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Reviewed by: Marie T. Russell I've always loved to travel, thus particularly enjoy books that take me along on their journeys. This book, though the personal account of Jay Martin's pilgrimage to China, reads like a novel -- enjoyable and entertaining, yet it contains the depth of the author's spiritual search. Journey to Heavenly Mountain took me on many journeys. The most obvious one was to China to visit and live in many Buddhist monasteries. I learned about Chinese and Buddhist history, and visited many of the sacred shrines and temples. I sat with the author in a crowded train station, ate in "non-tourist" restaurants, went on many solitary walks, lived in Buddhist monasteries, met and spoke with Buddhist monks...The book contains pictures which assisted me in visualizing myself right there with him. The other journey was back in time to a world where being monk was a very palatable choice for a career. Many of the monasteries are now in the process of reconstruction, thus giving us a glimpse into the grandeur of those places of reflection in centuries past. The third journey was within the psyche of the author, sharing his quest for truth, and thus for himself. This journey took me into the author's reflections, questions, and revelations. Thus of course, the final journey was within myself. I thoroughly enjoyed the book, both as a world-traveler and as a "seeker of wisdom". Through Jay Martin's writings, I was able to experience the life of a monk in China in this age of modernity blended with tradition, and I was able to come home to the truth that the Buddha resides in our hearts... no matter our country, or beliefs. What are others saying about this book?
-- Ronald Gottesman, Editor,
-- Roger T. Ames, author of Thinking Through Confucius
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