The Novice

In this unforgettable memior, a young man finds himself disillusioned by the conventional expectations of his parents, teachers, and culture. Desperate to articulate his deepest hopes and dreams, he discards his university education and abandons home, family, and possessions to journey through Europe, the Middle East, and Asia in search of a meaningful life.  Narrowly escaping death by sickness and drugs, he encounters the Tibetan refugees in exile and, entranced, finally stops running. He takes the ancient teachings to heart but, eight years later, finds that his path is neither straight nor narrow . . . and that there's no turning back.
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At the age of twenty-two, Stephen Schettini was ordained as a Buddhist monk in the Tibetan tradition and lived for eight years in the Northern and South India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and Switzerland. IIn 1982 he cut his ties with institutional Buddhism and struck out on his own. Since then, working in Canada as a graphic artist, writer, and publisher, he has authored, edited and illustrated articles and books on health science and stress management. He took up his teaching career again in 2002 with the inauguration of mindful reflection workshops and Quiet Mind Seminars and is highly regarded for his ability to interpret traditional Buddhism in terms of everyday Western life. Stephen lives in Montreal, Canada with his wife and children.