Sumi Loundon's Blue Jean Buddha was hailed by the New York Times Review of Books as "a bellwether anthology"-- mapping the spiritual trails followed by a generation of American Buddhist youths. The Buddha''s Apprentices examines that territory in fuller detail, telling twenty-six more stories of this powerful spiritual path, including the stories of many teenagers. The book shows us the challenges that spiritually hungry young adults of today might face, with a focus on the identity issues around personality, profession, and lifestyle that are so typical. Also included are several affirming essays from prominent older Buddhists, recalling their first encounters with Buddhism. The Buddha''s Apprentices inspires, examining the tectonic shifts that young , spiritually-inclined people undergo as they leave home, search for partners, consider commitment and marriage, and build their lives. Furthermore, they tell of how Buddhism changes and enhances their abilities to face life''s difficulties. Sumi Loundon''s typically rich and youthful commentary lets us appreciate each contributor''s individual voice, and helps us to see how they contribute to the always-evolving chorus of modern Buddhism. The Buddha''s Apprentices can be considered a sequel to Sumi Loundon's ''Blue Jean Buddha'', but goes even beyond that work by giving extra attention to teens and young adults, and including pieces from Thich Nhat Hanh, Lama Surya Das, and a truly diverse array of younger author/contributors.

Buddha's Apprentices, More Voices of Young Buddhists, Sumi Loundon, editor, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 2005, 219 Pages, $16.95

Sumi Loundon is a Buddhist writer and graduate of Harvard Divinity School, where she chaired the Harvard Buddhist Community. Her writing has appeared in Tricycle Magazine Shambhala Sun. She currently works as the Assistant Director of the Barre Center of Buddhist Studies, in Barre, Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband.

Contents
foreword xi
editor's preface xiii
acknowledgments xix
I. Teens
hilary miller
"I Try" 3
anne skuza
"Yes, I'm a Buddhist" 7
j. marion
The Fuss Over Suffering 10
maya putra
Cease from Harming, Practice Good 14
andrew b. howk
That Sighing Feeling 18
tenzin youdon takshamtsang
Constancy Amid Change 22
II. Twenties and Thirties
sumana bhikkhu
Nothing Special 29
alexis trass
Fortune Baby? 35
myoju meg levie
Home-Leaving and Home-Making 40
viveka chen
The Dharma of Identity 47
alan g. wagner
Studying the Menu 52
jeff wilson
Crossing Over 57
phillip cryan
Pushing Forward and Standing Still 63
ajahn keerati chatkaew
Mean Street Monk 70
bhiksuni thich chan chau nghiem
Black Is Buddhafull 76
kim collins moreno
Born to a Born-Again Mother 84
tenzin dorjee
Dangerous Thoughts 91
layla mason
What's Crazy, Really? 96
donna lovong
"Are You Joining a Cult?" 103
jimmy yu
Clouds and Water 110
III. Longtime Buddhists
zoketsu norman fischer
When I Was Young, No One Had Plans 121
kathleen millane olesky
Full Circle 130
lama surya das
The Long and Winding Road? The Irresistable? 139
venerable yifa
How I Became a Buddhist Nun 148
thich nhat hanh
Stories of a Young Zen Monk 155
bhante henepola gunaratana
Journey to Mindfulness 171
iv. Looking Ahead
sumi loundon
Looking Ahead 187
glossary 201
contributors 207
about the editor 218
about wisdom 219