Saltwater Buddha: A Surfer's Quest to Find Zen on the Sea

I started surfing about 3 months ago. That was also around the same time I started seriously looking at Buddhism. It is amazing that I discovered Jamail Yogis's book while going through a vaguely parallel experience. Coming from this perspective, Saltwater Buddha is an amazing book that blends personal memoir with spiritual insight. It is thoughtful, well-written, and an entertaining read. The last point is worth emphasizing - a spiritual journey may be very interesting to the person going through it, but it will not necessarily resonate with others. Yogis has accomplished the task of translating his inner journey into a narrative that holds the reader's attention and can speak to people from varied spiritual backgrounds. From a purely descriptive perspective, the book is about a man's intellectual, emotional, and spiritual maturation. Yogis lived a life that many of us dream of. Several times during his life he followed his impulses and went to Hawai'i to pursue his passion for surfing. However, these excursions to Hawai'i were bracketed by emotional growth and learning to take responsibility. As easy as it would be to lose oneself in a tropical paradise, Yogis realized that he needed to balance his passion with the more mundane aspects of life. The book traces his journey back and forth between these twin forces. At the same time, Yogis is going through significant spiritual growth. Whether it is through private meditation or a stint in a monastery, his spiritual education moved through both formal and informal channels. More significantly, much of his spiritual growth came out of his movement between passion and responsibility. Life is often the greatest spiritual guide. For him, it was surfing that had one of the largest impacts on his journey. Not only did it serve as a metaphor for many of the formal principles in Buddhism, but it also served as spiritual practice. Most of the surfers that I know acknowledge the spiritual impact surfing has. While they may not recognize it inside a specific dogmatic framework, they are certainly aware of the connection between surfing and some larger cosmic mystery. One reason that Yogis's book is so fascinating is that he looks at surfing through the lens of a particular spirituality. This helps to give structure to thoughts about how surfing impacts people. Looking at surfing through the lens of Buddhism is not, obviously, just a literary device used by Yogis. However, this particular perspective is what makes Saltwater Buddha unique and engaging. Buddhism is capable of embracing so many different paths of spirituality and surfing was one of the paths for Yogis. The structure of the book reflects this interconnection - spiritual insight is interwoven with the narrative of his life. Each piece serves to illuminate the other. This is, of course, how life is actually experienced. We do not experience inner and outer experience as separate things. Instead, our spiritual/emotio

The most poignant thing about the book was that Jaimal Yogis took the time to step back, and put his life in front of the camera, so to speak. I have absolutely no doubt that people will relate to this book because his documented family conditions represent exactly what has happened to the American family: It has been shattered, and it has created adverse conditions for children. Some kids grow up just fine due to adversity (yay :) ), however some suffer and cannot break their cycle of suffering because of it. Jaimal shows how one can be triumphant in these adverse conditions, despite the multi-front plagues afflicting suburbia. Jaimal gives Zen philosophy tidbits that are powerful. I found myself very amused at the plentiful Zen missives in there, especially an anecdote about a monk confronting a samurai. Finally, one of Jaimal's most important messages was to all surfers, and their need to avoid "localism" and exercise patience for each other. Thanks to Jaimal for writing about that so vividly. If we could all just forget about that guy who ruined our stoke, and blow off a drop-in, and simply just get the next wave, then we all can be happier, healthier people, which is arguably the main point in surfing from where I'm standing :) This book is a must have if you surf, or are considering taking the sport up.

I've tried surfing a few times and, to be perfectly honest, I'd usually rather lie on the beach or go for a swim. I'm also lukewarm on Buddhism in any kind of strict sense. But Saltwater Buddha kept me riveted and laughing the whole way through. Not only is it funny, the insights sprinkled through the narrative gave me fresh perspective on my own life. It's the kind of book I wanted to start again as soon as I finished.

"Heartfelt, honest and deceptively simple. It's great stuff with the words Cult Classic stamped all over it." Alex Wade, author of Surf Nation Jaimal's "story-telling instincts are strong, so strong that this book will surely find the audience it deserves-among surfers, among seekers, and among those who enjoy being swept along on a curious ride." Daniel Duane, author of Caught Inside: a surfer's year on the California Coast "Jaimal's tale of survival and perseverance reminds us to follow our hearts without fear. A bold young man's coming of age, Saltwater Buddha is not only entertaining, it's inspiring and motivating. I loved this story!" Urijah Faber, World Champion Mixed Martial Artist "Surfers and Zennies alike will want to catch this wave."--Shambhala Sun "...may ultimately launch an entirely new breed of memoir: the coming-of-sage story." Bruce Kelley, editor-in-chief, San Francisco Magazine "...lighthearted and natural and unafraid...a beautiful coming of age story." Abby Gruen, New York Times contributing writer "It's the perfect read for those who love the ocean as much as their yoga mats, or for anyone who wants to gain a deeper understanding of the spiritual practice that is surfing." Karen Macklin, Yoga Journal "An incredibly fun ride." Steven Kotler, author of West of Jesus "As a surfer, Saltwater Buddha is a reminder to focus on the positive even in difficult situations. Whether it's fierce localism, cold water, or endless big waves, we could all use a little more Zen." Holly Beck, professional surfer