     In the West, we have everything we could possibly need or want—except for peace of mind.      So writes Linda Leaming, a harried American who traveled from Nashville, Tennessee, to the rugged Himalayan nation of Bhutan—sometimes called the happiest place on Earth—to teach English and unlearn her politicized and polarized, energetic and impatient way of life.      In Bhutan, if I have three things to do in a week, it’s considered busy. In the U.S., I have at least three things to do between breakfast and lunch.      After losing her luggage immediately upon arrival, Leaming realized that she also had emotional baggage—a tendency toward inaction, a touch of self-absorption, and a hundred other trite, stupid, embarrassing, and inconsequential things—that needed to get lost as well.      Pack up ideas and feelings that tie you down and send you lead-footed down the wrong path. Put them in a metaphorical suitcase and sling it over a metaphorical bridge in your mind. Let the river take them away.      Forced by circumstance and her rustic surroundings to embrace a simplified life, Leaming made room for more useful beliefs. The thin air and hard climbs of her mountainous commute put her deeply in touch with her breath, helping her find focus and appreciation. The archaic, glacially paced bureaucracy of a Bhutanese bank taught her to go with the flow—and take up knitting. The ancient ritual of drinking tea brought tranquility, friendship, and, eventually, a husband. Each day, and each adventure, in her adopted home brought new insights and understandings to take back to frantic America, where she now practices the art of “simulating Bhutan.” This collection of stories, impressions, and suggestions is a little nudge, a push, a leg up into the rarefied air of paradise—of bright sunlight and beautiful views.

A Field Guide to Happiness: What I Learned in Bhutan about Living, Loving and Waking Up

Linda Leaming

HAY HOUSE INDIA

Tucked away in the eastern end of the Himalayas lies Bhutan - a tiny, landlocked country bordering China and India. Impossibly remote and nearly inaccessible, Bhutan is rich in natural beauty, exotic plants and animals, and crazy wisdom. It is a place where people are genuinely content with very few material possessions and the government embraces 'Gross National Happiness' instead of Gross National Product. In this funny, magical memoir, we accompany Linda Leaming on her travels through South Asia, sharing her experiences as she learns the language, customs and religion; her surprising romance with a Buddhist artist; and, her realisations about the unexpected path to happiness and accidental enlightenment. As one of the few Americans to have lived in Bhutan, Leaming offers a rare glimpse into the quirky mountain kingdom so many have only dreamed of. For over ten years, Leaming has lived and worked in the capital city of Thimphu, where there are no traffic lights and fewer than 100,000

Married to Bhutan: How One Woman Got Lost, Said 'i Do, ' and Found Bliss

Biographies & Memoirs

Memoirs

Hay House Publishers

VANISHING FACES OF BHUTAN: The Study of a Timeless Culture provides a rare glimpse into the everyday lives of people living in remote Himalayan villages as they go about their daily rituals: shopping, praying, dancing, selling their produce, eating, meeting friends, celebrating, playing archery, and working the land. As a photographer and world traveler, Joseph N. Barker visited people in their natural environment and made these images during visits to Bhutan between 2004 and 2007. "Vanishing Faces" is a nod to the Buddhist notions of impermanence and time passing. Some of the people in these photos have passed on to their next lives. The children have grown up, and now perhaps some have children of their own. None of them are what they were at that brief moment in time when Barker snapped their photo and engaged with them. They have "vanished," but they are also timeless. Portraits of farmers, mayors, children, Buddhist monks, nuns, and bureaucrats are set against some of the most stunning imagery in the world. Barker is able to capture the essence of the Bhutanese people in these powerful but also intimate portraits. They seem to recognize the humanity in him, as they gaze directly into the camera or look away shyly. These are insightful portraits of Bhutanese and their guardian deities, their shops, the magnificent mountains they call home, as well as their work and play. In their faces we see hope, humor, struggle, and a strong sense of self. They know who they are, and they welcome Barker and his camera to share their journey.

Vanishing Faces of Bhutan: The Study of a Timeless Culture

Arts & Photography

Photography & Video

Maine Authors Publishing

Married to Bhutan :How One Woman Got Lost, Said “I Do,” and Found Bliss

HAY HOUSE *

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Books by Linda Leaming