Sumeru News — Books

My Year of Dirt and Water: Journal of a Zen Monk’s Wife in Japan Tracy Franz Stone Bridge Press, 2018 308 pages, paperback, 5 x 8 x 5/8” $16.95/ $22.99 CAN ISBN: 9781611720426 (p), 9781611729306 Westerners have been writing about Japan since the first missionaries arrived there in the 16th century. In the 1800s, Lafcadio Hearn won international acclaim for his memoirs of his time there, and since then many others have added to the genre. It’s difficult to bring something fresh to the subject. There have also been a number of books recounting western encounters with Zen, often from...

In 2017 we were able to give a donation of $618 to the Buddhist Compassion Tzu Chi Foundation of Canada. This represented the proceeds from sales of Lotus Petals in the Snow, our anthology of writings by Canadian Buddhist women. This year we are making another donation of $136. This represents the proceeds from further sales of the book, plus some proceeds from sales of an Buddhist Astrology. What do these donations support? Here is a run-down of where Tzu Chi's donations went in 2017: Daily breakfasts for nearly 500 students in 12 schools Bursaries and school supplies for 1,265 students Paid...

Shambhala Books is launching a children's imprint, in association with the Khyentse Foundation's Children's Book prize. Below is the information from their new press release. Although the submission date seems to have passed, making it impossible to submit a book for consideration, it is worth noting. Perhaps it was a typo and they meant 2019?... Here's what they are saying: We are delighted to announce that Shambhala is launching a children’s imprint named Bala Kids in the Fall of 2018. Bala Kids will be devoted to inspiring the next generation through the Buddhist values of compassion and wisdom. With a shared...

I have been working on a book about Vajrayana shrine rooms for some time now. It comprises 158 photographs I took over several sessions at a large Buddhist temple in the Greater Toronto area, annotated by text I am writing to explain the objects featured in each photo. So far, the book is 122 pages, 11 x 8.5, in landscape format, full colour throughout. Once I get the text finished, it will probably run a bit longer. The book is in three parts: I - A Rosary of Precious Offerings to Enrich the Mind (the shrine room, altar and ritual objects)...

Karmapa 900 is a free e-book published by the Karma Triyana Dharmachakra at the request of His Holiness the 17th Karmapa. The book covers the 900-year history of the Kargyu school of Vajrayana Buddhism in Tibet, and the lineage of the Karmapas. This is the third (revised) edition. The book is exquisitely designed, lavishly illustrated, and extensive in its detail. In short, it is an essential text for any serious practitioner or scholar of Vajrayana Buddhism. Here is the link: http://www.ktdpublications.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/KARMAPA900_3rdEdition_e.pdf