Background:

Jumping Monks on a BMX is a childhood memoir of growing up in and around the Samye Ling Tibetan Monastery in Eskdalemuir, Dumfries & Galloway. Established in 1967 as the first Buddhist Temple in the Western World by two refugee lamas from Tibet it initially grew into a chaotic commune containing various alternative and interesting people from across the globe before establishing itself as the genuine global religious centre it is today. Taking in a unique and funny childhood, the book also tells the story of a family extracting themselves from the Church of Scientology in Edinburgh in the early-Eighties and moving next to Samye Ling. The contrast between a middle-class, somewhat typical childhood in Edinburgh and being moved to a dilapidated farmhouse next to a Buddhist commune in rural Dumfriesshire sets the tone for the early part of the book. The subsequent scandals, stories and characters that grew out of the Samye Ling Tibetian Centre then make up the latter part of the story as we follow the transition of the temple from commune to tourist attraction. The book also takes in the horrific events and impact on the local community of the Lockerbie Air Disaster, which happened less than 15 miles from Samye Ling. Ultimately though, this is the story of a hectic, diverse and hilarious childhood intertwined with an anecdotal history of the largely unknown side of the Samye Ling Monastery.

Brodie Smithers (author):

A freelance journalist and writer since 2000, Brodie has written for the likes of The Guardian Guide, the Independent on Sunday, Musicweek Magazine and since returning to Edinburgh from London in 2003 he appears regularly in The Scotsman and the Herald as well as online publications such as the Sabotage Times and the Huffington Post. This would be his debut publication.

An article by Brodie on life at Samye Ling has already appeared in the influential and well-respected football blog site - In Bed With Maradona – Although mostly about football it is a well-received sample of the writing style and general tone of the book:

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2012/4/26/zen-football.html