For much of his life, Robert W. Sendling lived a charmed existence. While most of the kids from the old neighborhood ended up dropping out of school or landing in jail, Sendling managed to graduate from prep school, earn a degree, and achieve tremendous success in his career. He was happily married to his soul mate, kept his body in fine athletic form, and enjoyed all the benefits of a productive, easy life.
Everything came crashing down, however, when a freak accident broke his neck, injured his spine, and stripped him of his ability to function independently in the world. A shell of his former self, crippled with pain, and addicted to painkillers, Sendling contemplated suicide to end his misery once and for all.
I Am Am I tells the story of Sendling's journey back from emotional darkness and physical dysfunction through the practice of Zen mindfulness and meditation. Bridging the gap between Eastern and Western thought, this book makes Zen accessible to people of other faiths, particularly Christians.
Interesting, humorous, and compelling, this book offers deep wisdom and practical lessons on how to cope with life's hardships through the use of Zen's powerful concepts of mindfulness and meditation.
About the Author: Despite growing up poor in the tough, working-class Sicilian neighborhood of Federal Hill in Providence, Rhode Island, Robert W. Sendling managed to attend the prestigious preparatory school Classical High and graduate from Rhode Island College with a BA in English. He received support and encouragement from dedicated teachers and extended family, helping keep him out of trouble and on the path toward academic and athletic success.
Sendling met his soul mate, Miriam, at age fifteen, and they eventually married. He worked as a senior manager for a Fortune 100 company and continued his involvement in competitive athletics. When a freak accident left him with a broken neck and severely damaged spine, Sendling lost his career, his friends, and much of his ability to function and cope with the world.
A wise therapist directed him to mindfulness and meditation, which Sendling credits with bringing him back from the edge of despair.
