The Blue Dolphin: A Parable

Boji is the hero of this enthralling fictional account of the life of an exceptional bottlenose dolphin. Based on current scientific understanding of dolphin capability, the author weaves a fascinating story of the life within the dolphin pod, their interactions with other pods and marine life, and the dangers posed to the dolphin by humanity.

Alive only because his pregnant mother has been rescued from tuna netting by a chance encounter with scuba divers, Boji is born with a strong imprint of humankind. His mother could not resist checking her rescuer with sonar, which had a strong impact on the unborn Boji. After his birth, Boji is raised in a pod of four adult females and two calves, learning conscious breathing, the language of the dolphins, and how to find food for himself. One day, his mothers pod meets with a pod of male dolphins and Boji meets his father. From Ananda he learns many new skills, including diving to great depths, surfing on waves, breaching, and tail walking. He also learns about the new energy and joy that is communicated during mating.

As Boji grows older, he comes to challenge himself to do more and go further than the other dolphins in his pod. He learns that by imitating the breathing of a sperm whale he can dive far deeper than any of his friends, or even his father. He begins to spend more and more time away from his pod, venturing into deeper water further away from the shore. The members of his pod do not approve of his adventuring, and one day, when he endangers their existence by his unorthodox behavior, he is given the choice of living life as a simple dolphin supporting the other members of the pod, or going off on his own. If being part of a pod meant he had to give up his greatest joythe quest arising out of his passion for learning and knowingthen his choice was clear. Boji becomes a lone dolphin driven by the love of learning and life, complete within himself, and determined to find his purpose.

Many exciting and moving adventures follow which serve as a metaphor for human existence. The topics of fear, setting boundaries, growth, learning, challenge, surrender, creativity, expansion, and all that is wonderful and meaningful in life (human and dolphin) are explored. The Blue Dolphin captures the reader from page one and does not let go until the book is reluctantly returned to the shelf.