Urban Dharma the Book

"Action is the stream, and contemplation is the spring." - Thomas Merton

Urban Dharma: 20 Years of Buddhist Stories from an L.A. City Monk is a humorous and poignant memoir by American Buddhist monk Kusala Bhikshu. It details his 20 years of volunteering in Los Angeles at a prison, juvenile hall, hospital and as a ride-along police chaplain.

The book serves as a grounded, real-world guide to applied Buddhism. Instead of retreating to a quiet meditation center in nature, the author embraces the chaos of the city, using Buddhist teachings to navigate suffering, death, sickness and everyday human struggles.

The author’s guiding philosophy is that "compassion changes the world and kindness changes you," demonstrating how to actively serve others in the most unwinnable circumstances.

Real-world Application… Each chapter uses personal anecdotes to show how to practice patience, resilience and wisdom off the meditation cushion.

Humor & Humanity… The book offers a refreshing, non-technical look at modern spirituality, balancing heavy topics with a satirical and conversational tone.

Kusala
Photo - LA Times "Zen USA" - 2/18/97
Article Link - Click Here

Mary Rourke's February 18, 1997, Los Angeles Times article "Zen, USA" examines the evolution of American Buddhism, highlighting how practitioners adapted ancient traditions to modern life. The piece features Rev. Kusala, an American-born monk known for his "Engaged Buddhism" approach involving social activism and community work.

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book cover
Urban Dharma in Paperback, Kindle and Nook
Buy @ Amazon /// Barnes and Noble

"Kusala Bhikshu’s colorful account covers twenty years of “doing Buddhism rather than being Buddhism.” Kusala traveled around Los Angeles by motorcycle and served as a chaplain at a prison, a juvenile detention camp, and a hospital. He was also a ride-along chaplain for an Orange County police department.

His portraits of suffering people at the lowest points of their lives makes for elevated reading, buoyed by Kusala’s unfailing compassion and intrepid sense of humor. It is often his doubts and humility in the face of hostility that win people over: He is not afraid to say, “I don’t know.” -- Tricycle Magazine / Fall 2024 / "What We're Reading

Rebbeca

Co-Author Rebecca Wilson

"The making of Urban Dharma the Book" Amazon Preview Link - Click Here
From the Forward by Rebecca Wilson, Co-Author.

Contents
Introduction - The Journey
Chapter 1 - Police Chaplain Years / 2000-2007
Chapter 2 - Prison Year / 1995
Chapter 3 - Juvenile Hall Years / 1996 - 2000
Chapter 4 - Hospital Years / 2000 - 2012

The Urban Dharma Book Event Audio - The Shantideva Center in Brooklyn NY - CLICK HERE

Cal Award

In 2001 Kusala Bhikshu received a Certificate of Recognition from assemblyman
Luis Correa of the California State Assembly for his Volunteer work
as a police chaplain with the Garden Grove Police Department.

Police Chaplains

Kusala with the Garden Grove Volunteer Police Chaplains

Congress

In 2001 Kusala Bhikshu received a Certificate of Special Congressional
Recognition for his Volunteer work as a police chaplain with the
Garden Grove Police Department.

Probation

In December of 1998 Kusala was awarded the "Good Samaritan of the Year"
award for his volunteer work in juvenile hall by the Los Angeles County Probation Department.

Probation Award award

"How Community Service Became A Practice" - Kusala Bhikshu
A Sunday Talk (1/12/2026) - 36:39 / Click Here

mayor
Mayor's Certificate of Appreciation for Kusala's Work
with the Wilshire Center Interfaith Council - 2005

"Customers find the content enlightening, inspiring, and meaningful. They say the author seamlessly integrates profound lessons into the stories. Readers also appreciate the conversational writing style and honesty." - Amazon.com

Reviews:

"I'm finding your book both interesting and well written, and I like the way you gently weave in your Buddhist reflections on what you're seeing or experiencing." - Fr. William Skudlarek, OSB, Secretary General of Monastic Interreligious Dialogue

"It’s very well written and insightful. It feels intimate and authentic. I particularly like the balance of Buddhist thinking and humor." - Kev R.

Dear Rev. Kusala, As the nearest large bookshop is in Kuala Lumpur, about 100 miles away, your book is now in my Kindle library. Thank you... With three deep bows - Brian G.

UCLA Buddhist
The UCLA Buddhhist Club

"Good morning! I just wanted to let you know that I finished the last page of your book, and it was such a beautiful read. Truth be told, I couldn’t put it down. It gave me a lot to think about, and it was also just a darn good yarn. Thank you for writing it" - Kojun

"This book is good! I'm enjoying it... I've had to put the book down and reflect on simple but profound sentences like this, "It reminded me that the seed of ignorance and delusion are carried deeply within us, and have potential to take root at anytime" (page 68). The book provokes contemplation and reflection... Thank you!" - Horton M.

Vibe
The Vibe TV Show with Sinbad, speaking about
volunteer work at juvenile hall - June, 1998

"I read your memoir; what a great read! Reading it was almost as if you were having a deeply absorbing talk with a good friend. The last section hit me the most with the young lady dying of cancer feeling angry and trapped by the circumstances... I like how you just kept showing up despite the uncomfortableness of it and kept telling the truth even though she resisted it, except at the end when she seemed to be at peace... One of the last scenes of the book I loved was when you were in the backyard feeling part of eternity at that moment, feeling separate but somehow together with others out there and at ease with the profound harmony of the way things are -- sadness and happiness all part of the same elaborate painting." - Holly P.

Lancaster Jail
A 10 Page Preview from Chapter 2 - The Prison Year 1995 in PDF - Click Here

Portola High School - Irvine, CA

"I have been following Kusala Bhikshu on Facebook for a couple years and was interested to read more about his life as a Buddhist monk who lives in a meditation center in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles.

The book is chronologically divided into chapters that cover aspects of his service work over the last two decades, time spent living and working at the mediation center (with people and cats) as well as volunteering as a police chaplain, a prison cleric, a speaker and teacher in a juvenile hall and detention camp, and a hospital chaplain. Sharing his experiences, his honesty and wit are as refreshing as his commentary is insightful.

Rebecca Wilson helped Kusala write the book and has done a wonderful job of interweaving his life story with the stories in a consistent, conversational voice." - Ron J.

black boat

Publisher: Black Boat Media LLC
Co-author/Contributor: Rebecca Wilson
Publication Date: April 2024
Formats: Paperback and eBook
Pages: 230

Book

A gift from Rev. Bonnie Rose... The Ventura CSL - June, 2025
Celebrating the publication of Urban Dharma.

Urban Dharma is a multi-platform Buddhist educational resource founded by Kusala Bhikshu. The UrbanDharma.org Website is a comprehensive archive of Buddhist articles, sutras, and photos. Kusala Bhikshu's Dharma talks share Buddhist teachings through a "non-technical" lens of humor and personal stories.