Saffron Days in L.A. 
Tales of a Buddhist Monk in America

     Can a Buddhist monk still walk the path when nobody walks in L.A.? 

     Is it possible to stay true to Buddha in the city where the the latest in exotic dogma becomes the latest celebrity-endorsed religion du jour?

     Saffron Days in L.A., introduces us to Bhante Walpola Piyananda who relocates from Sri Lanka, and narrates his many experiences as he establishes his abbot residency in Los Angeles.  Whether being perpetually mistaken for a Hare Krishna, to expounding the virtues and benefits of chanting and meditation, to resolving family conflicts, to chillin' out punkers at the beach, Bhante injects a sense of calmness and rationality into his storytelling (and into his resolutions), stressing compassion, understanding, and most importantly, patience.

      Written in an engaging manner, each chapter is a different story that relates to common crises, but Bhante also adds a little Buddhist history, a little Dharmic background to better understand and appropriate a solution: "The Robe" outlines the color significance of a monk's robe, but it also addresses one's questioning of their religious direction; In "Phoenix Calamity", the buddhist approach to forgiveness is examined after a horrific act of violence; "The Disciple Who Jumped over the Cliff" examines the sense of frustration that may be experienced when there is an over-dependency on a religion to solve all of life's problems; "Detachment - A Way of Life" examines one man's misinterpretation of the concept of detachment as a way to avoid responsibility.  Other chapters deal with confronting religious elitism, understanding the Four Noble Truths, reconciling Buddhist ideals with capitalism, defining the different meanings of wealth, and the quandaries and solutions regarding the use of women's restrooms and nude sunbathing.  Only in America, only in Los Angeles!

      As there is a lot of time and ground covered, the reader will recognize at least one similar experience to that of their own.  This brings Bhante and his Saffron Days down to a personal level, and illuminates the complexities of the human condition, the mysteries of the human heart, and the potential for awakening to the light of Amida.

Reviewed by Brian Winters