Wide Awake
A Buddhist Guide for Teens
By Diana Winston

Buddha

This image of the Buddha is available as a poster from Buddhism Depot.

Foreword by Noah Levine

Foreword
Introduction
Chapter 1

Wide Awake

To order this book, head to your nearest independent bookseller or to Booksense or to Amazon.com. Published by Perigee Books (A division of PenguinPutnam Group).

As a teen I searched high and low (mostly high) for some sense of belonging, purpose and meaning. After many years of a confused quest that led to addiction, violence and eventually jail, I discovered the simple solution to my crisis in Buddhist meditation practice. In the beginning, at times, my meditation practice felt lonely and isolated. It seemed like I was the only young person in the world who was practicing meditation and trying to follow a spiritual path. The books I read were all written by and for middle-aged people. I longed for teachings that were directly applicable to me as a young adult. Eventually I began to meet other people who, like me, had started on the spiritual path at an unusually young age, Diana is one of those people.

Wide Awake is the book I was looking for as a teen. In this simple and wise offering of the Buddhist teachings; the path of Freedom is clearly and beautifully extended as an open invitation to anyone who is seeking meaning, happiness and a sense of ease. This book shines the light of wisdom into the sometimes dark experience of being young. It lays out the tools necessary do the work to get through difficult times and help us to awaken to our own natural joy and peace of mind. Diana explains the Buddhist Path of Awakening in a direct and precise manner that is a pleasure to read. She skillfully weaves together teachings from all the major schools of Buddhism, distilling the important questions and answers in a manner that brings about insight, compassion and illumination to the nature of human life.

As Buddhism is translated from culture to culture and generation to generation, although the teaching remain the same, the way in which it is taught has been constantly changing for over 2,500 years. This book is the culmination of centuries of Wisdom in the East and decades of Buddhism in the West. It is the perfect guide to the perils, pitfalls and mysteries of transitioning into adulthood in an age of so much confusion and misinformation.

The spiritual path goes against the stream, against the system, and at times against our own self-centered desires. Buddhist practice leads to freedom from greed, hatred and delusion. Through meditation, wise action, service and positive intention we can each live the life we long to live. It is a simple path; it just takes commitment and practice. Along the way you will surely discover more than you ever expected— more joy, more love and more freedom.

In Buddhist practice I have found everything that I previously sought in the unskillful and often painful actions of my youth. It is my hope that you will benefit from these words, this book, and these teachings in the same way I have. May you be fortunate enough to want Truth more than anything else and may our paths cross on the journey from here to there.

In service of the truth and defiance of everything else,
Noah Levine and the whole Dharma Punx Posse
San Francisco – 2002