New book coming soon…
ANATTĀ
Heart of Wisdom
“Schauch writes about liberation—not through escape but through intimacy with life as it is. By attuning to the wisdom of the heart, we begin to live from a place of connection rather than control.”
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life
About Anattā: Heart of Wisdom
In the spirit of The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen comes a series of contemplative essays and poetry that restore our connection to each other and ourselves.
In Anattā: Heart of Wisdom, award-winning author, alpinist, and Buddhist practitioner Michael Schauch brings us to places where stories reign: among bones nestled in crystal-lined sky caves, in villages atop the high Himalaya, and within the warmth of a backyard campfire. Our stories are vehicles for our memories, individual identities, and shared cultures...but can we connect to an older story, one that transcends time and the barriers between us?
Anattā—the Buddhist idea of “non-self,” or non-attachment to permanence—is a necessary antidote to our uncertain times. Schauch demonstrates that by immersing ourselves in the wonders of nature, we can ignite an ancient connection and deep loving-kindness. He shows that the way to resolve conflicts with others is to first resolve conflicts within ourselves—an essential practice in an age of increasing war and polarization.
By weaving tales of the metaphysical with Buddhist ways of seeing, and with refreshing bursts of humour and
grace, Schauch reconnects us to the beauty of everyday life—the stories that connect us across time and place, and the primordial way back to the heart.
Advance Praise for Anattā: Heart of Wisdom
“Michael Schauch has written a wonderful book. [Anattā] is a beautiful presentation of what the Buddhists call shunyata, usually translated as “emptiness,” which means an ultimate Nonduality, another name for absolute Spirit. The “nonduality” part means that ultimate Reality is a perfect unity of all opposites—good vs. evil, up vs. down, left vs. right, legal vs. illegal, love vs, hate, and so on—what the Christian mystics call the coincidentia oppositorum—the coincidence of opposites. If you want to know why this is important, you’ve come to the right place—simply read this book. You’ll learn the meaning of nonduality and why every single mystical tradition the world over maintains that ultimate Reality is nondual—which you’d think is something pretty important (it includes the opposites of you and Godhead, or you and Spirit, for example, often thought of as differentially contrasting). I highly recommend you buy this book and thus begin this most important quest for yourself.”
—Ken Wilber, author of Finding Radical Wholeness and A Brief History of Everything
“Schauch invites us on a profound journey beyond the ‘conceptual mind’ to the very ‘language of the Heart.’ Through this series of contemplative essays and stories, Schauch weaves together Tibetan and Japanese Buddhist insights to explore the sacred wisdom of ‘non-self’ and our deep interdependence with all living things. This book is a ‘sword of light’ for those ready to cut through the illusion of separateness and come home to the wisdom of Earth.”
—Jetsunma Tenzin Palmo, author of The Heroic Heart and Reflections on a Mountain Lake, and Founder of the Dongyu Gatsal Ling Nunnery
“Schauch’s treasure of essays offers a wondrous glimpse of experiences that are beyond language and yet conveyed, ironically, through his beautiful words and gift of story. He illuminates possibilities for transcending the illusion of our separateness and guides us to tap into the vastness of our hearts and our interconnection with the natural world. Expansive and inviting, this little book is a trusted wellspring of wisdom and inspiration to return to time and again.”
—Susan Bauer-Wu PhD, RN, author of A Future We Can Love and Leaves Falling Gently
“Schauch’s collection of essays takes us on some astonishing adventures around the world. His well-crafted and layered prose shows remarkable inclusivity and sensitivity in spiritual, natural, and cognitive realms. Ultimately, Anattā feels like shelter in challenging times.”
—Bernadette McDonald, author of Alpine Rising and Freedom Climbers
“Schauch guides us into this world where mountains across continents are interconnected, where reified distinctions between self and no-self float away, and where our hearts come alive with wisdom.”
—Paula Arai PhD, author of Painting Enlightenment, Women Living Zen, and The Little Book of Zen Healing
“Anattā is a small book brimming with valuable insights and ageless wisdom. As a lifelong Buddhist practitioner and an experienced mountaineer, Schauch recounts incredible adventures and profound experiences in high, remote places. Shining through his gentle prose is the message of our interconnectedness with each other and with nature. In these difficult times, Anattā brings comfort, hope, and a guiding light.”
—Maria Coffey, author of Explorers of the Infinite and Where the Mountain Casts Its Shadow