INTEGRAL WORLD MAILING LIST http://www.integralworld.net Newsletter Nr. 650 Amsterdam, April 8th, 2017 CONFESSIONS OF A BIBLIOMANIAC - A short history of my book addiction - DAVID LANE I suffer from a most incurable disease. It is technically known as bibliomania, which simply translated means “book madness.” I love books too much. My family is convinced that I got it from my father, Warren, who also suffered from it but to a lesser degree. However, the malady didn't really mutate and take over my body until I was 16 or so. That was because I happened upon a unique bookstore in West Hollywood called the Bodhi Tree. Situated on Melrose Avenue, near La Cienga, the Bodhi Tree housed a most remarkable collection of books on philosophy and eastern religions. It was also one of the only bookstores that had chairs (this was before Barnes and Noble and Borders) and the proprietors didn’t mind if customers sat for a spell and read their books. They even offered you a free cup of tea. I used to go there almost daily during high school. It was about 20 or so minutes from my house and I have very fond memories of driving over Laurel Canyon from the Valley and making the pilgrimage never quite certain what I would discover. I even took dates there, and on occasion would lose dates there as well, so absorbed I would be with a book or two. Although I didn’t have much money, whatever I did save I spent on books, particularly if something caught my eye. I remember when I was 18 years old and spending 80 dollars for the four-volume leather bound, English translation of the Sikh’s holy scriptures, Guru Granth Sahib, as translated by Gopal Singh. 42 years later I am still a proud owner of it. Read more: http://www.integralworld.net/lane120.html