On the eve of his three-year solitary retreat, Dr Adrian Feldmann recounts the inner and outer journey that led him to become a Buddhist monk. The grandson of immigrant Russian Jews, he was raised by liberal parents who had been active in the Australian Communist Party in the 1930s. After graduating from medical school in the 1960s, he went abroad seeking a greater purpose to his life. Traveling through Afghanistan in the 1970s, he was impressed by the spiritual power of Islam, and the idea of following a spiritual path was germinated. With a group of like-minded friends, he sailed down the Indus River in a converted rowing boat, exploring the cultures and mysticism of the East. This unique journey launched him on the spiritual path to Buddhism, and the life of a Buddhist monk.
Adrian Feldmann gives a humorous, worldly account of his search for happiness. His recognition of how the ego undermines our happiness and fortifies our habitual destructive emotions makes this story a parable for modern times. While there are many books on Buddhism, few describe such a personal and liberating journey.
