Bon Voyage to the Bodhi Tree Bookstore

The End of An Era: Bon Voyage to
THE BODHI TREE
by Sharon Hall
O
n a quiet street in West Hollywood, three former Aerospace
engineers from Douglas Aircraft in Santa Monica, Stan Madsen,
Phil Thompson, and Dan Morris opened a small, metaphysical
bookstore. It was the dawning of the Age of Aquarius.
Phil and Stan met at Douglas in the 1960’s. Both were
interested in the mind, ideas and books. On the day he started at
Douglas, Phil met another engineer starting that day, Bernie
Glassman. He was into Zen and meditation. Soon other like-minded seekers became the nucleus of a group who’d meet to discuss
ideas and books by people like Alan Watts, J. Krishnamurti, and
D.T. Suzuki. Stan and Phil also became initiated into Transcendental Meditation during this time: “There was a group of maybe 10 or
15 of us at Douglas who’d get together. We’d have lunch at the
luncheonette, or meet after work to talk...All these teachers and
ideas that were coming from the East were sort of revolutionary.
Between TM and Zen and the teachers, everybody started looking
for answers — what was it all about; why are we here, and maybe
there’s something better for us to do.”
The future Roshi Glassman began to study with Maizumi
Roshi in L.A., and Phil went with him on occasion: “Bernie was
real serious about it. I love the fact he told his mother when he was
in college, “One day I’m going to be a Zen monk!”
Stan and Phil left the aerospace industry, and purchased the
original property on Melrose Avenue in 1978. According to the
owners, that time period saw a real interest in metaphysicals and
Phil Thompson and Stan Madsen
“I think the Bodhi Tree’s
impact has been immeasurable, and at the center of it
all were these two really
great guys. If anyone in the
world has good karma, it’s
Phil and Stan.”
— Marianne Williamson
The Bodhi Tree circa 1970
The Bodhi Tree today
spiritual development. Bookstores were a place where people of like minds could
gather; they were a place where spiritual communities formed and strengthened. Now,
after 40 years as proprietors of what may be the best known metaphysical bookstore in
the country, the owners are retiring. The beloved Bodhi Tree is
moving on to its next incarnation.
The spot is surrounded by noise and high-end retail; traffic
whizzes by, and it’s hard to find on-street parking. The original
location, with its expansions and re-models over the years, has
certainly changed from being a small store on a quiet, shady street.
But in the back, the giant ficus religiosa, also known as a Bodhi tree,
has grown 40 feet or more. Phil says that it came to them in a
little pot from a neighbor, who’d grown it from seed. Now the girth
of the trunk is bigger than two men. They don’t know what will
happen to it, he says; the new owners may decide to chop it down.
When asked about the future of the bookstore, the philosophical Phil and Stan are both likely to say the same thing: Everything
changes. The two have no plans to open another, having recognized a long time back that such a project needs a certain critical
mass of community to support a store like this. They are trying to
sell their entire inventory; the location was sold over a year ago.
Stan says they are in fairly strong negotiations with two or three
groups: “It seems highly probable that it — the store — will go on
in some form. We’d just prefer an actual space rather than just a
virtual one.”
I asked the two what their favorite time period was; did they
have a sense when they were in the right place, doing the right
thing? For Phil, it was from the middle 70’s on: “That’s when
Swami Muktananda for example was getting a thousand people at
Santa Monica Auditorium. People were sincere then; they were
interested in serious things.” Stan added that it has been a lot of
fun, and noted the right livelihood aspect of the experience:
“Many people look for that. I
kind of tripped into this by accident and it has all
the elements of right livelihood. I enjoyed doing it,
it created energy, and the social interaction was very
exciting. We were fellow travelers; we felt that what
we were doing, was worthwhile.”
In the early 80’s, the business, according to Stan
and Phil, was doing quite well. They were running
out of space for their ever-increasing inventory and
had a choice to either move or remodel: “We loved
the location — it was ideal in those days; the whole
neighborhood was open for parking.” They chose to
remodel, more than doubling their original size. At
that point, everyone thought the expansion was
complete. But, as they have described on their website, a small event occurred that was
to have huge consequences: “On a lazy Sunday afternoon in 1983, actress Shirley
MacLaine wandered into the Bodhi Tree Bookstore and embarked on a journey that
changed her life, the life of the bookstore, and the spiritual life of mainstream America.”*
MacLaine had come to the Bodhi Tree on the recommendation of her mentor.
According to Stan, “She came here to find the books because, in the early days if you
were interested in this material, you couldn’t just go into any bookstore to find it. We
had a monopoly in the Los Angeles area. We were the only game in town, initially.” An
explosion of metaphysical bookstores sprouted up, triggered by the tremendous energy
that was generated as celebrities began talking about these spiritual issues: “Carol
Burnett was another celebrity visitor in the 80’s. She talked about reading the book,
‘The Initiate’, by Cyril Scott. Within 24 hours, every copy in the U.S was sold out.”
They started having book signings with an amazing assortment of authors and
(continued on page 40)
On a lazy
Sunday afternoon
in 1983, actress
Shirley MacLaine
wandered into
the Bodhi Tree
and embarked on
a journey that
changed her life,
the life of the
bookstore, and
the spiritual life
of mainstream
America.
THE WHOLE PERSON CALENDAR / JULY/AUGUST 2011
(Bodhi Tree continued from page 5)
spiritual leaders: “Some of these people
were really popular they would fill the
place. It was very high energy. At one
time, we had about 100 people on staff.
We were open from 10am to 11pm.”**
Stan: “We were like a small super-store.”
Phil: “When the first story came up about
us closing, we started getting so many
letters and emails. How their parents first
brought them here when they were 10 and
11, and now they’re parents and grandparents...so many changes. Not to namedrop,
but when Jerry Brown was governor the
first time, he used to come here by himself
or with his girlfriend. Nobody would bat
an eye. He was an ex-Jesuit and he’d buy
all these great books....and he read all
them.”
Here you were doing your own thing,
and you’ve got this place, and it just began
to touch more and more people. You saw
that as the energy started to come back to
you; how it was effecting so many people,
in so many ways.
Stan: “People would come by and say,
“You don’t remember me, do you? I used
to work here!”
I read you were closing. I am happy this is profitable, but
I would like to let you know how powerful your energy is (or your store).
I used to be a straight ticket Republican from the
Northeast. The Bodhi Tree introduced me to other religions,
vegetarian foods, meditation, and wonderful tea that is free.
Whenever I had a bad day I would go to the Bodhi Tree,
sip on some tea, and pick up the latest self-help book.
I also picked up some Oracle cards and a fabulous string of
Mantra Beads that I get comments on still when I pull
them out. I always tell everyone who asks to go to the Bodhi Tree.
This is truly sad.
— A Fan
of the dilemma.”
Stan: “The problem is that we have
been watching our part of this market
deteriorating for a long time; maybe a
few percent per year for 10 years. When
the economy went sour in 2008, all of a
sudden sales dropped —18% the first
year; another 18% the next year, etc.
We’re doing almost 50% less business
than we were 10 years ago. Phil and I
are in our late 70’s. We’re old time book
I am SO sad to hear that you are closing after so many years of
such wonderful and special service to our community of readers. Just last
night I was talking to a friend about picking up a book
on building ‘dreaming skills’ and I said, “Where am I going to
go for these books if the Bodhi Tree goes away?” It made me
sad and hopeful that someone can come along and carry
on the unique traditions that the Bodhi Tree started for so
many of us. I’m grateful for you who planted this spiritual
landmark in LA and I hope retirement treats you all
well - you certainly earned it.
— A Fan
Phil: “It would be interesting to even track
our ex-employees; where they went, what
they are doing now.”
One past employee was Leslie Snyder,
the original owner and publisher of The
Whole Person Calendar of Events in
Southern California. Ms. Snyder started
the magazine as a way to let the spiritual
community of Southern California know
more about the events in and around the
area — including the events and
happenings at the Bodhi Tree.
And now?
Phil: “Well, the area has turned into a
really high end retail space. So, that’s part
people — we’re primarily interested in
books. What is needed now are people
to whom books are important, but who
are interested in the social contacts,
social media, the events — the nonbook activities. It needs new energy.”
Changes in the book business have
affected them as it has every retail book
outlet, and the industry as a whole. We
talked about how, as of this week,
Amazon reported that its E Books had
outsold books in print. But, we all
agreed — we love the feel of books —
and bookstores.
Phil: “If you’re in a bookstore, and you
want to talk to someone, you can. Or not.
That’s always a good feeling. People used
to tell us the store was their little cathedral, their safe haven. I used to think that
was kind of presumptuous, but now, I
realize we don’t have many of those; we’re
losing them. And other things — just the
social interaction. People getting together,
before the Internet. This has always been
considered one of the 10 most romantic
places to meet someone in Los Angeles; it
was safe, it wasn’t just a singles bar.
Things change. There’s the possibility that
new energy will take it in new directions
— positive energy. There’s such a change
in the world these days with the Internet
and communications...even the New Age
isn’t the new age anymore. If you believe
like I do, that evolution is on an upward
path — it’s hard to see sometimes — but
things do progressively get better.”
I asked about the social gatherings—
the events and book-signings that have
contributed so much to the sense of
creating community at the Bodhi Tree.
Are they going to continue?
Stan and Phil: “We hope so. People still
need the “soul” of it; the social interaction.
Humans are social animals. We can’t do it
all online.”
Stan said he feels like Phil, “Change is
important and it’s inevitable. It would be
nice if things went on forever, but they
don’t. Certain good things are disappearing, or changing into something else. But,
what is out there is also quite exciting and
new.”
What about the need for community,
for places to gather and share ideas with
others face to face? The two agree that’s
important, but noted that these days cities
have become difficult to get around in.
Phil: “Thirty years ago it was a lot easier.
People used to come every weekend from
40 or 50 miles away; it wasn’t hard and
they would come to go book shopping.
Nowadays it’s hard for them to come from
5 miles away.”
Stan: “The fabric not only of the cities but
also of countries and how they interact
with each other — has really changed. For
example, when a group meditates
together, it’s very different then sitting
alone; it’s an amplification. People will
eventually understand that there’s
something about “a shared presence” that’s
vital to our consciousness. Without that
shared presence, we are not going to
evolve properly.
Were in a funny, materialistic state
right now, but there are people aware of
this and making changes. If it doesn’t
happen, then I think our civilization will
fail. The computer doesn’t seem able to do
it. It’s the electromagnetic presence that
we share that does it.”
Phil: “We have to feel that we are not
alone. People need connection that’s more
than a face on a screen. We need family
— husbands and wives and children
— we need the basic structure of the tribe.
One of the most gratifying things is that
people have come back and say things
like, ‘you saved my life.’ Our staff tells this
still happens.”
After our talk, I took a few moments
to walk around the property. The store
was crowded; people were coming from
everywhere to visit the bookstore one
more time. Like the bustling days of the
1980s, the place was full of life and
energy. The pictures on the wall — of
Gandhi, of the Buddha and Christ, and
other well-known spiritual teachers past
and present — gazed benevolently down
from the walls as I browsed the shelves.
There was a special feeling in the sunlit
rooms, and a sense of peace. Tea is still
offered, and one can still spend the entire
day there, just reading. For the time being,
events and book-signings will still take
place where teachers and seekers can meet
to share information and good vibrations.
If you get a chance, roll on down to
8585 Melrose Ave. and say hello to Stan,
Phil and the staff of the Bodhi Tree. Grab
a cup of tea, and browse the many shelves
filled with esoteric and practical magic,
and the world’s perennial wisdom. Be sure
to visit the giant ficus religiosa in the back
parking lot whose wide branches reach out
— for the moment — beneath the LA
sun.
As Phil and Stan are fond of saying,
everything changes. But it’s all still here
for now.
Sharon Hall is the Associate Editor of The
Whole Person Calendar. For more
information about the store visit: www.
bodhitree.com
*MacLaine’s book about her experiences in
the bestseller, “Out On A Limb”, gave credit
to the store as having played a crucial part in
her spiritual awakening.
**The people who’ve past through The Bodhi
Tree doorway — as lecturers and teachers, or
doing book-signings — reads like a WhoseWho of the best and the brightest of our
time. A short list includes: Robert Aiken,
Lynne Andrews, Peter Bogdanovich, Gregory
Braden, Julia Cameron, Frijof Capra,
Deepak Chopra, Dr. Jean Houston, Laura
Huxley, Sam Keen, Jack Kornfield, Deena
Metzger, Dr. Judith Orloff, Thich Nhat
Hanh, Starhawk, Robert Thurman, Eckhart
Tolle, Marianne Williamson. Some
presentations have been transcribed and can
be accessed at www.bodhitree.com under
lecture transcripts.
The store has been my library,
a portal into other worlds.
The books and products, and their
placement, are imprinted in my
mind’s eye and on my hands and
fingertips. You’ve helped many of
us expand into kindness and carry
the peace we want to see in the
world ... and dare to still hold
tender the magic of our dreams.
Thank you, thank you, thank you
all.
The Hermit from The Bodhi Tree Book Review.
— A Fan
THE WHOLE PERSON CALENDAR / JULY/AUGUST 2011