Stumbling Toward the Buddha : Stories About Tripping Over My Principles on the Road to Transformation

Dawn Downey chronicles a spiritual journey that leads her from revelations at a Buddhist monastery to transcendence at a Baptist church. En route, she uncovers the cause of her life-long depression: childhood abuse. Mysticism, meditation, and the muck of daily living. Downey finds peace in all of it. ". . . authentic and wry . . . an honest conversation about how a spiritual life really manifests in the day-to-day world. . . . Bravo for this enchanting new voice in the pantheon of spiritual writing."-Brenda Miller, author of The Pen and the Bell: Mindful Writing in a Busy World "Dawn Downey writes candidly about the workings of her mind, which are the unspeakable workings of ours, too. . . . Her writing is pure Zen."--Cheryl Wilfong, author of The Meditative Gardener: Cultivating Mindfulness of Body, Feelings, and Mind "Revel in Downey's imaginative outlook on life and ponder her hard-won truths. . . . honest insights . . . wicked and ready sense of humor . . .."--Deborah Shouse, author of Love in the Land of Dementia: Finding Hope in the Caregiver's Journey. --Provided by publisher How does one embrace spirituality, when life is messy? Dawn Downey comes to a startling revelation: a difficult childhood was more than that. There was abuse. When she confronts family history, years of depression and splintered relationships finally make sense. As a seeker, she accepts her past and finds friendship, compassion, and joy.