The Story of the Buddha – Tarrant John (2024)

From longtime Zen teacher and poet John Tarrant comes an original retelling of the foundational myth of Buddhism: the life of the Buddha. Told and retold for centuries, this story holds a special place in the human legacy because it is ultimately an investigation into the nature of mind and consciousness. Literary-minded readers and fans of myths and folklore will be drawn to the Buddha’s encounters with kings, gods, heroes, monsters, and wise teachers on his spiritual quest. Drawing on memories of the Egyptian and Greek myths he encountered as a child, Tarrant begins the journey where the Odyssey ends. The Buddha already has everything—a palace, family, food, and wealth—yet he is suffocating with discontent. His journey involves pain, searching, magic, and personal discovery, leading to his awakening and the teachings that form the basis of Buddhism. An intimate introduction and postscript reflect Tarrant’s decades of studying koans. The Buddha’s story becomes personal, opening an unexpected path to awakening and inviting readers to consider where they are in life and where they are headed. The concluding section contains reflections and eight meditations on his life drawn from the Zen tradition, while full-color historical illustrations enrich the narrative journey.