ANNE CUSHMAN is a contributing editor to both "Yoga Journal" and "Tricycle: The Buddhist Review "and is the coauthor of "From Here to Nirvana, a seeker's guide to spiritual India," Her essays have appeared in the "New York Times; the San Francisco Chronicle; O, the Oprah Magazine"; and Salon.com; and have been anthologized in "Best Buddhist Writing 2004; A Woman's Path: Women's Best Spiritual Travel Writing"; and other books. This is her first novel.