The Buddha, Geoff and Me

By: Edward Canfor-Dumas

Narrated by: Nicholas Bell

Length: 8 hrs and 17 mins

Publisher's summary

Ed is having a hard time - at work, in his love life and, well, generally. Then he meets an unlikely Buddhist - who drinks and smokes and talks his kind of language. Bit by bit, things begin to change...Ed doesn't always take Geoff's advice.

Or, when he does he lapses at the crucial moment. His path to understanding is not a straight one, especially as life keeps throwing more and more 'stuff' at him. Often he fails - like most of us, in fact.

But sometimes he manages to get it right. And when he does, surprising things begin to happen ...In The Buddha, Geoff and Me Edward Canfor-Dumas brings all his skills to bear in an absorbing story of everyday city life, where the characters stand out with all their human strengths and weaknesses, and the ending brings Ed - and perhaps all of us? - a hope we didn't necessarily expect.The Buddha, Geoff and Me - for anyone who's ever begun to wonder what the whole damn thing is all about.

©2005 Edward Canfor Dumas (P)2010 Bolinda Audio

wonderful down to earth story

this is a wonderful story that shows how a man can change his life with out even knowing it. plus it guide you threw an understanding SGI Buddhism easy and deeply threw practically experience of the ppl in the story.

Quietly satisfying

After devouring and adoring "Breakfast with Buddha," I found this book to be similar but not quite as earth shattering. As with most of us intrigued by Buddhism, the lead character, Eddy, becomes acquainted with Geoff, a practicing Buddhist. Their interactions form the context of the story, the ups and downs of everyday life. Geoff's gentle guidance helps Eddy begin to reassess his life and his responses. The story helps develop the pretexts of Buddhism without being preachy or overzealous.

The narrator's accent made some words difficult for my ear, but overall, well done with a great message.

Fantastic Book, Recommend to Everyone

This book was a bit out of my normal reading zones, but I absolutely loved it. Intriguing, believable characters that you can't help but connect with combined with fascinating ideals surrounding Nichiren Buddhism make this book the sort that you can't stop listening too. I would recommend this book to anyone, regardless of religion. Not only is it a wonderful book in it's own right, but I think much of the wisdom within could benefit nearly everyone in their daily lives. I would love to hear more from this author.

excellent book

I greatly enjoyed this story. Well read and full of Buddhist widsom for the day to day. Mr Bell does an excellent job narrating.

This book actually changed my life view

After studying Buddhism on and off for 6 years I have to say this book has drawn me closer to the teachings. It's a wonderful story of how we are woven into each other's lives and how one person can affect the lives of many. The Buddhist teaching that "one candle can light thousands of other candles and not have it's life shortened." really applies to this story.

This quote from Daisaku Ikeda used in the book pretty much sums it up....

" I feel most deeply I have done something creative when I've thrown myself wholeheartedly into a task and thought it through instinctively to it's conclusion, and thusly I've won a struggle to enlarge myself. It is a matter of sweat and tears.

The creative life demands constant effort to improve one's thoughts and actions. Perhaps the dynamism involved in the efforts is the most important thing. You will pass through storms and you may suffer defeat. The essence of the creative life however, is to persevere in the face of defeat and to follow the rainbow within your heart.

Indulgence and indolence are not creative. Complaints and evasions are cowardly, and corrupt life's natural tendency at creation. The person who gives up the fight for creativeness is headed, ultimately, to the hell that destroys all life.

You must never slacken in the efforts to build new lives for yourselves.

Creativeness means pushing open the heavy door to life. This is not an easy struggle. Indeed, it may be the hardest task in the world. For opening the door to your own life is more difficult than opening the doors to the mysteries of the universe but, the act of opening your door vindicates your existence as a human being and makes life worth living. No one is lonelier or unhappier than the person that does no know the pure joy of creating a life for himself.

To be human is not merely to stand erect and manifest reason and intellect.

To be human in the full sense of the word is to lead a creative life."

I'm on my second listen and enjoying just as much this time around, if not more.

Over and over

Over and over. I read, listen, etc. This book. The narrator is top notch for the audio.