Host Tess Beasley Talks with John Tarrant: A Reading & Conversation on His Book, The Story of the Buddha

Host Tess Beasley talks with John Tarrant about his book, The Story of the Buddha, which was published by Shambhala on December 3rd, 2024. Allison Atwill collaborated with John on the images. John also reads a long section of the story. Allison Atwill, Michelle Riddle, Jon Joseph, Marie Howe, and George Foy comment.

Can you bear this happiness?

—From The Story of the Buddha

Re-Dreaming the Story of the Buddha

John became interested in the Buddha’s story not in the literal sense but as a myth, as a prose-poem. He began telling the story of the Buddha fifteen years ago, stumbling through the story over the years, seeing what touched people and which details appeared over time. Tess comments that myths wear out if they don’t get re-dreamed. That it is an act of humility and intimacy to let something act on us without getting anything in return.

The Buddha’s is a home-leaving story, a story about consciousness. John sees not only the Buddha as lonely but also Mara. “The story warmed up when I realized that Mara was also lonely.” We have a “secret feeling” for our demons! Which forces helped and which hindered the Buddha is not actually so clear.