Steve Silberman worked as Allen Ginsberg’s teaching assistant at Naropa University in 1987 and as Philip Whalen’s personal assistant in 1993. He is the author of NeuroTribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity.
Steve Silberman
Books
Recent Articles
“Roshi, You Are Drunk”
When a student confronts his famed teacher, Steve Silberman learns the meaning of “intimate practice.” In that moment, he becomes a Buddhist.
The Spark Is There All the Time
Forget the stereotype of the tortured artist, says Steve Silberman. For David Crosby and Becca Stevens, the Muse is happy.
Happily Ever After
A gay couple’s decision to wed threw them into the heart of an American culture war.
The Beat of Philip Whalen
Steve Silberman reviews "Crowded by Beauty: The Life and Zen of Poet Philip Whalen," by David Schneider.
Wise Heart: A profile of Jack Kornfield
Jack Kornfield's brilliant synthesis of deep Buddhist practice and modern psychological insight has made him one of the most influential spiritual teachers of our time.
How to Live on Planet Earth: Poets and fans remember Nanao Sakaki
The San Francisco Poetry Center and Green Arcade Books hosted a tribute to Nanao Sakaki in a mattress factory. Report by Steve Silberman.
Steve Silberman asks, “What Kind of Buddhist was Steve Jobs, Really?”
The discussion of the Steve Jobs/Buddhism connection continues, and now Steve Silberman has weighed in with a contribution.
Lessons from an old copy of “Zen Mind, Beginner’s Mind”
Shunyru Suzuki's book Zen Mind Beginner's Mind has been leading people onto the path of meditation for forty years now. Here, Shambhala Sun friend and contributor Steve Silberman shares an intimate glimpse, via beautiful photos, of his personal copy of Suzuki's book, which continues to teach him after all these years.
For no mere mortal can resist…
Steve Silberman shares an anecdote about a Tibetan death ceremony.
Iran: Compassion in Chaos
Steve Silberman reflects on a picture from the Iran elections of a protester helping a wounded riot policeman out of the crowd to safety:
Nothing Special: The Dalai Lama in Berkeley — a report and photos from Steve Silberman
On Saturday, April 27, the Dalai Lama gave a talk on "Peace Through Compassion" at the Greek Theater, in Berkeley, California.
From the “One Small Step, One Giant Leap” Dept.
Steve Silberman speaks out against California's Proposition 8.
The Birth of the Sixties: When the Beats Became Hippies
Review of A Blue Hand: The Beats in India by Deborah Baker.
The Only Choice is Kindness
“Life is so difficult, how can we be anything but kind”—it was these words that inspired Sylvia Boorstein to follow the Buddhist path.
Terra Cognito
Review of "Train Your Mind, Change Your Brain" by Sharon Begle.