"In this lyrical exposition, Diane takes the reader through the details of life in long-term retreat, the big and little ups and downs, the challenges of balancing the practical and the ideal, the periods of peace and the unexpected interruptions, the triumphs and tribulations, the intimate conversations with nature in all its different guises, the discovery of the peace of silence, and the unfolding of understanding, elusive, unanticipated, and stunning in its clarity and simplicity."
- Ken McLeod, author of Wake Up To Your Life, and The Magic of Vajrayana
"Small Boat, Vast Ocean provides a rare and fascinating glimpse into the heart of solitary spiritual practice. Berger is an eloquent writer whose book reveals the challenges, illuminating insights, and beauty of her plunge into the inner ocean of psyche and spirit."
- Brian Hodel, co-author of Embracing Mind: The Common Ground of Science and Spirituality
"An intimate look at healing and devotion through a spiritual journey that most people will never have a chance to experience. A celebration of the sacred within the mundane, inspiring each of us to slow down long enough to appreciate this tender life we lead."
- Lodro Rinzler, author of The Buddha Walks into a Bar and Take Back Your Mind
In this time of “serial distraction,” an American woman chose to jump feet first into solitary retreat in the Tibetan tradition—lasting three and a half years. Based on her journal writing,
Small Boat, Vast Ocean brings the reader intimately into her unfolding inner and outer adventure. It’s the story of what this form brought forth from the psyche, how healing was found, then giving way to a true spiritual journey.
This story is told through a “collage” of expository writing, reflection, letters, essays, poetry, and observations of the natural world, offered in chronology. An honest relaying of experience, it includes meetings with bears, scorpions, one cougar, and other adventures while making this oceanic crossing, soul’s journey.
The Buddhist ideal of “journey without goal” sums up the classic paradox of spiritual pursuit: a seemingly unattainable balancing of the endeavor toward enlightenment, with a profound acceptance of what is. Berger’s reflections on the process of further and further quieting, leads one to understand how this is possible.
Diane Berger is a native of the Pacific Northwest, where she graduated from The Evergreen State College in journalism and anthropology. She then went into publishing, including newspaper reporter-photographer to copy editor, including a stint with the book division of Rolling Stone. As a member of the press, Diane first encountered a reincarnated Tibetan lama--the Dalai Lama--on his first trip to the West in 1978. A decade later she stepped fully into the Buddhist world, attending many retreats, including one with HH Dilgo Khyentse in 1990, whom she still considers her heart teacher.On a one-year adventure with her teenage twins, Diane's life took a significant turn in the south of India when she met the reincarnated lama, Dza Kilung Rinpoche. Already an experienced Tibetan Buddhist practitioner, she began assisting this young lama, eventually bringing him to the West, to her city of Seattle. While initially the goal was to find funding to rebuild his monastery in Tibet, the work took off, and they created a thriving humanitarian foundation and Buddhist sangha. After 15 intense years of worldly accomplishment, Diane felt it was time to shift her focus inwardly, to direct spiritual practice, choosing traditional three-year retreat, the subject of this book.Diane completed her retreat in 2015, with an additional nine months in 2016. Since then she has been teaching meditation and Buddhism in Seattle. www.dianerigdzinberger.com
