Hello friend! I am hosting author Deborah favorite today. She has recently published Memoirs of an American Buddhist in Los Angeles: Synchronicity is No Coincidence.
Get to know the author: Deborah Favorite
Welcome to Armed with A Book, Deborah! Tell me and my readers a bit about yourself!
On Christmas Eve, I’ll be celebrating my 34th annual 39th birthday. You do the math. Although I was born in Santa Monica, when I was four, we moved away from the damp ocean air to a small desert town because of my asthma.
I come from a large, multi-national, multi-cultural, multi-racial, multi-religious, and multi-sexual-identity family. I have two stellar adult children (a daughter and a son), and three amazing grandsons, two of whom are autistic. These kids have overcome by leaps and bounds every challenge that dictated they would never succeed.
I have lived many places and have delved into several careers. All of it, with no exception, has lent remarkable richness to my life.
As an empath, I am intensely affected by the sufferings of other people, oftentimes to my own detriment. I am elated by the victories of others after witnessing them win over their own battles. I cry easily … over everything … happiness, joy, passion, sadness. Human diversity draws me in. Injustice strikes a flame of passion which has led me to human and civil rights activism. I watch far too much news as I don’t want to find myself caught off guard.
Music makes me move mountains or bring me to my knees. I enjoy a great read, interesting films, and live theatre. Entertaining friends and family bring me the greatest pleasure. I think what I enjoy the most about myself is my ability to make people laugh in their darkest moments. Oh, yes, and then there’s swing dancing.
What inspired you to write this book?
From the time I started the practice of chanting Nam-myoho-renge-kyo at the age of 25, I was in as dark a place as one can be. I took it on as a bet to prove it couldn’t work in my case. But from the get-go, my life turned upside down in indescribable ways. I began finding myself being at the right place at the right time for seemingly magical events happening at just about every turn – – something my life was completely unfamiliar with until my encounter with this Buddhism. As I kept writing about these events, people started encouraging me to publish them because of the powerful effect they could have on so many people suffering with hopelessness, and not believing they might have the power in their own lives to overcome their problems.
How long did it take you to write this book, from the first idea to the last edit?
My writing about these experiences were first documented in mid-1975. I started writing them because of the incredible synchronicities that were unfolding before my eyes – – I didn’t want to lose any of the phenomenal details. Over the years, I was inspired by different people to get these stories in final form and publish them. Interestingly, because these occurrences never seemed to end, neither did my writing. In 2018, I had an uncanny experience that placed a deadline in front of me to get it published. At that time, it was difficult for me to focus on it and then COVID hit. I found myself alone and isolated. What better way could there be to utilize my time and complete my book? And so, I did.
What makes your book unique?
Well, I realize there are many inspirational, self-help books on the market … my own library is filled with them. All of them, without fail, have been impactful. But for me, once I finished reading, and I returned to my daily routines, there wasn’t really anything that kept me feeling self-empowered, or self-worthy, and any of the other aspects lacking about my “self.” It was like going to the gym, getting a good work out and then stopping. My muscles simply returned to their old flabby way.
My story is not unique from other chanting Buddhists. What is unique is the tool we use every day as we venture out into the world. It activates our own highest potential, our life force, and our life condition. Then, every day, we can win over our own fundamental darkness. Interestingly, this chant works whether we believe it or not … kind of like gravity or electricity. It will prove itself.
Who would enjoy reading your book?
It’s a modern-day story of a modern-day woman. It’s about the joys and sufferings of life with a dash of humour … generally when we need it the most. When I read my book, it makes me laugh, it makes me cry, and it reminds me that I can win when I’m up against yet another obstacle. I think that if we have the good fortune to wake up in the morning, the possibility of facing a problem is fairly great. So, anyone looking for an inspiring, thought-provoking read, or who might be searching for solutions to life’s challenges would enjoy this book.
What’s something you hope readers would take away from it?
My desire is that every reader would walk away with even the tiniest sense of courage or curiosity to test the waters and explore for themselves the phenomenal power of this teaching and practice. It conflicts with nothing and unimaginable results are guaranteed if the recipe is followed correctly.
Do you have a favourite quote or scene in the book that you find yourself going back to?
Yes, I do.
I have built a life of tremendous fortune because of the swamp I’ve muddled around in for eons. Because that swamp was filled with such diversity of pain, it has afforded me an incomparable opportunity to encourage and inspire so many others to find their own courage, strength, and determination to stand up and fight for their own happiness! I also have the wisdom to know that it ain’t over until I take my last breath. And right now, my breathing is just fine!
What’s the best piece of advice you have received related to writing?
Be yourself! Don’t ever think you have to follow someone else’s formula. Be authentic, speak from your heart, your truth, and know there is always room for your sense of humour.
If you could give a shout out to someone(s) who has helped in your writer journey, please feel free to mention them below!
Charles and Mary Nell Byrd (who now reside in the other world), my Auntie Toni, my kids, everyone who listened to my stories before they took any real form, and just about any other being who ever crossed my path – – they have all given me some profound sense to dig deeper to realize all that holds me back is only me. For that, I am eternally grateful!
Memoirs of an American Buddhist in Los Angeles: Synchronicity is No Coincidence
Genre: Non-fiction, Memoir
Publication Year: 2022
No matter the intensity or vastness of any challenge, Favorite’s raw depictions of her 46-year journey with her Buddhist practice unfailingly proves the proof of turning poison into medicine IS in the pudding. And, she happily divulges the ingredients needed to become your own champions!
Content notes: None declared by the author.
Book Excerpt from
Memoirs of an American Buddhist in Los Angeles
Chapter 10
THE MAN IN THE UROLOGY DEPARTMENT
As I explained before, in my quest to prove these Buddhists senseless, I demanded every morning as I chanted that something extraordinary would happen on that day. So far, so good . . . although, I refused to equate chanting to a piece of paper as having anything to do with it.
After a half day of training for my new on-call position, they released me into the wild to fend for myself. I greeted patients, determined the priority of their emergency, and checked them in accordingly.
Shortly after I arrived on my second day, Mrs. King said that the receptionist in the Urology Department had called in sick. She asked me to please go to that department and fill in until that on-call person arrived, and then return to my post. I wandered through the halls until I found the Urology Department. Just as I got there, a patient who had seen a doctor asked me to help him fill out some forms for an upcoming surgery. I was happy to assist.
One of the questions on the form asked where the patient was born. He responded, “Greece.” Without looking up, I matter-of-factly told him that I was half Greek. To his delight, he asked my last name. Explaining that my biological parents were divorced when I was a baby, I said, “Tasulis.” His delight moved up a notch to enthusiasm as he went on to say his best friend was Chris Tasulis. Still not looking up from the form, I told him my father’s name was George and I doubted they were related. Just then, the on-call person came in and I returned to the Surgical Walk-In clinic. I was only there long enough to meet that man.
Around three o’clock in the afternoon, I received a phone call from him. He said he had been looking for me all day, but no one knew who I was. Maybe because I wasn’t a “real” employee? Anyway, he said he had just talked to my grandmother . . . Chris was my father’s brother! That was a fairly interesting response to my morning demand of the universe. I thanked him for calling, but I had no interest in meeting any of those people. I did call my mom after work to tell her about my crazy day. She thought it was pretty crazy, too.
Side bar: A few months before, my mom and six-year-old sister, Valerie, had moved from Lancaster to Santa Monica. My parents had split up. My mom was a manicurist and had been working next door to a small café. Every morning after dropping Valerie off at school, she would sit at the counter and chit-chat with the owner while she had a bagel and coffee before going to work.
A few days after I met the Greek, Valerie had a dental appointment in Westchester. Since they were new to the area, it was her first visit. Meandering through the hallways of the medical building looking for the right suite, my mom noticed the sign on one of the doors that read, Chris Tasulis, Optometrist. Curiously, they went in to find her former brother-in-law and his wife, Helen. After telling them my story of a few days before, they joyfully said they knew all about it from their friend. As the conversation progressed, it was discovered that the Kaiser patient I met was the owner of the little café in Santa Monica and happened to be the person my mom sat and chit-chatted with every morning.
Considering the fact that I worked near downtown Los Angeles, my mom lived in Santa Monica, and my uncle’s office was in Westchester, yes, it was astounding, and certainly a bit over-the-top, but nonetheless, I had no interest in meeting any of them. Proof of something? Perhaps. But in my opinion, it had nothing to do with chanting.
Interested?
Find the book on Goodreads and Amazon.
Thank you for hanging out with us today. Connect with Deborah Amazon and Instagram. She is also reachable via email: synchronicityisnocoincidence@gmail.com
If you are an indie author and would like to do a book excerpt, check out my work with me page for details. Check out other book excerpts here.
Cover image: Photo by Jeremy Thomas on Unsplash
Be First to Comment