Born-Again Buddhist: My Path to Living Mindfully and Compassionately with Mood Disorders

In his previous memoirs ("Chinese Playground" and "Born to Lose"), Bill Lee detailed his violent upbringing in the Chinatown underworld and his forty-year gambling addiction and recovery. He disclosed that he suffers from mood disorders, including PTSD and manic depression.In this book, Lee describes, how after decades of treatment involving different modalities of psychotherapy and being prescribed powerful psychotropic medications, he discovered a more-effective protocol for treating his mood disorder symptoms. This occurred after he adopted a spiritual practice, which he refers to as his magga, a Pali word meaning a path to the cessation of suffering. By integrating mindfulness meditation and other Buddhist practices with psychotherapy, Lee noticed that his mood became more stable, he gained firmer control of his thoughts and emotions, and he experienced less anxiety. He also developed a powerful coping mechanism. According to Lee, the frequencies of his nightmares, flashbacks, and ruminations lessened considerably-some had ceased altogether. He also "released" his road rage.Inspired by the teachings of Pema Chdrn and Thich Nhat Hanh, Lee shares with readers how Buddhist concepts, such as interconnectivity-along with his meditation practice consisting of mindfulness as well as Tonglen-empowered his inner child to cultivate compassion for others as well as for himself. This awakening extended beyond empathy and forgiveness; it inspired Lee to alter his perception of those who had harmed him-from mortal enemies to being part of his spiritual community.Written with honesty, humility, and courage, "Born Again Buddhist" is a celebration of one man's spiritual path and how it has transformed his life.