"Teenager Da Chen gathers soil from the riverbank near his village in China's far south, before he leaves to attend university in Beijing, to bear witness to his past and contain the sounds of the river of his childhood. Later, spilled onto the dry earth of the North, they will merge two parts of Da's life, in this second volume of his lyrical trilogy of memoirs, a sequel to the acclaimed COLOURS OF THE MOUNTAIN. Beginning with his first train journey to Beijing from his parents farm, we rumble along with him in the overcrowded and disease ridden railway carriage to the university. Here the author faces a range of challenges, including poor living conditions, lack of food, and suicidal roommates. Undaunted by these hurdles and armed with a dogged determination to learn English and familiarise himself with 'all things Western', he must compete with every other student to win a chance to study in the US - a chance that rests in the shrewd and corrupt hands of the all powerful professors. In a richly textured story - by turns poetic, ribald, hilarious, and heartbreaking - Chen retains his indomitable spirit, but will he be any closer to attaining his goal?"

To face reality is to embrace change; to resist change is to suffer. This is the liberating insight that unfolds with Living as a River. A masterful investigation of the nature of self, this eloquent blend of current science and time-honored spiritual insight is meant to free us from the fear of impermanence in a world defined by change. “An interesting, lively, and genuinely illuminating teaching of dharma.” —Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart: A Guide Through the Perils and Promises of Spiritual Life “At a time when it's increasingly challenging to find clear and honest direction on the spiritual path, Living as a River offers contemporary insight into an ancient practice and wise counsel we can trust. This book is both beautifully written and useful to all serious seekers.” —Mariana Caplan, PhD, author of Eyes Wide Open: Cultivating Discernment on the Spiritual Path and Halfway Up the Mountain: The Error of Premature Claims to Enlightenment The primary vehicle for this journey is Buddhism's traditional Six Element Practice, a deconstructive process of deep reflection that helps us let go of the belief in a separate, static self—the root of unhappiness. Bodhipaksa takes readers through a systematic yet poetic analysis of the self that supports the realization of: A sense of spaciousness and expansiveness that transcends the limitations of the physical bodyProfound gratitude, awe, and a feeling of belonging as we witness the extent of our connectedness with the universeFreedom from the psychological burden caused by clinging to a false identityThe relaxed experience of “consciousness, pure and bright”Engrossing and incisive, Living as a River is at once an empowering guide and a meditative practice we can turn to again and again to overcome our fear of change and align joyfully with the natural unfolding of creation.

It's been thirteen years since Lucy was in Summer River. The last time she visited her aunt Sara, as a teenager, she was sent home after being dragged out of a party by the boy she had a crush on - Mason Fletcher. Returning after her aunt's death, Lucy is learning there was more to the story. A lot has changed, but when Mason and Lucy make a shocking discovery inside Sara's house, his quietly fierce instincts kick into gear. But this time, she insists on playing a role in her own rescue.

In November 1928 an empty scow was found adrift and empty in the Colorado River. No bodies were found. But since 1971 several people have come forward claiming to be the occupants; one confesses to being a murderer.