New Book The Daily Buddhist Launches on Saka Dawa with Inspiring Community Gathering in Queens
Woodside, NY – June 1, 2025During the auspicious month of Saka Dawa, a time of deep spiritual significance in the Buddhist calendar, Ngatso Café in Woodside warmly hosted the inaugural book launch for The Daily Buddhist. This debut event celebrated the release of a unique volume featuring 366 daily insights devoted to mindfulness, joy, and inner serenity, offering readers a year-long journey of contemplative wisdom.
The event featured an engaging Q&A and book signing with authors Pema Sherpa and Brendan Barca, who were warmly welcomed by a diverse crowd of readers, spiritual practitioners, and community members. This gathering marked the cafe’s first-ever public event and was described by many attendees as “uplifting,” “nourishing,” and “deeply meaningful.”
Published as a spiritual companion for daily life, The Daily Buddhist presents a full year of Buddhist-inspired reflections rooted in core teachings such as impermanence, interdependence, emptiness, and compassion. Each day’s entry pairs a carefully selected quote from traditional Buddhist sources with a short contemplation designed to help readers slow down, reflect, and live with greater awareness.
“The book is not just a collection of insights,” shared the authors at the event. “It’s a daily practice. A rhythm. A reminder that every day holds an opportunity to return to what is true, kind, and present.”
The timing of the launch—during Saka Dawa, which honors the Buddha’s birth, enlightenment, and parinirvana—was particularly symbolic. Many attendees noted that the book’s message of peace and awakening felt especially relevant during this spiritually charged period.
Guests had the opportunity to connect with the authors, ask questions about the writing process, and reflect on how Buddhist teachings can be applied in contemporary life. Copies of the book were signed and personalized, and the cozy, peaceful setting of Ngatso Cafe provided the perfect backdrop for this exchange of ideas and inspiration.
As the evening came to a close, a strong sense of community and shared purpose lingered. With its blend of ancient wisdom and modern relevance, The Daily Buddhist promises to be a valuable companion for readers seeking stillness, clarity, and meaning in everyday life.
Ngatso Cafe plans to host more community events in the future, celebrating literature, spirituality, and Himalayan culture in Queens.
About the authors:
Pema Sherpa and Brendan Barca are a wife-and-husband duo dedicated to sharing mindfulness, meditation, and core Buddhist principles with employees across global corporations. Originally from Nepal, Pema has practiced Tibetan Buddhism since childhood. After relocating to the United States, she deepened her spiritual and academic journey by earning a master’s degree in Buddhist philosophy from Harvard Divinity School. Brendan came to Buddhism in his twenties, turning to meditation as a way to manage stress and burnout. This initial interest evolved into a long-term commitment to studying and practicing Tibetan Buddhism.
Together, Pema and Brendan have studied under esteemed teachers, including Dudjom Rinpoche. Inspired by the profound impact that mindfulness and Buddhist teachings have had on their own lives, they founded Brema Solutions to help integrate these timeless principles into the corporate world. They also publish The Daily Buddhist, a widely followed newsletter.
