The Buddha and the Bitch

Book excerpt: The Buddha and the Bitch is an inspiring, autobiographical story of a unique friendship between two women from different cultures, generations and world views, presenting two different approaches to life and art. Thrown together by cosmic chance and united by their love for writing and self-discovery, Phebe, a writing teacher from Ohio, retired and a lesbian, and Rashma, the younger, independent playwright from Delhi, a wife and mother, meet and travel to South India together. They detail their journey while sharing their ecstasies and woes of making art; the Bitch pushes the Buddha to learn the ways of the world while the Buddha advises the other to enjoy life. A quick and easy read, The Buddha and the Bitch touches woke subjects including meditation and spirituality, art and creativity, sexuality and romantic love. The book also addresses challenges of starting a new project, nourishing the artistic muse, going deeper and taking risks, and overcoming creative doubts, making it a must-read for anyone aspiring to be someone in this chaotic world.