Meet and Greet: Dorena Rode

The Twelve Steps as a Path to Enlightenment

Dorena Rode, a long term resident of Sonoma County, returns to launch her book, The Twelve Steps as a Path to Enlightenment—How the Buddha Works the Steps on Saturday, August 2, 2014 at noon – 2:00 pm at Copperfield’s Books Sebastopol. The first twenty-five people will receive a free gift (handmade lavender sachet) with their book purchase.

The Twelve Steps as a Path to Enlightenment – How the Buddha Works the Steps explains how the spiritual principals embodied in the Twelve Steps (of Alcoholic Anonymous) parallel the Buddhist teachings for reaching ultimate enlightenment. This book is a great introduction to the world view of Tibetan Buddhists such as the Dalai Lama. Dorena demystifies key concepts such as the six perfections, emptiness, refuge, bodhichitta, renunciation, and the development of watchfulness and concentration.

This guidebook, written by spiritual teacher and life coach, Dorena Rode, clearly presents a step by step proven method for increasing joy, making life more meaningful and destroying self-limiting beliefs. The spiritual seeker, whether in recovery or not, finds they can end their specific sufferings (which may include addiction to alcohol, drugs, food, sex, debting, etc) without the need to have a belief in a higher power or God.

Karen R. (Amazon review) writes:

“What an awesome book—I couldn’t wait to finish reading it so I could begin again and study it (which I am doing now!)! This book is great for experienced members or newcomers to the recovery program. A true tool of enhancement to one’s personal growth if you are of non-faith, of enlightened faith and even of Christian faith.”

Dorena Rode is an award winning speaker and has extensive experience in a multitude of disciplines. Her Twelve Step recovery began twenty-four years ago and she is a member of several programs. She studied Buddhism with the Asian Classics Institute and meditation with Master Culadasa of Dharma Treasure. She has a Ph.D. in physiology with an emphasis in alternative medicine from UC Davis. For the past eighteen years she has maintained a regular practice of meditation and internal arts. Currently she lives, practices and teaches in Phoenix Arizona.

Copperfield’s Books Sebastopol combines that local bookstore feeling with a great selection of titles. Drawing in folks from all of West County, the store offers author events and a stellar cast of booksellers.

The Twelve Steps as a Path to Enlightenment—How the Buddha Works the Steps $14.95 USA, 158 pages ISBN/EAN13: 1941894046 / 978-1941894040

What:             Author Meet & Greet with Dorena Rode
When:            Saturday, August 2, 2014, noon-2:00pm
Where:          Copperfield’s Books    138 N. Main Street, Sebastopol, CA, 95472

Event Contact: Michael Fanning (707) 823-2618

Dorena Rode is available for pre-event phone interviews. For booking presentations, media appearances, interviews, and/or book-signings contact dorena@tesli.org (707) 291-7731 Dorena’s blog

I use to live in Santa Rosa, the home town of Luther Burbank (1849-1926). In fact, my class did Tai Chi in the park across from his house. Luther Burbank was an amazing botanist and plant developer. You might not know his name, but you know his plants. I have a Shasta daisy, an Elberta Peach, and a Santa Rosa plum in my own garden. During his lifetime he created over 800 new varieties of flower, fruits, cactus, grasses, and other plants!

Shasta Daisy at TESLI in Phoenix

Luther Burbank’s methods and history are interesting. I’ve visited both his house and gardens in Santa Rosa and his experimental farm in Sebastopol and am fascinated by what I learned. Despite his productive career, his methods of plant creation were not conventional. In fact, although he was successful in getting research grants, other scientists claimed that he was not scientific. High praise indeed!

So, how did he do it?

Wikipedia tells us that Luther Burbank developed his first creation, the Burbank potato, when he was a young man using the inheritance from his father. They make it sound so intentional. And perhaps it was, but the story, as I understand it, was that he was passing by a potato plant when he noticed a rather large seed pod. Thinking that large seed would lead to larger potatoes, he collected the seeds, germinated them and grew plants. And they did produce the largest potatoes anyone had ever seen!

Now, up until that time, potatoes where the size of the gourmet fingerlings or the little round potatoes that can be purchased today. Burbank created (discovered?) the first large potato. The familiar large tuber we see at the grocery store today was non-existent until then. How did he do it? His methods were nonsensical. Any botanist or horticulturist will tell you that characteristics of the seeds (large, small, etc.) have nothing to do with the final crop. Yet he did it just like that.

Later in life, Luther Burbank would produce other plants in similar nonsensical fashion – like a variety of cactus with out thorns. Apparently, all he did was talk to it. Pretty impressive, eh. He was able to convince a cactus that it didn’t need thorns by sending it love. Luther Burbank claimed, “the secret of improved plant breeding, apart from scientific knowledge, is love”.

I don’t think any one person has yet exceeded Luther Burbank’s ability to produce useful crops that benefit humans. He was an amazing person. Indeed, Luther Burbank is proclaimed, “an American Saint” by Swami Paramahansa Yoganada (author of Autobigraphy of a Yogi).

Reflection: Conventional methods produce conventional results. If we want amazing results then mix convention with a good dose of love, wisdom and inspiration. Through connection with source energy all things are possible.

Luther Burbank walks though the forest. Poster contest winner, Arbor Day 2001

The Enlightenment & Simple Living Institute

Tag Archives: sebastopol

Press Release – Sebastopol, CA

Meet and Greet: Dorena Rode

The Twelve Steps as a Path to Enlightenment

Luther Burbank