Reed is tired of having to do so much now that his baby brother has arrived. It's not fair. And his parents certainly don't care about him as much anymore-all they care about is the new baby in the house. So what does he do about it? He leaves. Determined to never go back home again, he and his pet monkey leave their village behind and head into the jungle. When it gets dark, however, the jungle becomes a pretty scary and dangerous place. But when an extraordinary visitor arrives, Reed suddenly finds himself with his monkey and a jaguar on an incredible journey to the farthest reaches of his imagination. Soon in the magical land of Shambhala, he is welcomed by a young apprentice stonemason who conveys to Reed his sense of duty to society and to simply be present with his senses. Sending Reed on his way into the mythical kingdom, the young boy and his companions have no idea the amazing sights they are about to see-or the incredible learning they are about to experience Enlightening for children and adults alike, the clever layering of Eastern philosophies as subtext never imposes itself on this poetic story, allowing the dozen questions at the end to give you and your child the opportunity to discover the concepts within the text. Including a guide to a simple meditation practice that is perfect for young beginners, The Mindful Journey will help children know their own minds, develop compassion for others, and build an enlightened society. The Mindful Journey is based on Tibetan traditions critical for Westerners to understand: happiness comes from embracing our world rather than escaping it. Cutting through our natural tendency to seek safety amid our chaotic world, Rob and John Cimperman's debut partnership is the first step in your child's introduction to the path to enlightenment.