anyen Books is one of North America's most
complete bookstore/web sites specializing in conscious living, personal growth,
and spiritual awareness. With more than 27,000 books, CDs,
tapes and videos, Banyen is a comprehensive resource of information for
which more and more people around the world are hungering, as our hearts, minds,
bodies, and the Earth itself, cry out for healing. Banyen is located in Vancouver, British Columbia and has been growing there
since its birth in 1970. At that time, Kolin
Lymworth, Banyen's founder and still current owner, understood that we
are in the process of a great transformation of Life through the Spirit in its
many forms. Unlike today, in 1970, books about the Spiritual path were
relatively few or hard to come by. Since that time, it has been Kolin's and
Banyen's goal to provide education and nourishment for the Human Soul and
Community in the form of books, music, videos, talks, workshops, performances,
and other events, as well as Banyen's own publications (currently Branches of Light---a semi-annual publication of
book and music reviews), and now a presence on the Web. As set forth in Banyen's
Mission
Statement, Banyen carries products
which encourage the values of non-violence, truthfulness, love for all, meditation and spiritual awakening, earthcare and earth wisdom, and healing, holistic & visionary perspectives in arts, sciences, humanities, literature, medicine, philosophy, ecology, and dishwashing. As a bookstore seeking a balance between the 'juicy' experiential and the 'dry' scholarly, Banyen stocks the best in world spiritual, mystical, metaphysical and inspirational traditions---recognizing that seekers come in all forms and find their connections through varying metaphors, levels of depth, and practices.
There's an energy at Banyen Books that everyone notices as soon as
they walk in off the street. The frenetic activity of the city and the rough
edges of the day give way to rhythms and melodies designed to heal the soul and
quiet the mind. It's like arriving at an Oasis for the
Spirit, where others, too, have come for the same reasons: to explore and grow, to heal and awaken. Browsing at
Banyen feels more like meeting---meeting your
Self---being spoken to and acknowledged. And, the same thing is happening for
those around you---each in their own way.
Because these are books for the Spirit, people make an effort to find just the right ones---the ones that are right for them---and, in so doing, each goes through quite a bit of subtle, internal processing right there in the aisles.
With dozens of people digging deep and reaching high, all at the same time, in close proximity to one another, an atmosphere develops that can easily be felt as soon as one walks in. Even the staff, for whom the experience is not new, feel it and are grateful to be able to participate in and share it with others.
Banyen has been around for more than 40 years, and though the store's physical address has changed a number of times, that special energy has always been there and remains. Banyen is no ordinary bookstore. The books that leave the store with people each day are no ordinary books. They are our companions on the Journey, helping us find our way Home.
One of the special things about
spending the day or evening at Banyen is just how easy it is to lose track of
time --- gathering an armful of books, finding a comfortable corner or seat in
the window, and planting oneself for... How long?... Really? Time gives way to space, and it's just that kind of space
we hope to provide you with here.
It takes more than a title, or name of an author, to let you know what's inside a book. It takes time, reading through, getting a feel for the message and the style of writing. We can't give you the books and tapes to read and listen to here, but we can provide you with "glimpses" through reviews, quotes, interviews, and, eventually, sound and video clips. This web site offers direct access to more than 27,000 books, tapes, and CDs, many of which have been reviewed to help you get more of a feeling for the work---as if you had it in hand. Many of these reviews have been compiled from the last 20 issues of Banyen's semi-annual publication, Branches of Light, which comes out each Spring and Autumn. In addition to reviews, Branches offers special features, such as interviews with featured authors and artists, and listings of upcoming events sponsored by Banyen Books & Sound.
The reviews, interviews and listings of over 27,000 titles are the heart and soul of this web site. Take your time and browse around. As you find titles you're interested in, check the box "Add to Shopping List" at the top of its Publication Details / Review frame. For more information, click Ordering from Banyen on the Menu. Remember: All of our prices are in Canadian dollars, and are at least on par with, and sometimes less than, the U.S. dollar selling price.
If there's a title you can't find here, call or e-mail us to check availability and pricing.
It is our sincere hope in creating this web site that, eventually, we will be able to bring you "inside" Banyen Books and give you an experience of what it's like to spend the day there---that you may feel the same sense of nurturing and peace that we feel while browsing there. We recognize that this is indeed an ambitious task, and we know it'll take time and technological development to even come close. While these are under way, we bring you what we can, because we know that, right now, there are many people hungering for Food for the Spirit, and there's no time to waste. It is with great appreciation and gratitude that we make this offering to you.