5 comments about The Wishing Year: A House, a Man, My Soul A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire.

1. There's a lot going for this book, and a lot gone wrong. One gets the sense here of an author interested in wishing and desire, an academic whose editor said, "Noelle, nobody will read it like this. Rewrite it as ~Eat, Pray, Love~!" since memoir sells a lot better than academic treatises these days. This book invites comparisons to Eat, Pray, Love: One Woman's Search for Everything Across Italy, India and Indonesia, but they are vastly different in tone, revelation, and outcome.
   
   The first part of the book is contrived, as if the author constructed a selective past to support the thesis, working toward a breakthrough revelation and transformation at the end: see, I couldn't wish, I couldn't accept happiness, my gold coins turned to mud under my pillow, but now I have what I asked for!
   
   And yet, for a reader like myself (the target audience, I assume), it's excruciating to follow such a sad trajectory. This could be me. In slightly different circumstances, this has been me, living on "liquids and canned peaches" for months after a slaughtering heartbreak.
   
   The author enjoys research and facts and the academic life, and those are her strong suits. She shines when she's making historical and literary connections, working her fast-moving mind and researching answers. The thick-skinned self-revelation necessary for convincing memoir, however, is notably lacking.
   
   ~Eat, Pray, Love~was breezy, self-deprecating, and funny, while this book takes itself quite seriously and, worse, is uncomfortable with significant personal revelation. I hope this book doesn't hurt the author more than it helps. She starts and ends with sensitive vulnerability and often meets her helpers when she is crying or otherwise in public emotional distress.
   
   Some of the most interesting questions raised are left frustratingly unanswered. In a Book of Days format, each chapter a month in the wishing year, the author describes the trajectory of her experiment, from doubt to testing to fulfillment. But those questions become the elephant in the living room. What was the story of the now-defunct spiritual community? She describes the unraveling of her spiritual group in half a dozen deliberately vague and short sentences. Similarly, in a prefatory note, she explains that she overexposed her daughter in a previous book and has agreed to mention her only in passing in this one; again, an important character noticeably missing.
   
   As a reluctant memoirist, she does not reveal the most essential things. Here's a mother who won't write about her daughter, a professor who doesn't write about her work, a spiritual seeker wounded by an undescribed cult - this certainly isn't Elizabeth Gilbert's year off.
   
   I don't blame her, but perhaps memoir is not her best medium. Elizabeth Gilbert made the reader believe that she wasn't withholding anything essential, that the details of her messy divorce were just boring mind chatter, but in The Wishing Year: A House, a Man, My Soul A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire, the intensity behind those secrets sinks the authenticity of the rest of the book, especially since one of the three wishes - the most noble, the most devastating, the wish for spiritual healing - goes unanswered, and the lack of answer glossed over, or perhaps not noticed. (Sitting in an empty temple for an afternoon doth not constitute spiritual healing, and the book itself confirms that.)



2. The Wishing Year:A House, a Man, My soul: A Memoir of Fulfilled Desire absolutedly delighted me. I am Noelle Oxenhandler's target audience. Filled with my own spiritual misgivings about the rightness (not the efficacy) of wishing, this book spoke to me. It wasn't the question of whether it was possible to change the course of the universe by wishing, but what would I become if I started believing in the power of wishing. How flaky, how new age! I've always backed away from this sort of attempt to manipulate the course of events (even if I could be convinced it were possible), but Noelle took me on a journey that surprised even me--that the act of wishing may not change events, but it can change us. And, yes, I did once make a very serious wish for the kind of man to appear in my life and not a month later he appeared--cleaving to my wish in every detail. I didn't become a believer in wishing, but I did realize that until I'd made that wish, I'd no idea what sort of man I wanted. From then on, I did start to try to understand my desires (which are not the same as wishes). And, I'm actually glad Noelle didn't wallow too much and let the book get icky, as so many memoirs do. I liked her restraint, her sense of humor, her intelligence and her courage.



3. "The Wishing Year," by Noelle Oxenhandler, is the kind of book that I am always wishing for--absorbing and lovely to read, and at the same time provocative and intellectually engaging. Along the lines of literary non-fiction like Jonathan Franzen's "How to Be Alone" and Rebecca Solnit's "A Fieldguide to Getting Lost," this memoir stages the existential predicament of how to approach one's own longings and ambitions, with grace and authenticity, while also acknowledging the pressures and realities of our consumer-based society. The comedic pace of the narrative is note-on, populated with wide-ranging geographical adventures, winsome characters, and deeply funny everyday moments. Waking up one January morning, Oxenhandler confronts several absences in her life and decides to embark upon a yearlong quest for very specific objects. Halfway through the book, she refers to her quest as an "experiment in desire," and this phrase seems to embody the underlying ambition of the book itself--to enter into the terrifying quandaries that genuine passion brings with it, while at the same time relishing the wonderful angst, even dread, of wishing. Oxenhandler's experiment gives rise to profound and timeless questions: what do our desires reveal about ourselves? Is it possible to seek spiritual wholeness, or romance, or even financial prosperity, and still retain skepticism towards superficial success, pop psychology, and ego-based desires? Like books by Franzen and Solnit, Oxenhandler's memoir demonstrates what, in my experience, the best kinds of texts ask of their reader--to share in the spiritually intense comedy of human life and to take real risks in the questions that we pose and the desires that we wish for.



4. In this wonderful book, The Wishing Year, Noelle Oxenhandler leads readers on an engaging and enlightening journey through her yearlong experiment with wishing. Oxenhandler is not one to easily embrace New Age ideas or magical thinking, and wishing does not come naturally to her. In order to begin making shrines and sending messages to the universe about what she most wants in her life, Oxenhandler must confront what she calls her "skeptical bent and...tilt toward a certain pessimistic melancholy," along with a Jewish-Catholic upbringing and many years as a practicing Buddhist. But as she begins her first tentative steps toward manifesting three deep desires -- to buy a house of her own, to find a man to love, and to gain spiritual healing -- and the universe starts sending pieces of those desires her way, she is hooked.
   
   Oxenhandler is remarkably well read, and she gracefully weaves myth, religion, anthropology, and psychology into the story of her own experiences. Equally at home with Zen Buddhist principles, the philosophy of magic, and the archetypal meaning of Aunt Jemima, Oxenhandler draws readers along on an inner and outer voyage whose landscape includes her own resistance and bouts of despair, the hot springs of Northern California, and healing encounters in Hawaii, Mexico and France.
   
   I found Oxenhandler's writing beautifully lyrical, filled with passages of luminous intelligence and moments of impish humor. Her story made me think about my own travels away from skepticism, which began 22 years ago when I left the East Coast -- where I'd spent many years studying philosophy in Ivy League universities -- to settle in Northern California, where the world seemed so much wider and filled with so many more possibilities than I'd previously imagined. After finishing Oxenhandler's book, though, I can tell I haven't ranged far enough. I think I may need to go out and buy some joint compound and balsa wood, to start building a few shrines of my own!
   
   One caveat: I suspect that some readers may wish for a deeper level of personal revelation, may want to know the gory details behind crises that Oxenhandler refers to almost in passing -- the ending of her marriage or the collapse of her spiritual community that bring the author to the book's jumping off point. On my reading, the book is not about what brought her there, but about the journey she makes from that point on. The story begins when Oxenhandler becomes ready to suspend disbelief and give herself over to the project of wishing for her heart's desire. And that is where the gifts of this lovely book lie -- in the story of how your life can change, once you let yourself believe that just maybe, wishing can make it so.



5. Jump in and meet Oxenhandler's unique friends while she excavates the power of wishing. Follow her across oceans and into the past and see how her logic (applied to a broad and deep exploration of the role of wishing over centuries) creates a wonderful counterpoint to her precise point of view and wry humor. Masterful and engaging, this book is much more than a light summer read. Questions arise we all seek to answer, and in the end answers appear that create an opening that may not have been affected through any other means. Bravo to Oxenhandler, I recommend this book to all thinking readers and have sent it to many friends.

5 comments about Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill.

1. I think a lot of the other reviews clearly explain why this is a wonderful book. It definitely has added a lot of perspective to my outlook on things. I believe as Ricard explains, that tweaks to the way we think and our attitude will definitely foster happier thoughts in our minds. There are some very memorable thoughts from this book - the one I liked most was the fact that happiness can never be based on external circumstances for they are fleeting. A loss of a loved one or a job can plunge a man from happiness to despair and darkness in an instant. If like Ricard, you believe that happiness can be a permanent state of mind, it has to be on the inside and all ephemeral, external circumstances will flutter the mind like lines written on water.
   
   But there are limitations and not-so-great things about the book which could have been improved.
   
   - Too much quoting philosophers and famous people
   Almost every chapter is filled with various philosopher's take on things like happiness, emotions etc. I was more interested in Ricard's own experience and his Gurus' opinions (which were also there at places) rather than a big collection of differing thoughts of other philosophers.
   
   - Lack of explanation on 'how to do'
   There is a clear lack of explanation of how to deal practically with the issues Ricard brings up. His theory that negative thoughts like hatred need antidotes like patience is great, but there is not much detail on how to cultivate them. Ricard says the solution is meditation, but how and what to exactly meditate on is short in content.
   A recurring theme is that when say, you are very angry, look at the anger itself without attaching it to the target of the anger and meditate, and it will melt away. Look at the emotion itself without the object it is related to and it will melt away like 'snow under the sun'.
   It sounds good to read but I find it tough to implement. While one is meditating, how is it possible to 'look' at something without giving it an image or a mental picture? How to 'look' at an abstract entity is mentioned nowhere in the book. Maybe it comes naturally to advanced spiritual practitioners, but for a layman like me, I need more explanation on how to do these things than just a vague paragraph and impressive metaphors.
   
   In spite of these limitations, I found it an enlightening book to read.



2. This is just a footnote to the other reviews, especially the one that wants more of the "how" to implement the author's suggestions.
   Ricard is one of the finest students of one of the finest teachers of the Tibetan tradition as is, for example, the very popular author Pema Chödrön.
   Chödrön's books and "Happiness" by Ricard share the same characteristic: they make great inspirational reading BUT in the absence of a regular meditative discipline they remain only that.
   There is a great abundance of excellent books (which by the way are not enough on their own), and there are even quite a lot of excellent teachers, who can guide one with regard to that regular practice.
   Of course what "practice" is is something that must be investigated by you yourself. The many exercises found throughout Ricard's book, if assiduously undertaken, are material enough for a thorough familiarization with practice as I understand it.
   I wish you the very best in your quest,
   Richard Wrigley.



3. This book has been written by the world's happiest person. Neuroscientists have conducted various tests on thousands of people including the author and have come to the conclusion based on scientific proof. It is therefore necessary to keep that piece of information at the back of your mind when you read the book.
   
   Every word in the book comes out loud and clear as having been created by a truly happy and contented person.
   
   Simply by reading the book and following some of the exercises that the author suggests, you can transform yourself from a tense and neurotic being into a joyful, stress free person.
   
   Though the author is a Buddhist monk, this book is not about Buddhism nor does it attempt to convert one to that religion. This is a practical, down to earth method to learn to be happy.



4. Happiness: A Guide to Developing Life's Most Important Skill
   
   This is the best book I have ever read on the subject of happiness. A real treasure.
   Happiness is not a mystery but a possible goal for anyone who seriously wants to become a happier and better person. If you love science, literature and culture, Matthieu Ricard is the right guru for you.
   A must read for everyone who loved his book "The Monk and the Philosopher".
   A book you won't ever part with for you'll want to read in it again and again.
   
   Inge Hohndorf



5. I've got to admit that the writing is so deep that sometimes I have to only read a couple of pages and then take a break. But don't let that deter you. Within 1 or 2 chapters I was feeling happier than I think I ever have. And this from a mildly chronically depressed person.
   
   It does rely heavily on Buddhism but it IS a Buddhist writing it )). For the ultra religious, don't worry. He does not shove his beliefs down your throat. It is just his examples are from his life so that are flavored that way.
   
   I would recommend this book to anyone interested i attaining happiness.

5 comments about Big Mind - Big Heart: Finding Your Way.

1. There are many Zen and Spirtual books out there and this one used with the "Big Mind/Big Heart Revealed" video is one of the most dramatic processe to have an actual Transcendent experience that I have had. There are many Life Changing books out there that do not give you a method to have the actual experience of going beyond your dualistic look on life.
   
   My wife and I are very "skeptical" on the promises that other books have made and we where given a way to have the experince that we have had briefly while Meditating for over 10 years.
   
   For those who are looking for another no subtance "Life of the Budda" book this is not it... If you are lookinf for a absolutely dramatic feeling of your soul then read the book and use the video.



2. I have practiced the Big Mind approach and the Four Directions by Sensei Anthony Stultz-both of them helped me to penetrate beneath the deep layers of negative conditioning that have plagued me for most of my life. Deep bows to both of them. I would also recommend Cheri Huber and Ezra Bayda.



3. A truth-seeker myself and meditator for most of my adult life, I found this book very interesting in the way that it gives me, as a western reader, the opportunity to reap the benefits of both Eastern Religion/Philosophy and Western Psychology, blended skillfully into the so-called Big Mind/Big heart Process, showing me "easy" access to non-dual concepts, like "Buddha", or "God", for this matter, that are given voice, in other words are owned that way, much faster than with traditional methods like meditation or devotional practice.
   
   In my opinion, the "West", with all it's "High-wire" is craving for this kind of innovation, this kind of exciting, interactive and straightforward method, described here as a way of choosing to become a decent "Human Being", with all its flaws and shadows ,yet in touch with its boundless Nature..
   
   Genpo Roshi is clearly a courageous Zen-master, I think, to write a book like this, presenting a revolutionary process for finding "One's Way" in life, in both Capital and in "Kitchen-sink" -sense, in a way that is appealing and suitable for "Westerners", like myself..
   
   The book found its way to Holland ,where I live,(so please pardon my English..)and is already translated into Dutch and thus helps to raise the consciousness (and happiness,why not..) of the ever so stubborn Low-landers..Thank you, Genpo Roshi !



4. Above all this book presents a process. A process for becoming more aware of aspects of oneself. The process is one of callling forth and giving voice to aspects of oneself (An approach going back at least to Fritz Perls and developed by Hal and Idra Stone with whom Genpo Roshi worked directly). By callling forth different aspects, in the sequence in which he does, he suceeds in calling forth aspects which transcend our normal view of ourselves: Aspects such as Big Mind and Big Heart, among others. These are aspects of ourselves which view existance in a non-dual way, beyond the duality of consciousness and the objects of consciousness. And finally he calls forth the voices of the individual human being who integrates all these aspects.
   
   The method is obviously not traditional zen, but the realizations it facilitates purport to be the same as those to which one comes through more traditional methods.
   
   The value of the book is in this: Just in the reading (or listening to) the process and doing it, by giving voice to these aspects in onself as they are called forth, one can indeed get a glimpse of these different viewpoints as aspects of oneself that are already there. By itself that is an important realization and provides a very usefull tool for further exploration. But as Gempo himself says, this glimpse needs to be deepened and stabilized by more work with the Big Mind process and also by more traditional work.



5. I've been looking, ever since a teenager, when I (like many others) had spontaneous spiritual experiences. How to have such states of consciousness on purpose -- has been a driving question for me.
   
   As a result, I've accumulated many processes.
   
   The Big Mind, Big Heart process taught in this book & CD is among the easiest I've seen...it's so simple and easy - by hindsight. The CD talks us through the process - I found this very helpful.
   
   If you're looking for a modern, easier way to experience enlightenment...this is probably the easiest and best you'll find. Try it out; be reasonably receptive -- have the experience for yourself...few books are this good!

5 comments about If the Buddha Dated: A Handbook for Finding Love on a Spiritual Path.

1. Someone recommended this book to me nearly 10 years ago when I was at a cross-roads, in between relationships and grasping desperately for a lasting love that proved elusive given my circumstances. Pre-Amazon, it took me a long time to find a volume, finally locating one in a Boulder, CO area bookstore during a cross-country road trip.
   
   At that time in my life, this book helped me immensely, first in accepting and finding joy in my solitude and my friendships, by no longer grasping for or chasing after immediate and elusive romantic love but instead cultivating self-acceptance and self-knowledge and a satisfaction with living in the present moment.
   
   It was years before I met the man who would become my husband, but in those years, I was able to become the grown-up person I needed to be and was a better person for it, and when I met my husband, my relationship with him evolved naturally and undramatically toward a lasting real love.
   
   I can't even count the times I have purchased and given away this book. I even gave a copy to a friend who was having problems with his business partnership (not even a dating situation-- but certainly good for resolving problems in that particular relationship).
   
   It is not strictly a Buddhist book. People who are looking to read about the Buddhist philosophy or practice rather than finding dating advice should probably avoid this as they will be disappointed. Read books by Thich Nach Hahn or the Dalai Lama for a more pure Buddhist understanding.
   
   This is really a dating/relationship book, but it borrows from the Buddhist teaching of detachment NOT by asking you to detach from those you love, but rather teaching how to detach yourself from an unhealthy habit of grasping desperately for those who are not really available to you romantically or emotionally.



2. There isn't enough rating stars available for me to rate this book in my opinion. I first read this book on a recommendation from a young male co-worker. I bought my own copy and reread it at a staggered pace. I read until something hit home and then I would dwell on it's contents as it pertained to my life until I had disected it to pieces. When I came to the full realization I continued on until I was hit again. This one book has affected me more than any book I have read in my entire life. When I read it I didn't associate it with a partner but with life itself. I can't begin to use enough adjectives to describe this book. Excellent material!!!



3. The last review before this one completely missed the wisdom of this book, which I find sad. This book is quite simply the best book I've EVER read on the topic of dating and relationships. Charlotte Kasl starts with the 4 noble truths of buddhism as her premise. From there, she explains in a very in-depth manner how to apply these concepts to your life to find wholeness within yourself, see the ways that you have deceived yourself, and understand the ways that you have allowed yourself to be guided by fear instead of love.
   
   Additionally, the book defines the 9 fundamental ways in which people bond, from most superficial to most substantial. The book has specific exercises which help you to deduce precisely what is most important to you in a partner on each of these levels, and the results may surprise you. Overall, this is one of the best 4 books I've ever read - and it is a must-read.



4. More than just a handbook for finding love, this book provides wisdom for finding life on a spiritual path. Each bite-sized chapter provides Buddhist-centered but universally-applicable guidance for discovering how to fully love--and live. General Buddhist concepts such as non-attachment, impermanence, acceptance, and living in the moment are gracefully woven into specific guidelines for finding and nurturing relationships. This book helps illuminate how the compass found within each of us can be our best guide for navigating the journey on our spiritual paths.



5. Arrived on time, in the condition promised. I have not read it yet so no review on that but it was reccomended by someone who read it and loved it.

5 comments about True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart.

1. Thich Nhat Hanh is so incredibly insightful, and really conveys his wisdom here with few words.
   
   A short, uplifting book that changes my attitude and helps me to understand true love whenever I pick it up... which is often.



2. We all 'look for love in all the wrong places'. This book brings us home to the real thing.



3. The copyright of this book is 1997. Eckart Tolle's book "A New Earth" came out in 2005... 8 years later. This book is like the pocket book for "A New Earth". Eckart Tolle goes into greater dept in his book on the same topics that are mentioned in Thick Nhat Hanh's book. "True Love" gets right to the heart of awakening the heart. I especially enjoyed the chapters on The Energy of Mindfulness, Caring our Pain (the pain-body Tolle talks about), Telephone Meditation and Getting Rid of Our Concepts (egos). A small but powerful little book. Highly recommended.



4. This is the heart and soul of Thich Nhat Hahn. Every family ought to have one of these in the bookshelf next to the Bible, I Ching..., whatever is there. Great gift for anyone you love or want to help.



5. I just finished reading Thich Nhat Hanh's "True Love: A Practice for Awakening the Heart." This little 100 page meditation simply changed my perspective on many things.
   
   Talking about a powerful read on how to show and demonstrate love in your life. It all comes back to mindful presence, being there, not just in body, but in full absolute awareness. A true demonstration of love is not monetary or even a gesture but the action of being truly present.
   
   The book really helped me see things differently. If my soul was a gorgeous red onion, and the sweet, yet spicy heart was my true essence, then True Love peeled away a couple of layers to help me see things better. And it put the way I care for others into a perspective, some of which I really didn't want to see. I think the book made me a better person.
   
   There many fantastic meditations, which get your mind to calm itself and focus on true love. It focuses on making oneself loving in your actions towards wife/husband, etc., rather than other-centric love. Though Buddhist at its heart, one of the things that makes Hanh so accessible is his ability to tie his meditation and theory back to Christian theology. In essence, he knows his reader is Western and caters to us.
   
   The book begins with the four aspects of love, which Hanh describes as:
   1) Maitri: Loving kindness
   2) Karuna: Sympathy, or the ability to ease others pain
   3) Mudita: Joyful loving
   4) Upeksha: Freedom through love
   
   Really, quite a good book if spirituality and/or matters of the heart are important to you.

5 comments about Dancing with Life: Buddhist Insights for Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering.

1. This book is a practical guide for using the principles of Buddhism in dealing with the issues in everyday life. Being a recent follower of Buddhism, I found it the first book that presented to me easily understandable and concrete steps to use in my life.



2. Why do you suffer? Is there a purpose to your pain? These questions come up for all of us at some time, as they did for the Buddha 2,500 years ago. In his wisdom, he developed a way through suffering, which he called the Four Noble Truths, and he left us the Twelve Insights to guide us through them.
   
   Using examples from his own life and those of his students, and the step-by-step process of the Twelve Insights, Phillip Moffitt shows us how we can walk through our suffering to a path of joy. First we learn to embrace suffering through the First Noble Truth. In the Second Noble Truth, we learn there is a way to stop clinging. The Third Noble Truth shows us cessation of suffering is possible. And the Fourth Noble Truth offers us the Noble Eightfold Path to happiness.
   
   Pain and suffering come to all of us, and at times can feel overwhelming. But Moffitt gives us clear and compelling reasons to believe that these Twelve Insights are the way to handle suffering and create a life filled with joy. Though at times the path won't be easy, there is hope that we can learn to live with our pain and still enjoy our dance with life.
   
   A profoundly spiritual book, Dancing With Life is a must-read for all those who want to find deeper meaning in life.
   
   Reviewer: Alice Berger, Bergers Book Reviews



3. Most of the Dharma books that I've read fall into two categories: lightweight new-age fluff or heavily-footnoted scholarship. This book avoids both extremes. It's very compactly written, with no apparent filler. (If anything, I think he is too brief in touching on some important points.) I find the title of the book to be a bit unfortunate, but it's actually appropriate to the subject matter.
   
   The book is structured around the Four Noble Truths, and as a long-time Buddhist (with a strong predilection for scholarly detail) I thought that it couldn't teach me anything new. It did, though, and on a number of levels. You might think you know all about the 4NT, but this version from the Samyutta Nikaya really adds a new dimension, and is directly applicable to one's practice.
   
   In short, I give this book a pretty-much unqualified rave. A few stylistic weaknesses and an overuse of italics, but in content it's deeply inspiring and immediately useful.



4. Moffitt's book is a gem: it is a handbook to help us develop and hone our skills so that we respond to our suffering in a way whereby we are not defined by it. The book--an explication of the Four Noble Truths, which is the Buddha's primary teaching--is well organized, full of examples from Moffitt's life and the lives of his students, and is eminently readable, His style is lucid and alive, and his book is a treasure to savor. I highly recommend this book to anyone whether or not they are familiar with the Buddha's teachings.



5. Written by a man who walked away from his position as CEO & Editor in Chief of Esquire Magazine, this treatise is the real thing! Given his command of knowledge in all matters literary, what could have been another cerebral exercise is in fact a work of heart.
   
   Two days ago, I encountered Phillip walking down a rural road at sunset. In silence, we passed one another. Although, I don't really know this man, there existed in that moment an implicit recognition of mutual presence and purpose. When our gaze met and held, I found there... joy, a radiance, peace. No kidding.
   
   Having just finished my read of "Dancing with Life", I thought, "here is an author, a teacher... who literally 'walks his talk' ".
   
   The book is like that--filled with easily understood and accessible content, literary references, stories, metaphor, and allegory. He skillfully integrates case examples from the lives of his students, and wisdom gleaned from years of study in the original Buddhist texts. Backed by his very real practice and lived experience, the content comes alive in one's heart, and is not easily forgotten.
   
   A central theme encourages the reader not to rely on conceptual teachings of the Four Noble Truths; rather, to intentionally pursue a 'lived" or "felt experience" of the insights through the practice of mindful meditation. Ultimately, the possibilities are limitless.... to fully embrace all of life at T.S. Eliot's dynamic "still point" is readily available... that place where suffering and joy passionately tango together in the dance of life. A highly recommended read!

5 comments about The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness.

1. Your thoughts are not you. That simple, that profound. Enjoy this book and enjoy your life.



2. A great tour through mindfulness meditation's efficacy on living well, the power of neuroplasticity, and a monk's personal struggle with anxiety.



3. Having come from much personal trauma, anxiety, panic, depression, and physical ailments, but also being of a skeptical scientific mind, I began searching philosophy for something that would answer pressing issues in my life. Being depressed about that state of my health, my past and my life in general, I picked up the book without much expectation, almost sure that I would be disappointed. I was very wrong. Instead, this book, in a brilliantly simple way, changed my life profoundly, by giving me the root answers to my problems and the tools to manage these issues. Learning about the author's own anxiety was uplifting to me as I identified. I'm not fully recovered, but I am much more advanced than I have ever been. This book put me on that path.



4. I listened to The Joy of Living as an audiobook, and have re-listened to it several times. The links that the authors made with neuroscience and to everyday life put the ancient Buddhist wisdom of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche in the context our modern world in a way that I found immensely understandable, profound, and, yes, joyful! I am deeply grateful to Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche and Eric Swanson for providing these great teachings, and sharing their insights as they relate to current science and life. The skillful narration also contributes to the integrity of the work. - It felt as though the authors were speaking directly through Jason Scott Campbell. I know I will listen to it many more times.



5. This is one of two books I highly recommend for anyone interested in basic Buddhist principles communicated in a Western way. His kindness and sense of humor come through the pages. I don't know of a single person who has not found this book an pleasant reminder of why we are here in the first place.

5 comments about Gardening at the Dragon's Gate: At Work in the Wild and Cultivated World.

1. This book springs from rich earth. It digs into an era through the gardening and Buddhist practice of Wendy Johnson. It's so detailed and beautifully blended that, after a session of reading, I would marvel at the mere undertaking of writing this part-gardening, part-spiritual-journey and part-history of the times memoir. A real joy to be relished slowly.



2. Just a great book I felt I was walking in the garden with her. You just have to read this one.



3. This book is simply amazing, I could not wait for next time I could get into bed with it and a cup of tea and follow along with Wendy Johnson on her rich path of discovery through the garden and through life as a Zen person. The writing has a few too many words at times, but the fact that this was simultaneously a how-to book on gardening and a spiritual memoir full of deep Zen teachings makes it something very special. Wendy Johnson shows herself to be the real deal here, willing to take chances with her life and willing to get her hands dirty for the benefit of others and for the benefit of the planet.



4. This beautifully written book is full of wisdom and good information. It is an inspiring work that has had me smiling as I read and looking forward to getting my hands dirty in the garden.



5. This is more than a book about gardening. It is almost like reading poetry. For those of us who want to enjoy the language as much as the content, this books is most satisfying.

5 comments about Buddhism for Mothers: A Calm Approach to Caring for Yourself and Your Children.

1. I have read a few books on Buddhism and this is the first book to acknowledge the unique role that many women have taken on. Practicing Buddhism and raising a three year old son can at times be challenging (well maybe all the time!) and this point is recognized throughout the entire book. I highly recommend this book for anyone, moms or dads, who is interested in a realistic approach to practicing Buddhism and raising a family.



2. I loved this book, it was really beautifully written, Sarah has a lovely style of writing. Her own personal stories were my favourite parts of the book but this book is much more about how to enrich our everyday lives with buddhism. The principles are outlined simply and applied to the painfully banal trials of parenting with compassion and humour. Forget any religious leanings, I recommend this book to all mothers.



3. I am not a Buddhist, although there is much about the religion that I think can help us in everyday life. I picked up this book more for the tips on parenting than to learn more about Buddhism. For this reason I only skimmed through the initial and final chapters which are more about Buddhism, and concentrated on the segments in the middle.
   
   What I particularly like about this book is that is very upfront about how difficult and lonely parenting can sometimes feel. Sarah Napthali (and the other women whom she quotes) are very frank about the times when they've been angry with their children or partners, when they've felt depressed or anxious or when they just fail to enjoy parenting as much as they'd like to. It's clear that being a Buddhist doesn't mean that you never feel these difficult emotions, just that you work on not giving in to them. Because this book is written in such an unjudgemental and empathetic way, I found it very inspiring. I think this should be required reading for every mother!
   
   My only critique really is that the book is too topline. Although Napthali does give a handy list of techniques to help you parent in a more calm way, I found that some of them were more headlines than how to-s. The book also includes a chapters on topics like concerns about ageing and relationships with your partner and while these were interesting I would have preferred her to spend more time on parenting issues.
   
   Nevertheless, it's a fabulous book to keep on your bedside table. I liked to read a few pages and reflect back at the end of the day.



4. Buddism for Mothers is fantastic for keeping you grounded. Its honesty is refreshing as it feels like I am talking to a girlfriend. We can all relate to the bad days and not handling situations as well as we should have. Buddism for Mothers has lifted my spirit, given me courage to keep going when I thought I couldn't and confirmed that I am a good person doing the best I can in a difficult job. I have recommended this book to older women, friends with kids and to a friend that doesn't have children yet. The advice is practical, helpful,insightful and empowering.



5. Wow! At last! Someone finally has the guts to tell all. Being a foreigner in the USA, I often find that women are very socially conditioned, they too often do not speak their mind, but instead stick to revealing only that which is socially acceptable. Very frustrating! The minute I opened this book, I felt one with Sarah. In such a gentle yet wise way she is so open about her shortcomings, feelings and experiences - it was as if I myself were writing this book. Amazing! And for anyone looking to explore Buddhism, this is such an informative non-lecturing gentle approach. I would recommend this book to any mother, regardless of religion or faith. It is the most compelling motherhood and mothering book I have ever bought and am already ordering copies for others that I know!

5 comments about Buddha: A Story of Enlightenment.

1. Most of Chopra's work is an entertaining novel of Gautama's early life. The last two or three chapters--which I found the most informative--delve more deeply into the tenets of Buddhism. Although I'm neither a mystic nor even a dabbler in Eastern religions, I am fascinated by the way others view the world.
   
   To my way of thinking, shedding of the material world is impossible as long as we're alive. Attempting to do so, in that it is doomed to failure, is therefore...foolish. On the other hand, under certain circumstances, and in very limited ways, it can be approximated. I am reminded of T.E. Lawrence of "Lawrence of Arabia" fame who had a simple trick. He would hold a flaming match to his hand and wouldn't flinch. When asked, "Doesn't it hurt?" He replied, "Of course it hurts but...the difference between you and me is that I don't care if it hurts." Try it the next time you go to your dentist and maybe you'll find that Lawrence, and almost certainly Buddha, were on to something.
   
   Maybe some of you all have read the last stanza's of Poe's "El Dorado". I'll paraphrase:
   "When his strength
   Failed him at length,
   He met a pilgrim's shadow.
   "Shade," said he.
   Where can it be,
   this land of El Dorado?"
   
   "Over the Mountains of the Moon
   through the Valley of the Shadow.
   "Ride, boldly ride,"
   the Shade replied,
   "If you seek for El Dorado."
   
   Lord Buddha wouldn't have agreed.
   
   Ron Braithwaite, author of novels--"Skull Rack" and "Hummingbird God"--on the Spanish Conquest of Mexico



2. That quote from Wayne Dyer is a not surprising huge bit of hyperbole. These guys love to review each others books, don't they. Quite the marketing ploy.
   
   The unfortunate dilemma for this nice little story is that it will inevitably be compared to a real "timeless classic", Siddhartha by Herman Hesse. Read that one folks, it is the real deal. Hesse was a contemporary of and a patient as well of Carl Jung's...would like to have been a fly on the wall for those sessions. I read that book many years ago and it just lingers in my unconscious mind. Chopra's "Buddha" can't hold a candle to it. Sorry Deepak groupies, I call em as I see em.



3. This is a very enjoyable account the the life of the Buddha. Even if you are not a Buddhist, I highly recommend this book.



4. I give it two stars, instead of one, because of my respect for Deepak. His non-fiction books have been an inspiration to a countless number of people on this planet.
   This book, however, reads like a B-grad teen/pre-teen novel. It leans more on fantasy details about 'The Adventures of Buddha' than on the more essential insight that would inspire many to buy the book in the first place. Even if you choose to read the book, in spite of it all, the storyline breaks up or changes scenes quite often, which left me with a sense of frustration.
   I got to page 222 - out of a feeling of guilt, for being disappointed in a fictional book about Buddhism by a famous author - but common sense now tells me to stop, drop it off at the second-hand store, and find a better book.
   The intention of Deepak was good, but the content falls very short.
   Still...Namaste!



5. This book reads like a travel guide through portions of the life that the Buddha experienced. With a little imagination, one can experience his pain, joy, wisdom and enlightenment at the same time. It's a valuable look for many of us Westerners who know there's something we may be missing in the Spiritual world.