The Story of the Buddha - by John Tarrant (Hardcover)

About the Book

"From long time Zen teacher and poet John Tarrant comes an original retelling of the foundational myth of Buddhism: the life of the Buddha. Told and retold for centuries, this story holds a special place in the human legacy because it is, ultimately, an investigation of the nature of mind and consciousness. Fans of myths and folklore will be drawn to the Buddha's encounters with kings, gods, heroes, monsters, and wise teachers in his spiritual quest. In this ... narrative, the author leans into his memories of the Egyptian and Greek myths he encountered as a child"--

Book Synopsis

For readers of mythology, an original and introspective journey through the life of the Buddha accompanied by 26 beautiful color illustrations and 8 meditations.

From longtime Zen teacher and poet John Tarrant, this is an original retelling of the foundational myth of Buddhism--the life of the Buddha. Told and retold for centuries, this story holds a special place in the human legacy because it is, ultimately, an investigation of the nature of mind and consciousness. Literary-minded readers and fans of myths and folklore will be especially drawn to the Buddha's encounters with kings, gods, heroes, monsters, and wise teachers in his spiritual quest.

In this captivating narrative, the author leans into his memories of the Egyptian and Greek myths he encountered as a child. "If we pour ourselves into the story of the Buddha," he writes, "we enter the journey from an unusual place as far as myths go; we begin where the Odyssey ends." The Buddha already had everything--a palace, family, food, wealth--yet he was suffocating with discontent. He needed to embark on a journey involving pain, searching, magic, and personal discovery. This led to his awakening and the teachings that form the basis of Buddhism.

John Tarrant frames the story with an intimate, inquisitive introduction and postscript that reflect his decades of studying koans and will resonate with a broad readership. The story of the Buddha is personal--it becomes your own story, opening an unexpected path to awakening. If you listen to the images that arise in its telling, you can find where you are in life and where you are headed.

The Buddha's story becomes more personal with the concluding section of reflections and eight meditations about his life drawn from the Zen tradition. The book's gorgeous full-color historical illustrations of characters and events in the Buddha's life enrich the narrative journey. This lovely little book is a meaningful gift or addition to your own bedside or coffee table.

Review Quotes

"John Tarrant has a rare gift for lyricism and for opening out the depths that lie between certainties. In his hands, the story of the Buddha's life becomes a suggestive poem and a spacious parable, wisdom tucked inside every clause. I sometimes think you could spend a lifetime with each paragraph here."
--Pico Iyer, author of The Half Known Life

"Can I make clear how great this book is? It is splendid, entrancing, breathtakingly beautiful, and, to use an overused but extremely appropriate word, enlightening. Reading it, I was in awe. 'We call our pain our self, ' Tarrant quotes the Buddha. 'We have things the wrong way round.' In this personal, lyrical, and most compelling telling of the Buddha's story, John Tarrant shows us how we can make his story our own."
--Mark Epstein, MD, author of The Zen of Therapy

"A beautiful gift book for discovering the life and teachings of the Buddha."
--Spirituality & Practice

"Of great value for contemplation for those already well-versed in this story or even for those non-Buddhist seekers interested in a multilayered mythical tale that holds up a mirror for self-reflection."
--Buddhistdoor Global

"Tarrant recounts the Buddha's life in his colorful new book. In this beautiful tome, which includes a rich collection of traditional Chinese and Japanese illustrations, the timeless tale is presented like a poetic meditation."
--Lion's Roar

"Filled with exquisite artwork from a variety of traditions. It reads like the wisdom of a longtime practitioner summing up all he has learned. . . . You may think you've read the story of the Buddha's life and know how it informs your practice. You may think you know what koan practice is and how it fits into the history of Buddhism. You nevertheless need to read this book. It shows you the story in a whole new way. It's a stunner."
--Tricycle

About the Author

JOHN TARRANT is a Zen teacher, writer, and poet who has studied koans for over forty years. He is director of the Pacific Zen Institute, a venture in meditation and the arts, and teaches culture change in organizations. Tarrant holds degrees in Human Sciences and English literature and PhD in Psychology. For twenty years, he was a Jungian psychotherapist working on dream analysis. He is the author of several books, including The Light Inside the Dark: Zen, Soul, and the Spiritual Life (Harpercollins, 1999) and Bring Me the Rhinoceros and Other Zen Koans That Will Save Your Life (Shambhala, 2008). He lives among the vineyards near Santa Rosa, California.