Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Saturday, November 12, 2005
Monday, November 07, 2005
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Wild, Witty Rollercoaster Ride to Enlightenment, this ‘Bad Boy of Enlightenment’ Delivers!
Author Tells Magical yet Truthful Story of a Spiritual Journey to Enlightenment Through his Humorous New Book.
Author Tells Magical yet Truthful Story of a Spiritual Journey to Enlightenment Through his Humorous New Book.
**PRESS RELEASE**SANTE FE, N.M. – For Joseph Daniel McDonald, the road to enlightenment was not always a breezy trip to bliss.
Let’s just say this ain’t no “Chicken Soup for the Soul” kind of book. Instead it is a very real, down-and dirty, lusty life chronicle and it could very possibly change your life. McDonald compares the book with more of an adventure book then a spiritual book, like an “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Dharma” adventure. Though bumpy at times, McDonald’s pathway to enlightenment was filled with treasures along the way that he bestows with his readers! His new book, If a Fool Like Dan Can Be Enlightened, So Can You! is in itself an enlightening read and conveys the author’s uncommon path and his eventual awakening. McDonald encapsulates difficult eastern philosophies and Americanizes them for his readers through illustrations and his dog named Ganesha. He also declares to the reader that it is every human being’s birthright to become self-realized. Learning to meditate is your ticket to truth.
McDonald is not the typical soul-seeker; he eats meat, prefers a good party to group meditation, and suffers from “an array of personal defects.” But his lower nature never dwindled his “passionate desire to find God and figure out what the hell this ‘enlightenment’ thing is everyone talks about. Famous people claim it’s the best buzz in the universe. Me? I’ve always liked a good buzz, so I figured enlightenment was for me, too.” McDonald explores his darker side right along with the lighter side of his life, by taking his readers on a ride exploring his wild times in liberal San Francisco to his spiritual retreat in the Himalaya Mountains of India. In this children’s book for adults, McDonald teaches us about being human, being humble, and loving our totality. Without the poo poo, you can’t smell a rose!
Despite a suicide attempt, an earthquake, a tsunami, stitches and broken bones, plus a near death experience, McDonald triumphs over these obstacles and is graced with his ultimate goal. You will discover miracles and joy, beyond your wildest imagination in this gem of a book. So fasten your seatbelts, you’re in for a ride!
McDonald currently lives in Sante Fe, N.M., with Ganesha and his cat, Dieter. With professional experience in web development, marketing and graphic arts, he is also the founder of the nonprofit organization Seeklight, whose mission is to promote enlightenment, through meditation, to all seekers regardless of religious background or affiliation. More information is available at www.seeklight.org and www.foollikedan.com.
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Thursday, October 27, 2005

If a Fool Like Dan Can be Enlightened, So Can You!
A Children's Book for Adults...
By Joseph Daniel McDonald
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Chapter 1 The Mystic Hills of Fort Wayne
Chapter 2 The Mystic Hills to Hell
Chapter 3 The Great Escape
Chapter 4 Hitting the Big Two-Five in San Francisco
Chapter 5 A Miracle Beyond your Wildest Imagination will Occur to You
Chapter 6 Biting the “BIG APPLE”
Chapter 7 Whatever You Focus on…You Become
Chapter 8 India Beckons
Chapter 9 Returning with my Tail between my Legs
Chapter 10 Tsunami
Chapter 11 Born Again on Christmas Morn
Chapter 12 Moving from HOLE to WHOLE
Chapter 13 Getting Hooked Up
Summary
World’s Oldest Boy Survives Earthquake, Tsunami, Death
and More…
On His Journey to Enlightenment!
Now that I’ve got your attention, this is not going to be a Chicken Soup for the Soul kind of book. Instead, it is a very real, down-and-dirty, lusty life chronicle that could very possibly change your life. I’d say this book is more like an Indiana Jones and the Temple of Dharma adventure. So, if this is more your style, keep reading. I’m sure some of this book may be too radical for some blissed-out soul seeker types, but I’ve got to be real, because truth is all I’ve got.
I’m what you would call “The Bad Boy of Enlightenment,” as I’m not your typical saintly soul seeker¾I am quite rough around the edges! I eat meat, I prefer a good party to a group meditation, and I suffer from an array of personal defects. You’re probably thinking, “Gandhi, he ain’t.” And I will tell you, “You’re right!” But in spite of all that, I have always had a passionate desire to find God and figure out what the hell this “enlightenment” thing is that everyone talks about. Famous people claim it’s the best buzz in the universe. Me? I’ve always liked a good buzz, so I figured enlightenment was for me, too.
I wish someone would have shared their truth with me before I started my adventure. I might have been saved a scar or two. Of course, considering the way that I am, it probably wouldn’t have made any difference. I seem to learn only through direct and dramatic experiences. Heck, why miss out on the adventure?
Let me share some truth with you right now: Believe it or not, each of us is a spiritual being on a wondrous journey back home to God. The challenges we have in our life are but steppingstones that toughen us up and help us to learn the most important lesson of all: to love. Quite simply, we are each a divine spark of God, and God is Love. But many of us forget that fact and put ourselves through all sorts of ordeals, heartache and unpleasant things as we struggle to make it through life. I certainly did, and I have the scars and broken bones to prove it. As a matter of fact, you could consider that my tales are more like war stories. These war stories may turn your tummy inside-out…because the enemy was that dreadful! Who was this hideous enemy? you might ask. The war I waged was against my own self, which made this thorny foe almost invincible.
I’m here to tell you that, no matter what you’ve been through in life, no matter how many mistakes and dumb things you think you’ve done: if I can reach enlightenment, after all I’ve been through, then so can you!
I even have a super-quick shortcut so you can achieve instant enlightenment! In fact, I will tell you the shortcut right now in case you don’t really want to read my book!
The shortcut to enlightenment is to stop the reaching, stop the wars, and stop the journey. Just simply stop! If you can stop everything that is going on in your head for only three short minutes, you will discover a great cosmic secret—I promise. Of course, all my reaching, fighting, begging, and sniveling make for a great book, because the “reaching for life” is life’s great drama. This dream we call life wouldn’t even be if not for all its drama. And I’ve definitely had my share, which makes for a good book. So if you got a few moments to spare, I’ve got some fun ones to share. And I think you’ll be discovering meaningful secrets on the way.
So my life started out innocently enough for me, though, if I’d known what was coming down the pike, I might have made other plans. Little did I know that I’d be wrestling with some intense events, like several near-death experiences, miracles beyond my wildest imaginings, and amazing breakthroughs in consciousness. I’ve certainly had my share of trials and tribulations, but, as the saying goes, “What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”
Lest you think my life has been one mad, unending rollercoaster ride, I’ve had plenty of days that were pleasantly calm and filled with quiet joy. There were also times when I was bored to tears. I’ve had my share of romances and heartaches, and living life in gutters and five-star hotels. I’ve had some challenges I wouldn’t wish on anyone, but all of them are what have helped me become the person I am today. Enlightened? Well, after numerous amazing experiences and meditations, I have had a huge awakening to the truth of whom and what I am. I would say I’m self-realized. A fully enlightened being, such as my teacher Rama, has all one thousand pedals of his crown chakra lit up and has mastered ten thousand states of mind. And I’ll tell you right now, I am not that! But the title is so catchy I just had to use it—so bare that in mind while you read this book.
I’m getting ahead of myself, though, and I don’t want to give everything away right from the get-go. So, let’s start at the beginning when I was wide-eyed and innocent, and the world was a fascinating place of possibilities and potential.
