A Leaf in the Wind

Book excerpt: Born in Melbourne in 1943, Adrian Feldmann was one of the first Westerners to become a monk in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition. On the eve of a three-year, solitary meditation retreat, he recounts the inner and outer journeys that lead him to Nepal where, in the early 1970's, he met two Tibetan lamas, Lama Thubten Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche. They were among the first lamas to teach Buddhism to Westerners. In the 1970's, Adrian Feldmann was a young doctor wrapped up in the hippie counter-culture, experimenting with mind-altering drugs and studying Eastern mysticism. Seeking a greater purpose to his life, he began to travel. Following his friends on the hippie trail, he travelled through Afghanistan where he was impressed by the spiritual power of Islam. Inspired by his reading of Taoist philosophy, he and some friends bought a converted rowing boat and sailed down the Indus River, searching for freedom and a more authentic way of living. What he found launched him on the spiritual path to Buddhism. This personal account of one man's search for happiness is often humorous and sometimes shocking. Adrian Feldmann doesn't shirk revealing the mistakes and failings which help to highlight his personal message of hope. He wants us to know that the ego undermines our happiness and fortifies our habitual, destructive emotions. His spiritual path is a quest to "slay the ego," and his life story is a parable for modern times. This title was first published in 2005 by Lothian Books as a paperback book. This updated ebook version is published by the Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive and includes a postscript from the author recounting the continuing saga of his spiritual path. The Lama Yeshe Wisdom Archive is a non-profit organization established to make the Buddhist teachings of Lama Yeshe and Lama Zopa Rinpoche freely accessible in many ways, including on our website for instant reading, listening or downloading, and as digital and printed books. Our website offers immediate access to thousands of pages of teachings and hundreds of audio recordings by some of the greatest lamas of our time. Our photo gallery and our ever-popular books are also freely accessible. You can find out more about becoming a supporter of the Archive and see all we have to offer by visiting the LYWA website. Thank you!