The Bodhi Tree Grows in L.A.: Tales of a Buddhist Monk in America by Bhante Walpola Piyananda

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. About the Author Bhante Walpola Piyananda was born in Sri Lanka and has been living in the United States for over thirty years. He is the founder-president and abbot of Dharma Vijaya Buddhist Vihara in Los Angeles, California. Publisher ‏ : ‎ Shambhala Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 10 2008 Language ‏ : ‎ English Print length ‏ : ‎ 192 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 159030568X ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1590305683 Item weight ‏ : ‎ 227 g Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 13.97 x 1.24 x 21.59 cm