In the middle of all that chaos on the convention floor, you can find an oasis of calm. New Harbinger (2951) is offering everyone a chance to take a Buddha break. Staff will not only be giving out copies of Barbara Ann Kipfer’s What Would Buddha Say?— they’ll also be handing out cards featuring mindful teachings from the book.
“Breathe deeply before you speak,” reads one of Kipfer’s messages. “We become our words” is another. Can’t hear yourself think over the blare of car horns? Forced to listen to a detailed recounting of a Real Housewives marathon? Might be time for “Let the outer chatter of the world pass you by” card.
What Would Buddha Say?—the first of eight titles in Kipfer’s Following Buddha series—is a
little book with big wisdom based on Right Speech, one of the eight noble paths in Buddhism. While Buddhism and mindfulness have become popular in the mainstream, Kipfer’s new series presents a complex, compelling, and inspiring modern take on ancient teachings in small accessible packages.
A lexicographer, linguist, and world-renowned Buddhist scholar, Kipfer is the author of 14,000 Things to Be Happy About and 50 other books that have sold a total of more than three million copies. She says she is also “a list maker and list lover, so I know that reading short reminders and short essays is a great way to stay headed in the right direction. I thought a book about each part of the Noble Eightfold Path would be very helpful.”
This article appeared in the May 27, 2015 edition of PW BEA Show Daily.
