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49 Buddhas: Lama Rinzen in the Hell Realm
Lama Rinzen awakens from meditation to find himself reincarnated as a detective on Denver’s Colfax Avenue. Immediately he realizes that once again he has been reborn into the Hell Realm—this time charged with finding insurance man Sonny Heller’s killer. Rinzen believes finding Heller’s killer will lead to the Sacred Dorje, which has eluded the lama for many lifetimes.
By finding the Dorje, he will become a bodhisattva, allowing him to lead all sentient beings to Nirvana. But should the Dorje escape his grasp, Rinzen will be forced to suffer yet another lifetime in Hell, haunted by past demons and his failure to achieve enlightenment.
By finding the Dorje, he will become a bodhisattva, allowing him to lead all sentient beings to Nirvana. But should the Dorje escape his grasp, Rinzen will be forced to suffer yet another lifetime in Hell, haunted by past demons and his failure to achieve enlightenment.
332 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 29, 2018
About the author
Jim Ringel
4 books106 followersJim Ringel writes the Lama Rinzen mysteries—a series of crime mysteries wrapped inside Buddhist mysteries.
Jim practices Zen, skis, hikes, bikes, and visits brew pubs throughout Colorado seeking out the Buddha in everyday life.
For more information please visit www.jimringel.com
Jim practices Zen, skis, hikes, bikes, and visits brew pubs throughout Colorado seeking out the Buddha in everyday life.
For more information please visit www.jimringel.com
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
December 27, 2020
You don't need to know much at all about Buddhism or Denver to enjoy this fascinating tale of the lama who was reborn as a detective on a quest to bring us all enlightenment. A fun read for this crime fiction fan.
October 10, 2026
Jim Ringel’s 49 Buddhas: Lama Rinzen in the Hell Realm offers an unusual premise that brings together reincarnation, Buddhist spirituality, murder investigation, and the enduring pursuit of enlightenment. At its center is Lama Rinzen, who awakens from meditation to discover that he has been reborn as a detective on Denver’s Colfax Avenue. His new life places him once again in the Hell Realm, where he must investigate the murder of insurance man Sonny Heller.
For Rinzen, however, solving the case means much more than identifying a killer. He believes the investigation will lead him to the Sacred Dorje, an elusive object he has pursued across multiple lifetimes. Finding it could allow him to become a bodhisattva and fulfill his profound aspiration to guide all sentient beings toward Nirvana. Failure, on the other hand, threatens to condemn him to another lifetime of suffering, haunted by past demons and the weight of an unfinished spiritual journey.
This premise gives the novel an intriguing dual purpose. On the surface, it offers the structure of a detective mystery, with a murder to solve and a valuable object to find. Beneath that investigation lies a much larger spiritual struggle involving karma, repeated rebirth, personal failure, and the possibility of liberation. The contrast between Denver’s recognizable urban setting and Rinzen’s extraordinary metaphysical circumstances creates an especially distinctive foundation for the story.
The novel’s central conflict also raises engaging questions about the relationship between worldly pursuits and spiritual aspirations. Can Rinzen use his new identity and investigative skills to move closer to enlightenment, or will the familiar obstacles of the Hell Realm once again prevent him from fulfilling his purpose?
Readers interested in spiritual fiction, Buddhist concepts, reincarnation, and mysteries with an unconventional premise may find this an appealing combination. 49 Buddhas: Lama Rinzen in the Hell Realm stands out for connecting a murder investigation to a quest that reaches far beyond the immediate case, making the search for the Sacred Dorje a matter of both mystery and spiritual destiny.
For Rinzen, however, solving the case means much more than identifying a killer. He believes the investigation will lead him to the Sacred Dorje, an elusive object he has pursued across multiple lifetimes. Finding it could allow him to become a bodhisattva and fulfill his profound aspiration to guide all sentient beings toward Nirvana. Failure, on the other hand, threatens to condemn him to another lifetime of suffering, haunted by past demons and the weight of an unfinished spiritual journey.
This premise gives the novel an intriguing dual purpose. On the surface, it offers the structure of a detective mystery, with a murder to solve and a valuable object to find. Beneath that investigation lies a much larger spiritual struggle involving karma, repeated rebirth, personal failure, and the possibility of liberation. The contrast between Denver’s recognizable urban setting and Rinzen’s extraordinary metaphysical circumstances creates an especially distinctive foundation for the story.
The novel’s central conflict also raises engaging questions about the relationship between worldly pursuits and spiritual aspirations. Can Rinzen use his new identity and investigative skills to move closer to enlightenment, or will the familiar obstacles of the Hell Realm once again prevent him from fulfilling his purpose?
Readers interested in spiritual fiction, Buddhist concepts, reincarnation, and mysteries with an unconventional premise may find this an appealing combination. 49 Buddhas: Lama Rinzen in the Hell Realm stands out for connecting a murder investigation to a quest that reaches far beyond the immediate case, making the search for the Sacred Dorje a matter of both mystery and spiritual destiny.
December 11, 2021
The Path meets noir
A mixture of Tibetan Buddhism, mystery, and a healthy dose of social commentary. Set in a Colorado winter. As a practicing Buddhist, I found the story and social commentary interesting but the mystery felt unfinished.
A mixture of Tibetan Buddhism, mystery, and a healthy dose of social commentary. Set in a Colorado winter. As a practicing Buddhist, I found the story and social commentary interesting but the mystery felt unfinished.
October 8, 2020
Uninspired
A Buddhist lama approaches a hot dog vendor and says 'make me one with everything' to the sound of one hand clapping
A Buddhist lama approaches a hot dog vendor and says 'make me one with everything' to the sound of one hand clapping
November 30, 2025
Underwhelming
I really wanted to like this book but it's wandering storyline didn't do it for me. It was scattered and hard to follow
I really wanted to like this book but it's wandering storyline didn't do it for me. It was scattered and hard to follow
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews