Author Spotlight: Allan Lokos

Tarcher gets the story behind Allan Lokos’s new book, Pocket Peace.

What inspired you to write Pocket Peace?
The idea developed from a spontaneous moment. I was teaching one morning at the Community Meditation Center in New York at a time when the global economic crisis was beginning to effect everyone in one way or another. I spoke about how important it was to be generous during these difficult financial times, not just for the sake of others but also for our own wellbeing. Then I just made up a practice for everyone to try. It was: For one week carry at least five one-dollar bills with you wherever you go and do not walk past anyone asking for help. Make eye contact with every homeless person, or those down on their luck, who reach out for your help. Engage in a short conversation, “How are you doing?” is a good starter. Give them a dollar and wish them well. The specific amount could vary in accordance with your resources, but not by judging the recipient’s worthiness. This exercise needed to be done in a completely non-judgmental way. Give for the sake of giving; be totally indiscriminate; get intoxicated with the joy of generosity.

The next week people came to me with stories of how the practice had affected their lives; some even used the word “transformative.” So I created another easy-to-learn practice, and when it received the same type of response, I knew I wanted to expand the concept of short, powerful spiritual practices, the kind one could easily pull from one’s pocket.