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Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika

Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika

Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika (Richard Zeikowitz) is a Buddhist monk of Jewish background originally from New York City. After college, he spent a few years in San Francisco before relocating to Europe, where he lived from 1981 until 1992, mostly in Berlin (before, during and after the fall of the Wall) but also spending time in London, Barcelona and Stuttgart. During his European sojourn he wrote poems and stories, taught English as a foreign language, and in Berlin helped run a small jazz bar. Upon returning to the U.S. in 1992, he enrolled in graduate school, eventually obtaining a PhD in English, specializing in Medieval literature, primarily Chaucer. He went on to hold full-time teaching positions in Mobile, AL and NYC. In 2008, he gave up his academic career and, having become an avid practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, ordained as a novice monk in Dharamsala, India, with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. He subsequently resided in an international Tibetan Buddhist monastery in France, but later on transferred to a monastery of the Thai Forest tradition in England. After a few years, however, he decided to continue his monastic journey in a Christian monastic tradition. Beginning in an Anglican Benedictine monastery in Michigan, he soon moved to a Greek Orthodox monastery in Ohio, where he remained for eight years, culminating in professing life vows. He eventually left and, having reconnected with Buddhism, he soon re-ordained as a monk (bhikkhu).
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Title by Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika

  • Goal in Progress by Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika

    Goal in Progress The Detours and Diversions of a Spiritual Journey

    by Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika

    • Released: April 2024
    • Genre: Memoirs

    In Goal in Progress: The Detours and Diversions of a Spiritual Journey, an American Buddhist monk describes his eclectic, non-linear spiritual journey and his ongoing attempts to clarify the goal of his quest.
    Beginning with his early search during the late 1970s, followed by a prolonged residence in West Berlin, he goes on to articulate the monastic journey he embarked on at the age of fifty-four. After initially entering into Buddhist monastic life in Bodhgaya, India, and subsequently ordaining as a novice monk in Dharamsala with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, he resides as a monastic in a Tibetan monastery in France, monasteries of the Thai Forest tradition in England, a Benedictine monastery in Michigan, and a Greek Orthodox monastery in Ohio. He finally re-ordains as a Theravada Buddhist monk in Malaysia.  The author comes to see that his goal, though firmly rooted in Buddhist thought, has been enriched by his significant detours into Christianity and Judaism.

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Reviews

  • Foluso Falaye for Readers’ Favorite

    I loved Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika’s honesty regarding his spiritual journey. He doesn’t claim to have all the answers but clearly shares his doubts, questions, and resolutions. Since the story covers multiple decades, it depicts different stages in the author’s life and sometimes skips some years. We watch him transition from a young man just discovering spirituality to an elderly man who is forced to be mindful of his health after some health issues. One aspect of the book that stands out is the vivid descriptions of religious practices and the various interesting places the author visited in different countries: Malaysia, England, Berlin, India, and more. From the lyrical words to the vivid descriptions of temples and religious practices, Goal in Progress offers a stunning spiritual and therapeutic experience. It’s a must-read for spiritual seekers, travel enthusiasts, and fans of historical memoirs. I wished it would never end!

  • K.C. Finn for Readers’ Favorite

    Author Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika utilizes a natural flair for storytelling to craft a fascinating exploration of a truly eclectic spiritual journey. The warm narrative flow offers a lot of different settings, experiences, and explorations which are brought together in interesting, converging timelines to offer a rich, multi-faceted perspective on spirituality. His journey, starting in the late 1970s and culminating in his re-ordination in Malaysia, illustrates a profound dedication to spiritual growth and discovery, but the narrative shows us how the pieces fit together from past and present to inform the revelations of his future. I was particularly struck by his openness to diverse religious traditions and the many vivid descriptions of life in various monasteries around the world. Nyanadhammika’s narrative emphasizes that detours and diversions are not obstacles to overcome, but integral to deepening one’s understanding of the world around them, which is a beautiful way to look at things. Overall, Goal in Progress is a highly recommended read for the spiritually-minded and those seeking diverse perspectives on harmony and faith.

  • Romuald Dzemo for Readers’ Favorite

    The narrative is delivered with honesty and humility. Bhikkhu Nyanadhammika does not shy away from acknowledging the uncertainties and challenges he faced along the way, nor does he claim to have all the answers. Instead, he invites readers to join him on a journey of exploration and discovery, where each detour and diversion becomes a valuable lesson in self-understanding and clarity. Goal in Progress is beautifully crafted, weaving together personal anecdotes, reflections, and insights with skillful storytelling. Whether recounting his time in bustling European cities or solitary retreats in monastic settings, the prose remains consistently descriptive and transports readers into the heart of the author’s spiritual journey. The quest for meaning and purpose become central themes in this spellbinding memoir, and the author is an expert at exploring the different seasons of the soul while sharing invaluable lessons and insights from his unique journey.