The Buddha's Apprentices: More Voices of Young Buddhists by Sumi Loundon

The Buddha's Apprentices: More Voices of Young Buddhists
by Sumi Loundon

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 common challenges that spiritually hungry young adults of today might face, with a focus on the identity issues around personality, profession, and lifestyle. 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 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 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.