chealey14's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
4.0
internationalkris's review against another edition
3.0
Saltwater Buddha is the memoir of Jaimal Yogis starting with the first time he runs away to learn to surf the Hawaiian waves - at 16! - and onward as he moves towards a career in journalism. For me the book was at its best when Jaimal was describing his experiences learning to surf and the energy and vitality of his sport, "I was suddenly staring at a beautiful emerald green wall of water with white foam, towering above me. It had come from nowhere: a sleeper - a rouge. There was nothing I could do. Sharp rocks were on all sides of me and I was in the wave's shadow." I also appreciated hearing the insights that he gained as a practicing buddhist, "I could list a thousand other rises and falls - such things are, after all, what it is to be human. We all love the highs, the rush, the perfect rides. But here's the thing I've learned: Listen to the low tides too, accept them, surrender to them - and cherish them as well. They too are rich." I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in surfing, memoir, buddhism, and alternative life paths. It's a quick read with a lot of insight.
zoemaiele's review against another edition
4.0
read it all in one sitting on the plane after hearing jaimal's pod episode on waterpeople.
such a nice quick easy read, getting me excited to hit the waves again.
such a nice quick easy read, getting me excited to hit the waves again.
syleamcha's review against another edition
5.0
I love this book. And I'm not even a surfer (I wish I was).
It's a fast feel-good read that will make you want to travel, try surfing, or at least go to the ocean or simply immerse yourself in nature.
I love how easily understandable, down-to-earth and relatable the Buddhism elements are. I guess that you don't even need to be interested in Buddhism to appreciate them. It never felt like the author was lecturing the reader, more like the he kept learning and growing and kept sharing his brilliant yet affordable knowledge with us.
I love how Jaimal Yogis recounts with honesty and humbleness how he kept thinking of himself as a good meditator, a “good Buddhist” only to find out with obstacles on his way that he was still very much on the path, and not “there yet”, that he still had effort and work to do. It makes me think that often in self-help/ spiritual books, the author appears to have accessed a superior state, maybe enlightenment, and how it often rings false to me, as I think that very few humans on Earth are truly enlightened, if any. I remember a monk, at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand where I was doing a retreat, being asked by someone if he was enlightened. He laughed and said “No I’m not enlightened, yet, but I’m just like you, I’m doing my best and working towards it every day”.
One passage of this amazing book stuck with me, a beautiful exploration of anger and mindfulness, and how even with the best Buddhist training in the world, taking yourself out of an angry state requires . It was about a surfer that got very angry at Jaimal for accidentally taking the wave he was riding and making him fall. The other surfer kept bullying him even after Jaimal apologised, and Jaimal relates how himself started to get angry.
“Good Buddhists don’t get angry, I told myself (unhelpfully). […] every time the anger grew, I got angry at myself for getting angry. Suddenly, on a beautiful day with the best surf of the year, nothing felt right. […] I told myself, “I need to handle this peacefully. I meditate. I’m spiritual. […]
I dug deep into my Buddhist training. I tried to analyse the anger. […] Sure, the guy was a bit uncouth. But he wasn’t shoving my own burning anger down my throat. The anger was coming from inside me. In principle, I had a choice. […] “Everything passes, nothing is permanent”. It helped but I still kind of wanted that red-suited devil-child to faceplant in the cliff. So I moved on to stage two: generate compassion. […] But I couldn’t do it. […]
And then, something strange happened. […] I watched his face in more detail. […] It was obvious when I looked closely: he was not having a good time. In fact, he appeared to be in just as much pain as I was, and his pain was self-inflicted, juts like mine. And he just couldn’t let go, just like i couldn’t - delisted all my spiritual training. We were both holding on to this thing, this monster between us. […] when I saw this, I did let go a little. And then a little more. I let myself breathe more naturally. And when I did this, I even felt kind of bad for the guy. […] The red-suited guy seemed like a caricature of anger. Or maybe a bodhisattva who’d come to compassionately demonstrate what can happen without anger management skills.”
I will definitely read this book again to soak in all the good knowledge, and the good vibes.
It's a fast feel-good read that will make you want to travel, try surfing, or at least go to the ocean or simply immerse yourself in nature.
I love how easily understandable, down-to-earth and relatable the Buddhism elements are. I guess that you don't even need to be interested in Buddhism to appreciate them. It never felt like the author was lecturing the reader, more like the he kept learning and growing and kept sharing his brilliant yet affordable knowledge with us.
I love how Jaimal Yogis recounts with honesty and humbleness how he kept thinking of himself as a good meditator, a “good Buddhist” only to find out with obstacles on his way that he was still very much on the path, and not “there yet”, that he still had effort and work to do. It makes me think that often in self-help/ spiritual books, the author appears to have accessed a superior state, maybe enlightenment, and how it often rings false to me, as I think that very few humans on Earth are truly enlightened, if any. I remember a monk, at a Buddhist monastery in Thailand where I was doing a retreat, being asked by someone if he was enlightened. He laughed and said “No I’m not enlightened, yet, but I’m just like you, I’m doing my best and working towards it every day”.
One passage of this amazing book stuck with me, a beautiful exploration of anger and mindfulness, and how even with the best Buddhist training in the world, taking yourself out of an angry state requires . It was about a surfer that got very angry at Jaimal for accidentally taking the wave he was riding and making him fall. The other surfer kept bullying him even after Jaimal apologised, and Jaimal relates how himself started to get angry.
“Good Buddhists don’t get angry, I told myself (unhelpfully). […] every time the anger grew, I got angry at myself for getting angry. Suddenly, on a beautiful day with the best surf of the year, nothing felt right. […] I told myself, “I need to handle this peacefully. I meditate. I’m spiritual. […]
I dug deep into my Buddhist training. I tried to analyse the anger. […] Sure, the guy was a bit uncouth. But he wasn’t shoving my own burning anger down my throat. The anger was coming from inside me. In principle, I had a choice. […] “Everything passes, nothing is permanent”. It helped but I still kind of wanted that red-suited devil-child to faceplant in the cliff. So I moved on to stage two: generate compassion. […] But I couldn’t do it. […]
And then, something strange happened. […] I watched his face in more detail. […] It was obvious when I looked closely: he was not having a good time. In fact, he appeared to be in just as much pain as I was, and his pain was self-inflicted, juts like mine. And he just couldn’t let go, just like i couldn’t - delisted all my spiritual training. We were both holding on to this thing, this monster between us. […] when I saw this, I did let go a little. And then a little more. I let myself breathe more naturally. And when I did this, I even felt kind of bad for the guy. […] The red-suited guy seemed like a caricature of anger. Or maybe a bodhisattva who’d come to compassionately demonstrate what can happen without anger management skills.”
I will definitely read this book again to soak in all the good knowledge, and the good vibes.
eric_conrad's review against another edition
5.0
the quiet lulls between swells
I have never surfed, but I love reading books about surfing. The Zen aspect appeals to me and is an interesting approach to living.
I have never surfed, but I love reading books about surfing. The Zen aspect appeals to me and is an interesting approach to living.
sumayyah_t's review against another edition
3.0
With just over 230 pages (and each chapter being a average of 2 pages long), this book is a very quick read. Read if you are interested in surfing, seeking, and Buddhism.
juliavivalo's review against another edition
5.0
bringing this on my yoga teacher training trip to costa rica. sounds like a perfect fit!
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And it was. What a great read. i highly recommend this book. loved it!
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And it was. What a great read. i highly recommend this book. loved it!
asverdloff's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
relaxing
fast-paced
5.0
k8reilly's review against another edition
3.0
Although I really enjoyed this book, I found myself questioning his credibility. He opens the book by comparing himself and his journey to Buddha. I found his views a little self centered at times but thought the quotes and lessons were of extreme value.