Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi, who lived in Japan in the 1600s, was an undefeated dueler, a masterless samurai, and an independent teacher. He spent the last decades of his life refining and teaching his military science.

Miyamoto Musashi

Miyamoto Musashi, who lived in Japan in the 1600s, was an undefeated dueler, a masterless samurai, and an independent teacher. He spent the last decades of his life refining and teaching his military science.

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GUIDES

Customer Favorites

This holiday season we care about hearing what you have to say. Below are some thoughtful quotations from readers on their favorite Shambhala books.

Do you have one you'd like to share? Tell us about it in the comment section at the bottom.

Customer Favorites

The Book of Five Rings

$14.95 - Paperback

By: Thomas Cleary & Miyamoto Musashi

“The book can be taken literally as a way to master ancient samurai techniques, or it can be taken metaphorically on how to manage business or political deals.”

—Rachel

Comfortable with Uncertainty

$17.95 - Paperback

By: Pema Chödrön

“This book has made its way from my bookshelf to my bedside table numerous times over the years.”

Shelley

Lovingkindness

$12.95 - Paperback

By: Sharon Salzberg

“Sharon Salzberg has a true gift for putting into words and examples the teachings of the Buddhist path so that it is clear they truly do apply to everyday life.”

—Dominique

The Fourth Trimester

$19.95 - Paperback

By: Kimberly Ann Johnson

“A brilliant book documenting the social, emotional, physical, psychological, and cultural changes happening to women during the massive transformation that is becoming a new mother.”

—Sarah

Becoming Bodhisattvas

$29.95 - Paperback

By: Pema Chödrön

“Chödrön speaks to anyone who’s willing to stick with her as she explores what becoming a bodhisattva means. She points out examples of bodhisattvas, including Jesus, Mother Teresa, MLK, and Gandhi, who may be more relatable to her Western readers than Shantideva or various monks in the Tibetan Buddhist tradition.”

—Linsey

Practicing Peace

$12.95 - Paperback

By: Pema Chödrön

“I found myself underlining, copying quotes, and going back to ponder ideas and applications, over and over.”

—Judy

The Religion of Tomorrow

$34.95 - Paperback

By: Ken Wilber

“His genius of integrating our history of religion and their great traditions gives a greater vision for how we, as humans, may better live this vision by deepening connections to our sameness as we move up the developmental ladder of our differences, where we embrace a greater, higher love that clearly drives our entire existence and evolution.”

—Mary

“Kristin gives clear, excellent directions for a variety of crafts, including sewing, painting, embroidery, and fabric stamping, and helps her readers understand how to combine colors and patterns to achieve glorious results.”

—Ferguson

Simply Vibrant

$35.00 - Hardcover

“If you love colorful, healthy food with a unique twist, then this is for you.”

—Roberta

Yoga for Healthy Aging

$29.95 - Paperback

By: Baxter Bell & Nina Zolotow

“What I especially enjoy about this book is that it explains, in clear, easy to understand language, what happens to our bodies as we age and how yoga can help us live a life of greater ease.”

—Rosemary

Notes for the Everlost

$16.95 - Paperback

By: Kate Inglis

“Sculpted with tenderness, beauty, and lyric storytelling, Kate Inglis walks the reader gently and lovingly through the process of grief by bearing her own heart, her own soul, and her own loss.”

—Siobhan

More with Less

$35.00 - Hardcover

By: Jodi Moreno

“The More With Less cookbook is now my all time favorite/go-to cookbook for both everyday meals and special dinners for friends and family.”

—Patricia

“Natalie fans will be transfixed and unnerved by this honest narrative of the cancer experience.”

—Jerser

Zen in the Age of Anxiety

$16.95 - Paperback

By: Tim Burkett

“Looking at our natural human fears through the lens of Zen Buddhism, Burkett takes us into the areas of our deepest pains and guides us on how to process and release them by looking inward through meditation.”

—Kathy

Training in Tenderness

$14.95 - Paperback

By: Dzigar Kongtrul

Training in Tenderness is an insightful, practical guidebook on how to soften the heart and be more in touch with the world around us.”

—Jim

The Logic of Faith

$16.95 - Paperback

By: Elizabeth Mattis Namgyel

“This book is an invitation to investigate your assumptions and explore the interdependence of everything.”

—Christine

Draw, Paint, Sparkle

$19.95 - Paperback

By: Patty Palmer

“Every page is a delight to the eye and makes you want to get out those art supplies and start painting!”

—Bob

Road Trips

$18.95 - Paperback

By: Jen CK Jacobs

“Jacobs takes you to faraway places and makes you want to dust off your suitcase and book a trip immediately.”

—Maria

Print, Pattern, Sew

$29.95 - Hardcover

By: Jen Hewett

“Here's what I love most about this book: even if you have precisely zero experience with any part of printing your own fabric patterns, you'll get everything you need to get started.”

—Elizabeth

Embroidered Garden Flowers

$21.95 - Paperback

By: Kazuko Aoki

“A very cute book if you are into embroidery and looking for some inspiration, or trying some new stitches.”

—Javiera

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Readers’ Picks

In thinking about year-end gifts, we want to share what YOU have to say.

Below are some lovely quotations from readers on their favorite Shambhala books.

Do you have one to add? Please comment at the bottom!

People Reading

The Art of Peace

$9.99 - Paperback

By: John Stevens & Morihei Ueshiba

“This book showed me a different way, a way to devote discipline of both my body and mind.”

—Clint

The Happiness Trap (Second Edition)

$19.95 - Paperback

By: Russ Harris

“As a therapist, I recommend this to anyone seeking permanent life change realistically.”

—Paul

Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind

$16.95 - Paperback

By: David Chadwick & Shunryu Suzuki

“If there is one book in my collection that I could give away to everyone, it would be this book.”

—Michael

Writing Down the Bones

$16.95 - Paperback

By: Natalie Goldberg

“This book changed my life as a writer, a teacher of writing, and as an individual!”

—Laurie

“This is a foundational book for anyone interested in delving deeper into the richness of martial arts philosophy.”

—Shane

When Things Fall Apart

$18.95 - Paperback

By: Pema Chödrön

“This book set me on a path of healing that has continued to the present day.”

—Miv

Walden

$18.00 - Hardcover

By: Henry David Thoreau

“This is, plain and simply, an astonishing book.”

—Michael

Siddhartha

$12.95 - Paperback

By: Hermann Hesse & Sherab Chodzin Kohn

“Pure, melodic, poetic, this book should be one of the first ones on the list for every serious reader.”

—Pawan

Lao Tzu: Tao Te Ching

$14.95 - Paperback

By: Ursula K. Le Guin

“Every time I read Tao Te Ching, the book feels new again, fresh, as if only just discovered.”

—Robin

The Art of War

$19.95 - Paperback

By: Denma Translation Group & Sun Tzu

“Makes you really appreciate the ideas of strength and courage and the power of emotions and desire in overcoming any obstacle you face.”

—Eman

The Want Monsters

$16.95 - Hardcover

By: Chelo Manchego

“There is playfulness and joy on every page of this book, with a unique tone that has a distinctive voice and is full of heart.”

—Caspericus

The Wisdom of Not Knowing

$19.95 - Paperback

By: Estelle Frankel

“You will smile, cry, and be moved by the writings of a master storyteller.”

—Bruce

A Year of Picnics

$24.95 - Hardcover

By: Ashley English

“Filled with beautiful photos, delightful recipes, and creative picnic themes, each page gives inspiration to get outdoors!”

—Carly

Simple Green Suppers

$24.95 - Paperback

By: Susie Middleton

“This one hits the sweet spot for our busy lives with wonderful recipes of vegetarian dinners!”

—Alice

The Yogi Assignment

$24.95 - Paperback

By: Kino MacGregor

“Kino will motivate you to stick to the practice and walk the yogi path.”

—Julie

Trump and a Post-Truth World

$14.95 - Paperback

By: Ken Wilber

“A remarkable vision and an inspiring perspective of the challenges and opportunities in the chaotic, divisive, and evolving global cultures.”

—John

Mindful Games Activity Cards

$21.95 - MixedMedia

By: Susan Kaiser Greenland

“I think this is a great way for beginners to get started in mindfulness without feeling overwhelmed.”

—D.

The Religion of Tomorrow

$39.95 - Hardcover

By: Ken Wilber

“Brilliant. Life-changing. Psycho-active. Very enlightening.”

—Mariëlle

The Fountain Tarot

$40.00 - MixedMedia

By: Jason Gruhl & Andi Todaro & Jonathan Saiz

“Beautiful artwork that is cohesive and inspiring, high-quality construction, and an informative and well-written manual.”

—Rachel

Eat This Poem

$18.95 - Paperback

By: Nicole Gulotta

“Beautiful blend of memoir, cookbook, and reflections on living a thoughtful, food-enhanced life.”

—Kirsten

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My Journey on Japan’s Kiso Road

Brad Andrews describes his travels to the Kiso Road in Japan inspired by William Scott Wilson's Walking the Kiso Road.

In early April of this year I made a solo trip from Brooklyn, NY, where I live, to Japan. It was my first trip to the East, and one I had contemplated for years before actually making the plunge. I work in publishing and my employer, Penguin Random House, distributes books from Shambhala Publications. One of my favorite books on Japan is William Scott Wilson’s Walking the Kiso Road, published in 2015. I remember when the book was first presented to our sales team–being the Japanophile that I am–I thought, “If I ever go to Japan, I’m going to walk that road.”

Kiso Road

The Kiso Road is an old route taken by Japanese farmers, loggers, warlords, and assorted pilgrims for at least two thousand years; it’s part of a longer road (the Nakasendo) that connects Kyoto, the original capital of Japan, with Tokyo. It is a mountainous region and the Kiso river runs through deep gorges and dense cypress and pine trees. Along the road are juku, or post towns, which sprang up as a result of the road being there. In the post towns pilgrims could find food and lodging, a respite from their long journey. William Scott Wilson, the translator of best sellers including Hagakure and The Book Five of Rings, spent several weeks along the Kiso Road, staying in a different post town each night and recording his encounters with the local villagers and his reflections on the culture, food, and philosophy of Japan. The book is sprinkled with wonderful ancient Japanese quotes and haiku; each chapter focuses on a different post town along the road.

When I began to plan my Japan adventure, I decided to spend two days in Tokyo, three days in Kyoto (where my focus would be on the many Buddhist temples and shrines), and my final two days hiking the Kiso road, staying in a couple of the juku along the way. One of my favorite quotes from the book is from the Japanese poet Basho: “You should not sleep twice in the same inn. Your thoughts should be on a mat that has not yet been warmed.” Inspired by this, I planned to stay in a different hotel or inn each night that I was in Japan.

The planning of the trip was filled with some natural trepidation: what if I got lost and could not find an English speaker to assist me? Fortunately I was introduced to an American author intimately familiar with travel in Japan, Susan Spann, who it turned out had hiked the Kiso road. So, with William Scott Wilson’s book and Susan’s many travel tips, I boarded my plane at JFK airport ready for whatever fate had in store for me.

Walking the Kiso Road is divided into two main sections, “The Upper Kiso” and “The Lower Kiso,” as the elevation along the road increases if you begin from one end. Wilson started his journey in the upper valley and ended in the lower. I began mine in the lower Kiso, in a town called Magome. I took two trains and a bus from Kyoto to Magome. Arriving in the afternoon, I spent my first night at an old guest house, Magomechaya, in a room with a view of Mount Ena, the tallest mountain in the region.

Japanese guest houses and inns are much like bed and breakfasts and typically serve a communal evening meal, providing you with the opportunity to meet fellow travelers and experience some of the very best food anywhere in Japan. Most of the hikers I met were Westerners, but from either Europe or Canada. My first morning in Lower Kiso I awakened at dawn, gathered my belongings into my backpack, and started out before breakfast. I had snack food and wanted to make it to a few towns along the way before getting to my final destination, a town in the Upper Kiso called Narai (which ultimately required a short train ride).

The road is well marked with signs in Japanese and English. I hiked alone for much of the day, encountering only a few hikers, going the opposite way. Signs warning of bears were posted, along with a bell, which you could ring to scare the bear away. I did not, however, see any bears.

Kiso Road

Hiking the Kiso Road is like going back in time. The post towns have changed little over hundreds of years; you don’t see electrical wires, although the two guest houses where I stayed, Magome and Narai, had power and internet access. The guest house in Narai was one that William Scott Wilson himself described in the book. There are shops that cater to travelers with locally made crafts, wood carvings, and jewelry. The locals speak some English, but I discovered that initiating a conversation in Japanese was the best way to get assistance. One of the tasty lunch treats I had was gohei mochi, fried rice balls dipped in a sweet sauce. I can still taste them.

Gohei Mochi

On my way to the train station in Nojiri, one of the post towns in the Lower Kiso, I found myself coming down the steep Kiso Road and passing a grassy field where a group of Japanese were having a picnic. It was a beautiful Spring day, and this elderly woman waved when she saw me. At first I thought she must be mistaking me for another Westerner, but I was the only one on the road, and she ultimately approached me and offered me a bowl of miso soup. In Japanese, she asked if I wanted to join them. At first I begged off in my broken Japanese, but she insisted that I eat with them, so I did. It was a delightful way to end that part of my journey and a moment that perfectly encapsulated the Japanese experience for me.

Having only spent one week in Japan and two days in the Nakasendo, I have already started thinking about a second, more extensive hike when I revisit Japan in the next year or two.  I owe a debt of gratitude to William Scott Wilson for the inspiration and the subtle wisdom that his book continues to impart every time I pick it up.

Magome

Related Books

Walking the Kiso Road

$21.95 - Paperback

By: William Scott Wilson

Hagakure

$12.95 - Paperback

By: Yamamoto Tsunetomo & William Scott Wilson

Narrow Road to the Interior

$19.95 - Paperback

By: Matsuo Bash? & Sam Hamill

Tokyo

$22.95 - Paperback

By: Paul Waley

Brad Andrews is a national account manager for Penguin Random House. Originally from Atlanta, he moved to New York City 21 years ago to pursue a career in publishing. An avid reader and occasional writer, he lives with his wife and daughter in Brooklyn, NY.

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