Show notes
JASON BRETT SERLE is a British writer, filmmaker, musician, Neuro-linguistic Programming (NLP) Master and licensed hypnotherapist with a particular focus on themes involving psychology, spirituality, wellness, and human potential.
He has written articles for Jain Spirit and Watkins magazines as well as interviewing people such as Eckhart Tolle, Robert Anton Wilson, Andrew Cohen, Jan Kersschot, and Amado Crowley. He is cited in Crowley's 2002 book Liber Alba: The Questions Most Often Asked of an Occult Master as being the only other person to have seen The Book of Desolation; a book purported to have been brought back from Cairo by his father, Aleister Crowley, in 1904.
In 2012 he wrote and produced his first documentary film, 'Mind Your Mind: A Primer for Psychological Independence' which looks at the psychological methods used to manipulate people and what they can do to protect themselves. He also composed and performed most of the soundtrack. The film is distributed by Journeyman Films in the UK and Film Media Group in the US, and it was an official selection for the London International Documentary Festival (LIDF) in 2012. We l\talk about:
1. What exactly is crazy wisdom, and what makes it a path worth exploring?
2. How does crazy wisdom differ from what you call in the book divine madness?
3. How does The Monkey in the Bodhi Tree challenge our conventional understanding of sanity?
4. Why is trans-rational thought—going beyond logic and reason—so often misunderstood?
5. What are some of the most striking historical examples of crazy-wisdom?
6. How can embracing crazy-wisdom lead to greater clarity and self-realization?
7. How has crazy-wisdom influenced art, literature, and culture throughout history?
8. Why do spiritual movements sometimes attract charlatans, and how can seekers distinguish
authenticity from deception?
9. What inspired you to explore this topic, and what impact has it had on your own perspective?
10. If someone wants to begin exploring crazy-wisdom, what is the first step they should take?
11. Where can people read The Monkey in the Bodhi Tree?
O books Presents
The Monkey in the Bodhi Tree
Crazy-Wisdom & the Way of the Wise-Fool
by Jason Brett Serle
Release date: March 1st 2025
Categories: Eastern, Mindfulness & meditation, Rituals & Practice
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE BOOK COVER
Unleash the radical, transformative power at the heart of the world's great wisdom traditions.
Of the many paths up the mountain, that of crazy-wisdom, although one of the lesser travelled, presents a dramatic and formidable climb to those that are so inclined. Now for the first time, the true spiritual landscape of the wise-fool has been laid bare and its features and principal landmarks revealed.
Written in two parts, loosely based on the theory and practice of crazy-wisdom, The Monkey in the Bodhi Tree is the first comprehensive look at this universal phenomenon, from its origins and development to the lives of its greatest adepts and luminaries.
In addition to the theoretical foundations laid down in Part I, Part II deals with its practice and aims to demonstrate crazy-wisdom in action. To this end, 151 teaching tales from around the world have been meticulously gathered and retold to illustrate the methods of the great masters and adepts - stories that not only give practical insight but also, like Zen koans, can be used as contemplative tools to illuminate and provoke epiphany.
From the enigmatic Mahasiddhas of ancient India to the eccentric Taoist poet-monks of China, from the uncompromising insights of the Buddhist Tantrikas to the unconventional wisdom of Sufi heretics and the utter surrender to God displayed by the Fools for Christ, this book will take you to a place where the boundaries of logic and reason dissolve and enlightenment awaits those daring enough to venture forth.
BOOK LINK: https://www.collectiveinkbooks.com/o-books/our-books/monkey-bodhi-tree-crazy-wisdom
JASON'S WEBSITE:
www.fasonbrettserle.com
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