Bodhi Tree Bookstore

For nearly a decade, Sandra Acosta and Noe Ramirez made a monthly pilgrimage to the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose Avenue in search of life wisdom. Enveloped in the aroma of incense and the gentle strains of meditative music, the Long Beach couple would explore books on martial arts, women's spirituality, Native American philosophy, Zen Buddhism and whatever else piqued their curiosity. But their visit Friday would be their last. The bookstore will close its doors at 5:30 p.m. Saturday after four decades of serving as a world-renowned spiritual mecca for seekers of all persuasions — including Gov. Jerry Brown, Beatle Ringo Starr and actress Shirley MacLaine, whose memoir chronicled how her metaphysical journey began at the Bodhi Tree in 1983.

For nearly a decade, Sandra Acosta and Noe Ramirez made a monthly pilgrimage to the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose Avenue in search of life wisdom. Enveloped in the aroma of incense and the gentle strains of meditative music, the Long Beach couple would explore books on martial arts, women's spirituality, Native American philosophy, Zen Buddhism and whatever else piqued their curiosity. But their visit Friday would be their last. The bookstore will close its doors at 5:30 p.m. Saturday after four decades of serving as a world-renowned spiritual mecca for seekers of all persuasions — including Gov. Jerry Brown, Beatle Ringo Starr and actress Shirley MacLaine, whose memoir chronicled how her metaphysical journey began at the Bodhi Tree in 1983.

Amanda Bender, an indie-film actress, moved to Venice from Brooklyn a month ago and immediately embraced the welcoming vibe at Mystic Journey Bookstore. "A friend of mine who's a healer brought me here," said Bender, 22, as she sat in a corner skimming a book about self-forgiveness. "When you enter, you suddenly feel a lot lighter. Your breath slows. You can sit and think, or not think. It's hard to have a negative thought while you're in here." Such comments are like soothing Rumi poetry to the ears of proprietor Jeffrey Segal, who had to tamp down plenty of negative thoughts and fears when he opened the bookstore on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in October 2008 in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Depression.

Amanda Bender, an indie-film actress, moved to Venice from Brooklyn a month ago and immediately embraced the welcoming vibe at Mystic Journey Bookstore. "A friend of mine who's a healer brought me here," said Bender, 22, as she sat in a corner skimming a book about self-forgiveness. "When you enter, you suddenly feel a lot lighter. Your breath slows. You can sit and think, or not think. It's hard to have a negative thought while you're in here." Such comments are like soothing Rumi poetry to the ears of proprietor Jeffrey Segal, who had to tamp down plenty of negative thoughts and fears when he opened the bookstore on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in October 2008 in the midst of the worst economic downturn since the Depression.

"Do you have anything about the Council of Nicea?" "I'd like to find a book about Edgar Cayce." "I want to learn how to meditate." . . . "I'd like to learn how to heal with crystals." . . . "Where can I go to study vegetarian cooking?" . . . "Can you recommend a good Gestalt therapist?" Chances are someone or some book at the Bodhi Tree bookstore on Melrose Avenue can answer all those questions. To walk through the door of this refuge is to enter a world of possibility.

C aution: Some people actually enjoy certain symptoms of the Neo-Nasty era--like waiting in a line at a nightclub for the crucial moment when a bouncer will decide if you're cool enough to be admitted. If you're not one of those types, then you may want the following advice. Refuse to take calls from anyone using a car phone. Don't read your therapist's screenplay. Limit yourself to only one KCET pledge break a week. Watch "Donna Reed Show" reruns. Live at Trancas Beach without a TV set.

For 40 years, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose Avenue has served as the metaphysical mecca of Los Angeles. Inside, seekers of varied spiritual persuasions gather for exploration, contemplation and personal transformation amid soothing music, the aroma of pungent incense and the tinkling of wind chimes under the benevolent gaze of dozens of sages whose pictures hang on the wall as blessings. The store's 35,000 books traverse a dizzying array of disciplines, from Christianity and Buddhism to energy healing and nutrition.

In the late 1960s, three aerospace engineers quit their jobs to open a store dedicated to spiritual literature in a small house in West Hollywood. Thirty-two years later, the store--named after the Bodhi tree under which, the legend goes, the Buddha attained enlightenment--is a destination of choice for Angelenos in search of rare tomes on meditation, Buddhism, yoga and magic.

West Hollywood's Bodhi Tree Bookstore has been selling spiritual enlightenment, by way of books, incense and all manner of religious ephemera, since 1970. On a Saturday afternoon, it's abuzz with customers looking to make their weekend, and perhaps their lives, a little more meaningful. We spoke to four shoppers. * Renee Gontarski, owner, graphics company, West Hollywood Buying: Noam Chomsky's CD "Free Market Fantasies." What were you in your past life? Someone told me I was a monkey.

It was 24 years ago that L.A.'s center for all things metaphysical, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, opened for business on Melrose Avenue. The brainchild of Stan Madson and Phil Thompson, engineers for Douglas Aircraft who were swept up in the social revolution of the '60s and were itching to get out of the aerospace industry, the store was launched (with a third partner, Dan Morris) with a modest nest egg of $18,000 and an inventory of 2,000 books.

For 40 years, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore on Melrose Avenue has served as the metaphysical mecca of Los Angeles. Inside, seekers of varied spiritual persuasions gather for exploration, contemplation and personal transformation amid soothing music, the aroma of pungent incense and the tinkling of wind chimes under the benevolent gaze of dozens of sages whose pictures hang on the wall as blessings. The store's 35,000 books traverse a dizzying array of disciplines, from Christianity and Buddhism to energy healing and nutrition.

In the late 1960s, three aerospace engineers quit their jobs to open a store dedicated to spiritual literature in a small house in West Hollywood. Thirty-two years later, the store--named after the Bodhi tree under which, the legend goes, the Buddha attained enlightenment--is a destination of choice for Angelenos in search of rare tomes on meditation, Buddhism, yoga and magic.

West Hollywood's Bodhi Tree Bookstore has been selling spiritual enlightenment, by way of books, incense and all manner of religious ephemera, since 1970. On a Saturday afternoon, it's abuzz with customers looking to make their weekend, and perhaps their lives, a little more meaningful. We spoke to four shoppers. * Renee Gontarski, owner, graphics company, West Hollywood Buying: Noam Chomsky's CD "Free Market Fantasies." What were you in your past life? Someone told me I was a monkey.

The Bodhi Tree Bookstore stands at the metaphysical crossroads of Greater Los Angeles. With more than 30,000 tomes covering everything from Christian mysticism and Buddhist philosophy to crystals and magic to such modern-day self-help guides as "Powermind" and "Law of Success," the Bodhi Tree--at Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard--helped launch today's spiritual book boom.

It was 24 years ago that L.A.'s center for all things metaphysical, the Bodhi Tree Bookstore, opened for business on Melrose Avenue. The brainchild of Stan Madson and Phil Thompson, engineers for Douglas Aircraft who were swept up in the social revolution of the '60s and were itching to get out of the aerospace industry, the store was launched (with a third partner, Dan Morris) with a modest nest egg of $18,000 and an inventory of 2,000 books.

C aution: Some people actually enjoy certain symptoms of the Neo-Nasty era--like waiting in a line at a nightclub for the crucial moment when a bouncer will decide if you're cool enough to be admitted. If you're not one of those types, then you may want the following advice. Refuse to take calls from anyone using a car phone. Don't read your therapist's screenplay. Limit yourself to only one KCET pledge break a week. Watch "Donna Reed Show" reruns. Live at Trancas Beach without a TV set.

The Bodhi Tree Bookstore stands at the metaphysical crossroads of Greater Los Angeles. With more than 30,000 tomes covering everything from Christian mysticism and Buddhist philosophy to crystals and magic to such modern-day self-help guides as "Powermind" and "Law of Success," the Bodhi Tree--at Melrose Avenue and La Cienega Boulevard--helped launch today's spiritual book boom.

FAMILY "Generations: Tracing Art Through the Family," continues through Oct. 23 at the Museum of Orange County, Santa Ana. (714) 540-0404. BOOKS Debbie Stoller and Marcelle Karp sign "The Bust Guide to the New Girl Order," tonight at 8. Book Soup, West Hollywood. (310) 659-3110. FESTIVAL Celebrate the 90th anniversary of Santa Monica Pier during Pier Days, Saturday and Sunday starting at 11 a.m. (310) 458-8900.

"Do you have anything about the Council of Nicea?" "I'd like to find a book about Edgar Cayce." "I want to learn how to meditate." . . . "I'd like to learn how to heal with crystals." . . . "Where can I go to study vegetarian cooking?" . . . "Can you recommend a good Gestalt therapist?" Chances are someone or some book at the Bodhi Tree bookstore on Melrose Avenue can answer all those questions. To walk through the door of this refuge is to enter a world of possibility.