The Buddha Sat Right Here: A Family Odyssey Through India and Nepal
Dena Moes
(Author)
Description
Dena was a busy midwife trapped on the hamster wheel of working motherhood. Adam was an eccentric Buddhist yogi passing as a hard-working dad. Bella was fourteen and wanted to be normal. Sophia was up for anything that involved skipping school. Together, they shouldered backpacks, walked away from their California life of all-night births, carpool schedules, and Cal Skate, and criss-crossed India and Nepal for eight months--a journey that led them to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the tree where the Buddha sat, and the arms of Amma the Divine Mother. From the banks of the Ganges to the Himalayan roof of the world, this enthralling memoir is an unforgettable odyssey, a moving meditation on modern family life, and a spiritual quest, written with humor and honesty--and filled with love and awe.
Product Details
Price
$16.95
$15.76
Publisher
She Writes Press
Publish Date
April 02, 2019
Pages
272
Dimensions
5.5 X 8.4 X 0.8 inches | 0.8 pounds
Language
English
Type
Paperback
EAN/UPC
9781631525612
Earn by promoting books
Earn money by sharing your favorite books through our Affiliate program.
Become an affiliate
About the Author
Dena Moes is a Hollywood born, Yale educated midwife with a BA in literature and an MS in Nursing. Dena and her family live in Chico California but leave town each summer to attend Rainbow Gatherings and Burning Man, and tour the West Coast festival circuit as the Moes Family Band. They always come home in time for school to start - except in 2014, when they set off for India and Nepal. Dena is a songwriter, storyteller, and essayist whose work has been published in Midwifery Today, Shasta Parent, Minerva Rising and the Demeter Press book Travellin' Mama. The Buddha Sat Right Here is Dena's first book. She is currently gestating her next book, Rebel Midwife. More information can be found at www.denamoes.com.
Reviews
2019 Readers' Favorite Gold Medal in Travel 2019 International Book Awards, Winner, Religion: Eastern 2019 Next Generation Indie Book Awards: Winner in Travel/Travel Guide 2019 IPPY Gold Medal Winner in Travel Essay 2019 Foreword INDIES Silver Winner in Adult Nonfiction: Travel 2019 Foreword INDIES Finalist in Adult Nonfiction: Autobiography & Memoir 2019 International Book Awards, Finalist, Travel: Guides & Essays 2019 Chanticleer JOURNEY Book Awards for Narrative Non-Fiction Semi-finalist "The Buddha Sat Right Here redefines what memoirs can be. Moes spins a great tale of family, adventure, human connection, and generosity." --Rita Banerjee, Director, MFA in Writing & Publishing, Vermont College of Fine Arts, and author of Echo in Four Beats and CREDO "A chatty, animated American family pilgrimage that effectively conveys the author's inward search for spiritual meaning." --Kirkus Reviews "The Buddha Sat Right Here, like India, is a veritable
kaleidoscope of experiences. Vacillating between that of a vibrant
travelogue, a heartwarming family tale, a spiritual study, and a comedy
sketch, Dena Moes's fine storytelling captures the human character of
international travel."
down-to-earth journey of enlightenment. . . Dena Moes's writing is
magical, and Clarabel and Sophia's contributions make this a
multilayered and truly unique family memoir." --Ariel Gore, author of The End of Eve, We Were Witches, and Hip Mama Survival Guide "Like all the best travelogues, The Buddha Sat Right Here is
equal parts far-flung experience--the vivid colors and flavors of
India--and internal pilgrimage, and I felt lucky to be along for both.
Dena Moes is a writer of great intelligence, humility, and sparkle, plus
she made me laugh. I loved reading about her family's wild and
beautiful transformation."
of her family's odyssey will make you rethink every aspect of your
life, and you'll likely fall in love with motherhood and marriage all
over again. Her insight and honesty are truly a gift to her readers." --Annabel Monaghan, author of Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big? "Dena Moes is a brave soul, keen observer, and powerful storyteller. I
truly enjoyed tagging along with her and her family on their journey
across India and places beyond. From the chaos of the crowded cities to
her search for that perfect moment between breaths, Moes--by turns a
midwife, a budding Buddhist, a mother, and a wife--enthralls and
enlightens. There's a lot to love about The Buddha Sat Right Here." --Lisa Kusel, author of Rash: A Memoir "The Buddha Sat Right Here is a moving story of adventure,
motherhood, and love. Dena Moes and her family set out on the adventure
of a lifetime, finding along the way much more than they bargained for
and exactly what they needed. Set among the colorful and spiritual
backdrop of India and Nepal, this book stirred up a serious case of
wanderlust in me and was a great reminder of the magic that happens when
you step into the great unknown." --Kim Dinan, author of The Yellow Envelope "Written with clarity, insight, and enthusiasm, this remarkable story
will have you rooting for the Moes family from the beginning. Part
travelogue, part spiritual guide, and part family drama, this story of
the adventure of a lifetime has all the ingredients of great literature.
I have occasionally seen American families traveling through the
labyrinth that is India with children and have wondered how they can
possibly do it. Now I know." --Daniel Veidlinger, Professor, Asian Religions, California State University, Chico
kaleidoscope of experiences. Vacillating between that of a vibrant
travelogue, a heartwarming family tale, a spiritual study, and a comedy
sketch, Dena Moes's fine storytelling captures the human character of
international travel."
--Forward Reviews
down-to-earth journey of enlightenment. . . Dena Moes's writing is
magical, and Clarabel and Sophia's contributions make this a
multilayered and truly unique family memoir." --Ariel Gore, author of The End of Eve, We Were Witches, and Hip Mama Survival Guide "Like all the best travelogues, The Buddha Sat Right Here is
equal parts far-flung experience--the vivid colors and flavors of
India--and internal pilgrimage, and I felt lucky to be along for both.
Dena Moes is a writer of great intelligence, humility, and sparkle, plus
she made me laugh. I loved reading about her family's wild and
beautiful transformation."
--Catherine Newman, author of Waiting for Birdy and Catastrophic Happiness
of her family's odyssey will make you rethink every aspect of your
life, and you'll likely fall in love with motherhood and marriage all
over again. Her insight and honesty are truly a gift to her readers." --Annabel Monaghan, author of Does This Volvo Make My Butt Look Big? "Dena Moes is a brave soul, keen observer, and powerful storyteller. I
truly enjoyed tagging along with her and her family on their journey
across India and places beyond. From the chaos of the crowded cities to
her search for that perfect moment between breaths, Moes--by turns a
midwife, a budding Buddhist, a mother, and a wife--enthralls and
enlightens. There's a lot to love about The Buddha Sat Right Here." --Lisa Kusel, author of Rash: A Memoir "The Buddha Sat Right Here is a moving story of adventure,
motherhood, and love. Dena Moes and her family set out on the adventure
of a lifetime, finding along the way much more than they bargained for
and exactly what they needed. Set among the colorful and spiritual
backdrop of India and Nepal, this book stirred up a serious case of
wanderlust in me and was a great reminder of the magic that happens when
you step into the great unknown." --Kim Dinan, author of The Yellow Envelope "Written with clarity, insight, and enthusiasm, this remarkable story
will have you rooting for the Moes family from the beginning. Part
travelogue, part spiritual guide, and part family drama, this story of
the adventure of a lifetime has all the ingredients of great literature.
I have occasionally seen American families traveling through the
labyrinth that is India with children and have wondered how they can
possibly do it. Now I know." --Daniel Veidlinger, Professor, Asian Religions, California State University, Chico
