{"product_id":"the-appearance-of-things-9780692881101","title":"The Appearance Of Things","description":"\u003cp\u003e This is a true story, a call to come on a great adventure. More than a travel tale or memoir, it is an invitation to the very real possibility of freedom, always available, always here and now.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e In 1974, intrigued by accounts that spoke of the magic and mystery of Asia, a young man commenced an overland journey from Indonesia to Europe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e His story is, in some ways, a \"coming-of-age\" narrative about a singular journey of discovery through Southeast Asia and India, across the Middle East to Greece. However, the movement from innocent abroad to cynical world traveler is interrupted in the Himalayas by a chance meeting with a Buddhist monk and the Dharma.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e The title of the book comes from Kalu Rinpoche, a Tibetan master.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e \"\u003cem\u003eWe live in illusion, the appearance of things. There is a reality. You are that reality. When you see this, you realize you are nothing and being nothing, everything. That is all.\"\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e This is also a cautionary tale where \"awakening\" does not necessarily mean \"wisdom in the world\". As the Buddha is meant to have said, \"Sometimes the closest you can get to the truth is in the knowing of what is not true.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Vernon Castle\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 04\/20\/2017\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780692881101\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 556\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.93lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.61h x 6.69w x 1.13d","brand":"Vernon St Clair Castle","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52491312136373,"sku":"9780692881101","price":25.46,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/files\/img_4a2b85c5-f73d-4010-9ecf-7ae096432fd6.jpg?v=1777995685","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-appearance-of-things-9780692881101","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}