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In this book, the first in the series Ancient Wisdom for Our Times: Tibetan Buddhist Practice, Lama Tsomo introduces the essential concepts of the ancient traditions and practices of Tibetan Buddhism as a method to find happiness and peace in this modern world. Full of humor, compassion, and stories from Lama Tsomo's own life, Why Bother? meets us where we are and guides us onto the path to a deeper awareness of the world and ourselves.
About the author
Lama Tsomo is an American lama, author, and co-founder of the Namchak Foundation and Namchak Retreat Ranch.
Born Linda Pritzker, Lama Tsomo followed a path of spiritual inquiry and study that ultimately led to her ordination as one of the few American lamas in Tibetan Buddhism, under the tutelage of Tulku Sangak Rinpoche, international holder of the Namchak lineage. Today, she is dedicated to sharing the teachings of the Namchak lineage with Western students. She is especially passionate about reaching young people and supporting those working for positive social change.
Lama Tsomo holds an M.A. in Counseling Psychology with an emphasis in Jungian studies. She is the author of The Lotus & The Rose: A Conversation Between Tibetan Buddhism & Mystical Christianity.
While she mainly resides just outside Missoula, Montana, Lama Tsomo also spends time in New York City and the East Bay area of California.
Summary
Have you ever wondered how you can make decisions every day that make for the most meaningful life for you? That was the main reason Lama Tsomo “bothered” with meditation in the first place. Indeed she and millions of others have found it to help in that very way, and much more.
In this book, the first in the series Ancient Wisdom for Our Times: Tibetan Buddhist Practice, she shares a bit of her story and her teacher’s story, and a brief overview of the life of the Buddha.
Previously published as part of the award-winning Why Is the Dalai Lama Always Smiling (2016), Lama Tsomo offers background so that you can understand some Tibetan Buddhist basics, essential context for the rest of the series. In future books she takes you on the journey of the real practices just as they were taught to her by her Tibetan teacher— but presented Westerner to Westerner, in a witty and conversational style. This progression builds and deepens your understanding and your happiness.
You could decide to meditate and just watch your breath every day, and not read this book and the series. But that would be like getting a cookbook and maybe even leafing through the pages but never making it into the kitchen, never learning how to make those recipes and nourish yourself. This book gives you the context, and the series gives you the understanding of how to use the practices so that you can gain the full benefit, as Buddhists say, for yourself and others.
