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Egoless Shopping

© Yeshe Chodon

The idea for this month's column was contributed by a reader who has asked to remain anonymous. "You do not need to give me credit. I have ample ego-delusion without adding that." brooks no argument.

For the holidays, I will list Dharmatically correct shopping sites where one can obtain meditation supplies, books and related items. If you're reading this column, you probably need carloads of incense, candles, images of deities and other items not always carried at Wal-Mart. Better yet, many of these shopping sites donate a percentage of the income to various Buddhist charities. And at the very least, your purchase helps support artisans around the world, particularly in Tibet, India, and Nepal. Here's a way to please both George Bush (who hasn't yet got around to telling us where we have to spend our money, just so we spend it) and your guru.

I will group the sites into Expensive, Affordable, and Giving to Charity categories, if possible. In fact, most will overlap.

http://www.tricycle.com/ is the website for Tricycle, a monthly Buddhist journal, widely circulated. They offer books, back issues of the magazine, T-shirts, Buddhist Goods and Services which are links to: sacred art, herbs, statuary, links to other shops. If you know what you're after, this is a good place to start.

http://www.ami-da.com/ is the site for Amida, "A celebration ofthe arts of meditation." I met the owners -- where -- well of course at a meditation retreat -- a delightful British couple. Feng Shui materials, jewels and crystals, cushions, clothing and more. They have frequent sales and will put you on their emailing list if you wish. Many items are hand-crafted.

http://www.dharmaware.com/ was recommended by my contributor. They provide Dharma articles in the Buddhist, Hindu, and other traditions, although they emphasize Tibetan.

"We opened Dharmaware in New York's West Village in 1976. His Holiness The 16th Karmapa sprinkled rice on our banner in blessing and we were in business.

"Few people in America had even heard the word Dharma, but many of Tibet's greatest Lamas were coming to the West and New York was a doorway.

"In 1985 we moved to the peace and quiet of Woodstock, which allowed time to reconnect with our roots in the East. Frequent visits to Nepal and India made it possible to develop relationships with many extraordinary teachers, particularly His Holiness Dilgo Khyentse Rinpoche. We were able to focus on improving our product line and expand mail order services. By 1995 our catalog was on-line and we've been able to serve a wider international dharma community."