A cross country road trip from New York to North Dakota...a busy, married with children book editor makes the trip back to his parents' farm in North Dakota to settle their affairs, accompanied by a monk wearing a maroon robe.
An unlikely combination of travelling companions and yet it is a delight to watch how these two blend over their time spent together. Otto Ringling is a good man with bits of armour and mild anger that he has learned and developed throughout his life. Volya Rinpoche (RIN-po-shay) is a spiritual man who guides Otto towards his true self and his spirit centre.
The Rinpoche is wise and irritating but he is also a funny man and there are times that I laughed at the absurdity and at the genuine humour in this story and in Roland Merullo's brilliant telling of the tale.
The resistence to accepting our spiritual self is common. So many people do not or will not believe in what they can't see or can't "know". What they lack is the trust in themselves and the trust in something bigger.
The Rinpoche speaks a number of languages. When one obnoxious character asks him which languages he speaks and to say something to him in one of the languages, Rinpoche answers calmly and sincerely, "kindness is a language." How often we forget that.
15 comments:
I have the book, but haven't started it yet. I will!
Indeed kindness is a forgotten language - words which are not spoken or even actions - are still noted and seem to me , to come more from the heart , that they wanted to do it - not needed to .
I`ve been reading Rumi recently - and have found it inspiring and an eye / mind opener !
oh, I love a good recommendation! thanks - it sounds intriguing.
It sounds like a really good book.
i'm a resister. i have been a resister my whole life. i only 'know' what i see and understand. i see myself as an open window, but i'm pretty sure i only crack the curtain a bit now and then and look out, if only to confirm my view of the universe hasn't changed.
change comes slowly. sometimes it takes me kicking and screaming.
and i like the 'kindness is a language' thing. the world can be encompassed in a hug. it's too bad you can't hug someone forever. you eventually have to let them go.
Sounds like a great book, it's now on The List!
Kindness is my second language as often as possible and what joy it brings !
Thanks for the review, talented One!
Love ya !
I've added it to my book list...thanks Sherry♥Lee ~ :)
"Kindness is a language." Oh how I love that!
I love this : Rinpoche answers calmly and sincerely, "kindness is a language." That is so true, I think I would love to read this book, thanks for the recommendation.
Thanks for the book review....how do you manage to read so many books?
I'm putting this one on my list~
This one sounds fantastic! Thanks for sharing.
Kindness is a language. Love it! :) May we all become proficient in it :)
Knew you'd love it!! I'm curious about his newest one (American Savior), though not sure he can top the kindness and wisdom in Breakfast with Buddah.
the title of the book grabbed my attention...but "kindness is a language" melts my heart.
you, my friend, is the epitome of kindness and i thank you for that.
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