Review of Saltwater Buddha
Terra firma. Soil. Streets. This is where most of us spend our lives, save for the occasional dip in a pool, river, or ocean. Surf? On a board? Ha. The lucky few who are geographically blessed and fearless enough to take on the moniker 'Surfer', are a small but esteemed lot. There is a mystique surrounding the word itself, hearkening a free-spirited lifestyle, casual perspective, and of course, a little attitude. How can you not have some attitude rolling through Brooklyn on the subway mid-winter with a surfboard in tow? Or enter the challenging coves of Pohoiki, Hawaii as an inexperienced Ha-ole? In Jaimal Yogis' book, Saltwater Buddha, this mystique is amply propelled and diminished within its chapters. 'Attitude' and 'Zen' don't exactly seem to share a common ground. Most images of Buddha are sedate, peaceful, and jovial glimpses of a well-rounded (in more ways than one) soul. Attitude? Hard to have attitude in a bathrobe. Therein lies the paradox so present within Eastern philosophies.
'Zen Attitude' is an unlikely pairing but fits the bill. Hard to catch a wave being complacent, it'll pass you right by. Saltwater Buddha explores the classic paradigms and modern approaches to the assimilation of ancient teachings. It finds Yogis approaching life from both a humble seeker and inadvertent teacher's perspective, full of curiosity, gall, courage, rebellion, mystification, reverence, respect, naivety, and fervor. The pages of Saltwater Buddha reflect the thoughts of a master. A master of his own vision, own path, and personal sovereignty. Jaimal adeptly communicates that the target of enlightenment is always moving, the brass ring, once grabbed, appears yet again on the next go-round. The search for a moment, a wave, a friend, a reason...and god-forbid, even a job. The pages echo the the pursuit of other mere mortals - the Land-lubber Buddha, the Business Man Buddha, the Blue Collar Buddha, the Trust-fund Buddha. They surf metaphorical waves but share the same perils. The winds we all face and the hidden dangers that hide beneath the surface of daily life require adept navigation. Duck-dives, balance,foresight, patience. Jaimal Yogis weaves together an entertaining and insightful series of his own thoughts and experiences, and relates them back to the master teachers and his monastic and scholarly lessons. All together, it is an accessible and clear illumination of an often esoteric and intimidating philosophy. You can't read this book without walking away with a new perspective or the inclination to consider the impact of Yogis's experiences on your own life.
What it comes down to in part, and what Jaimal skillfully points out through his salty, romantic, honest, coming-of-age stories, is that although the quest of Buddhism is oriented towards finding enlightenment, the truth is that Zen practice evolves between where you are now and where you think you want (or need) to be. In a one hour surfing session, there can be 50 minutes of waiting for a swell and 10 minutes of actual surfing. Our lives are dominated by the 'in-between'. We'll all find ecstatic moments of fulfillment, be it on the inside edge of a right break that curls into a ferocious saltwater tube, a quiet moment of mediation, looking into the eyes of baby, or just feeling present and content. Yogis truly nails it with his insight that 'in between', where discontent dwells, is the oh-so-important concept of paddling...the space between those moments when it really matters how you cope with the world. Where life happens and we make decisions. Experience it through the eye's of the teller and drift with him through the unique journey of a true Saltwater Buddha.