In 1972, Bruce Berlin — a young poverty lawyer from Camden, New Jersey — set off on a journey with no clear destination. What began as a restless escape became one of the most formative adventures of his life. Traveling overland through Turkey, Iran, and Afghanistan at a time when those borders were still open to wanderers, Berlin found himself riding across the Afghan desert in the back of a truck with armed men and their rugs, navigating a world that would soon be transformed by war.
In India, something shifted. Visits to the sacred Buddhist sites of Bodh Gaya and Sarnath planted a seed. Then, in Kathmandu, a chance encounter with former law school classmates led Berlin to a month-long Tibetan Buddhist retreat at Kopan Monastery — an experience he would later describe as perhaps the most important month of his life. Guided by Lama Yeshe and Thubten Zopa Rinpoche, Berlin began a practice that would sustain him for the next fifty years.
From Camden to Kathmandu is a memoir about following the open road before you know where it’s going — and discovering that the destination finds you. Written with the documentary authenticity of real letters sent home, it is the story of a restless young man’s transformation into a meditator, activist, and lifelong seeker.
From Camden to Kathmandu is available at Amazon.
Can you tell us a little about yourself? Are you a full time author?
I grew up in Camden, NJ, and moved to Santa Fe, NM, in 1982. In 1972, I traveled for a year through Europe and Asia. That journey is the basis for my recent memoir, From Camden to Kathmandu. I’m not a full-time author. Since retiring from the practice of law in 2012, I’ve built a house, worked on progressive political issues and started writing a blog, as well as written two books. I published my first book, Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America, in 2016. I was a public sector ethics attorney for most of my career. At the same time, I did a lot of work advocating for non-profit, progressive political organizations. For over eight years, I directed The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution and was awarded a U.S. Institute of Peace Fellowship. I have one daughter who is moving to Italy with her husband in August.
Can you tell us about From Camden to Kathmandu: You Don’t Have to Know Where You’re Going to Get Where You Want to Be?
From Camden to Kathmandu is a memoir which chronicles my journey from practicing law in New Jersey to meditating in a Tibetan monastery outside Kathmandu, Nepal. For 10 months, I was driven by what Buddhism calls the hungry ghost of spiritual longing, seeking meaning to my life. I wandered around Europe, then overland in a vintage VW bus from Turkey through Iran and Afghanistan to India, and Nepal. Along the way, I met local people in various countries who treated me like family and taught me the value of community as I experienced the generosity of people with little means. After some amazing adventures and much self-discovery, I landed at Kopan, a Tibetan Buddhist monastery outside Kathmandu, where I took a month-long meditation training with fellow seekers from all over the planet. There I went deep within to explore questions of identity and purpose.
Can you pick out a passage in your book to share with us?
From the beginning of my journey, I found myself running around Europe practically nonstop, trying to see and do as much as possible as quickly as possible. There was so much to take in. Yet I could never quite keep pace with my desire for something more. When my experience fell short of my expectations, I quickly consulted a map and rushed off to a new destination.
Though I didn’t realize it then, I was becoming what the Buddhists call a hungry ghost, one who could never quench his thirst or satisfy his cravings. In Buddhism, hungry ghosts are beings driven by intense emotional needs that cannot get their desires met. They’re creatures with pinhole mouths and necks so tiny they cannot swallow. They can never fill their bulging, empty stomachs. Whatever they try to ingest turns to fire or ice, which can’t pass through their minuscule throats to their very large bellies. In effect, I was trapped in the Hungry Ghost Realm—a realm below the Human Realm but above the Hell Realm—where I was constantly seeking something outside myself to curb an insatiable yearning deep within me. But for what, I had no clue.
How can people benefit from reading From Camden to Kathmandu: You Don’t Have to Know Where You’re Going to Get Where You Want to Be?
My memoir will inspire people searching for a deeper sense of self, or greater purpose in their lives, as well as those at a crossroads. It demonstrates how letting go and opening up to whatever the universe offers you can provide the real-life experience you need to find your way forward. It’s also a provocative story for readers who just want to immerse themselves in an exciting adventure.
Is this your only book?
No, I published my first book, Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America, in 2016. It describes how Big Money dominates and corrupts our political system to the detriment of the American electorate and the public good. It then lays out how a massive democracy movement can overcome this problem and return political power to the people.
Thank you so much for this interview, Bruce. What’s next for you?
I will continue writing my blog. Go to https://openroadopenheart.substack.com. I’ll also work on political issues like getting money out of politics and serve on the board of New Mexico Men’s Wellness and other community efforts.
Where to purchase the book:
https://books.by/our-time-books
https://www.collectedworksbookstore.com
