiritual capacity and balance it with the physical aspects of well-being. In this journey we discover the great power of silence and the value of slowing down. We learn how to balance the color energies in our bodies through ancient green light meditation. Only if we manage to find peace and compassion within us will we be able to have a positive impact on others. This is one of the big messages of this book. Let us be inspired by the wisdom of Bhanté Dharmawara and follow the truly holistic path to enlightenment and health as set out by Dr. Jaffe.

                                                                               ~Ingrun Mason, friend, patient, and colleague

This account of Bhanté Dharmawara, a Buddhist monk from Cambodia, is an example of someone hidden in plain sight. His teachings are more relevant today than ever, as they provide an antidote to the pervasive stress and anxiety of our times. hanté’s practice of Engaged Buddhism has never found a more eloquent spokesperson, as he exalts practice over dogma, happiness over grief, and — employing a Taoist saying — leading from behind. Bhanté was equally at home with Southeast Asian royalty, renowned spiritual teachers, and Indian “untouchables.” No biography of the Dalai Lama, Thich Nhat Hanh, Jawaharlal Nehru, or Indira Gandhi will be complete unless Bhanté’s impact on their lives has been cited. Dr. Russell Jaffe has presented Bhanté’s life and times in a vivid, engrossing style that illuminates the monk’s teachings on his own life and — more importantly — the way in which they can impact the lives of its readers, leaving them wiser, happier, and deeply appreciative for each day of their own existence.

                                                                                ~Professor Stanley Krippner, PhD

You validated all of Bhante’s efforts in sharing his knowledge of so many things and you also presented the results of your personal application and devotion to such knowledge. We, each of us, that applied the discipline arrived at our own “warrior knowledge” (Thanissaro Bikkhu) and how brilliantly you come to the conclusion of your efforts. You weave a story that I feel is timeless and will, hopefully, revive the interest and intensity of transformation in a new generation and lead to a Universal Sangha.

                                                                                ~Elizabeth Romig, Author, “Leaving Lucifer”