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 images 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 reinforces the point this venerable spiritual teacher always emphasized: the importance of paying attention. No wonder that when asked "Are you a god or a man?" the Buddha replied, "I am awake."
