Dharma Punx

I grew up with some similarities, so, much of what the author said rung a bell. His depiction of soft belly meditation actually helped me understand and adjust to meditating better. His explanations of his life really helped me put my life into perspective. I give this book 5 stars. The writing is brilliant in many ways but individualistic so if you're an old school punk or grew up into chaos this book might really touch base with some ground level clearing out. I wish I could shake the author's hand, it really helped me out with some of the things I was having trouble with as far as adjusting to Buddhist ways. I learned to take it one step at a time and I am able to adapt easier. This book is the story of his life, don't be sidelined, but it also discusses much about Buddhism and some background information in very brief but still informative ways throughout the book, regarding Buddha's life and teachings. I highly recommend it.

This is one of my favorite books, I bought so many copies over the years after lending them to friends. I decided to get it in a hardcover to forever have in my book collection. It's such an amazing story for a young punk to read... I started the book when I was around 16, now ten years later at 26 I find myself reading it again to take on the feeling and knowledge it gave me that lasted in my heart for so long. Noah Levine really tells it how it is, and the punk scene hasn't changed much, people are still drinking every night at shows and this book makes me feel like I'm not crazy for wanting to be apart of a world of fast music while still keeping my meditative awareness.

I made time to read this book in one sitting and I must say that there were pages where I actively disliked Noah. The fact it that addiction, recovery and redemption are messy messy things and Noah does a beautiful job of opening his sick, tragic life for the world to see. If a person cannot respect that candor and that reader focused on the superficially, well you can't help them. Go get something off the New York Times Best Seller list then.This book takes you in Noah's footsteps and you can almost smell the decay of his despair. Anyone that has been involved in even the fringes of alcoholism, drug addiction, and self destructive behavior will come away with hope. His writing is raw but pounds a picture in your head that makes you long for, never mind a happy ending, I want to hear how he got out of it alive!!I actually wept when he described the funeral of his friend, Toby. His loss is so profound, you cannot help but feel the emotions as he wrote. My heart broke at the loss of another life and I am ever so humble that he chose to share this with us.Throughout the book, Noah writes that his hope is to engage in service work and, with the writing of this book, he does it. He does it in a feral, painful manner but, having almost lost my own son to the Santa Cruz scene, I am ever grateful that another young man has lived to tell his tale. Pulitzer Prize material? Probably not. Meaningful contribution and pointing young ones in the right the direction? Absolutely!

There may be many paths to recover from alcoholism and drug addiction, but the most well-trod is the spiritual path. Long before Alcoholics Anonymous began in the 1930s, it was believed that religiomania was the only cure for dipsomania. For many, a spiritual awakening must be experienced before true recovery can begin. "Dharma Punx" by Noah Levine is the true story of one lost soul finding meaning and purpose on his own spiritual path after an adolescence spent lost in the world of punk rock, alcohol and drugs, and jail. It's a long distance to travel from labeling one's peers as punks, mods, rockers, skaters, B-boys, breakers, and surfers to finding the spiritual truth that we are all one. Such labeling and categorizing and stereotyping only serves to further divide and disconnect - the opposite of spirituality in my book. And it is indeed a long, strange trip that Levine journeys to find his spiritual truth - he travels all the way to India. The recounting of his pilgrimage reads like a spiritual travelogue, but is it necessary to travel to the other side of the world to find what can be obtained anywhere, even in a prison cell? I believe he made this discovery when he stated, "I began to see how I created so much suffering for myself, pushing too hard, not accepting myself as I was." By the end of his story, ten years into his recovery, he realized that he needed to go back to where he had started: the 12 steps. Everyone's journey is different and everyone's program of recovery is unique. Levine's approach is certainly original and his story is well worth reading. It was a mini-spiritual experience for me to see recovery through his eyes, and "Dharma Punx" drove home my need to increase one spiritual practice in my life: meditation.David Allan ReevesAuthor of "Running Away From Me"

I first read this entire book at Barnes & Noble for free several years back, it took me like a month, but it was an excuse for me to get away from my house at that time. I then bought this book on Amazon, just in case I ever wanted to re-check on some chapters or re-read the entire thing. Whether you're curious about Buddhism or not, Noah Levine's autobiography is an awesome read either way. Besides the Eastern religious aspect, I think Dharma Punx truly made me want to travel the world. I had, if you will, "dreams" about traveling prior to reading this work, but I believe this book finally gave me that nudge to do it, but most importantly it gave me the courage to travel alone (just like the author did). As a result, I've been to some 20+ countries now, several of which are located in the Far East. I got to see many cool Buddhist temples and even Shinto temples in Japan. I think Levine's work is more than just about the exploration of Buddhism, it's also about humanity, overcoming adversity, and trying to live a life that is not out of balance.

Highly recommended! And I do recommend this to friends in the scene who secretly ask me about my recovery. Reading about recovery from other "normal" people is fine (I've read countless recovery books) but hearing it from someone who understands what it's like in our subculture helps a lot. Helps with the belief that sobriety IS possible even when most of your friends are deep into the old life.

Voilà dèjà une bonne année qu'on nous bassine avec la méditation dans les médias, sans pour autant pouvoir ressentir ce que c'est. Sauf a pratiquer évidemment. Ce livre vous plonge justement dans les ressentis, les sensations, les joies et les doutes de Noah Levine. Qui nous livre un récit de vie ou il frôle la mort, tombe dans la déchéance jusqu'à trouver son chemin de rédemption.Pas dispo en français, il se lit très facielement. Rien de compliqué dans son écriture.

I found this book inspirational, as a Punk rock chick I enjoyed the whole vibe. I read the book as I had just started to become interested in Buddhism and spiritual practise. This book really opened my eyes and made me feel the Buddhist path was so right for me. I really really relate to the whole story and many of Noah's struggles. He is an inspiration to so many people, he is reaching out to a group of people that would not normally be reached. He puts it into a language I can understand. I then moved onto "Against The Stream" and have not look back since. It has been a life changing experience for me

…about yourself, your life and how you're living it.Punk and Buddhism – two things and labels that, in a way, are the same.This book opens your eyes. It did open mine.

This book changed my life