Book Review

By Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat

If You Find the Buddha
Jesse Kalisher
Chronicle Books 02/06 Hardcover $16.95
ISBN: 0811848140

In this playful, entertaining, and meditative book, photographer Jesse Kalisher presents the Buddha in various forms — traditional statuary, toys, garden ornaments, jewelry, tattoos — and in a variety of settings. Travel writer Jeff Greenwald says in his foreword: "As with a lover-or a close relative, or good friend — meeting with the Buddha is always a welcome surprise. Like those familiar faces, it snaps us back to what's truly important: the joy of community, the value of kindness, and the benefits of being focused and engaged, whatever our enterprise."

A few that caught our fancy include a 14K Gold-Plated Buddha on a shelf of a store beside three boxes of Life-Savers candy, a Buddha figurine on a shelf next to flowers and a sign that advertises Seafood Burger, a Buddha statue resting peacefully in an aquarium with goldfish swimming around it, a craftsman diligently creating a Buddha figurine, a Thai soldier with a Buddha charm around his neck, a Buddha being made out of sand at the beach, and a smiling Buddha beneath a tree where a little girl is twirling a hula-hoop around her waist. In some of these photographs, you have to work to find the Buddha and that makes the point that this venerable spiritual teacher emphasized the importance of paying attention. No wonder that when asked "Are you a god or a man?" the Buddha replied, 'I am awake."

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by Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat