5 comments about Instant Karma.

1. This book is one that I actually carry around with me almost everywhere. It's fun to read, and many of the suggestions inside actually are a great pick-me-up during the day. I like it's small size, and I also like how you don't have to read the suggestions for good karma in order if you don't want to.
   
   As far as to say if the book actually does bring good fortune is something that I can't really prove... but it really does make one feel good.



2. A collection of the simplest possible ideas for adding positive influence to your life and the lives of those around you. With few exceptions, the suggested actions in this book transcend religion and culture; they should raise little controversy and are beyond debate. If you find one you are uncomfortable with, turn the page. Open the book anywhere and find a gem of universal wisdom--simple everyday direction on living well on planet earth. If you're christian, buddhist, muslim, jewish, hindu or atheist, buy this and draw inspiration from it daily. Make the world a better place. HIGHLY recommended.



3. This has been the most uplifting little book I've put my hands on in years. So, great that I've purchased about 20 of these over the past 4 years to give as gifts for birthday, new job, new home, Christmas, etc. Every time I pick it up, I find something new and great to think about and share. You will surely find this a great little book with BIG uplifting appeal.



4. I read a couple of pages each day and try to implement a little goodness into my life and others. It's almost like a little reference to the good life for me. It's in list format and I LOVE lists! I highly recommend this little book.



5. I purchased it earlier today and so for I am in love with this book. This definitely looks like an EVERYDAY reference manual.

5 comments about The Way: Using the Wisdom of Kabbalah for Spiritual Transformation and Fulfillment.

1. 
   This is a very interesting book. I fully recommend it to anyone looking for spiritual answers. You may not agree with everything -- and that's OK. But take whatever you get from this book and simply make it yours. You don't have to become a follower of Kabbalah to put some of the ideas into practice. Try it. You may like it.
   
   Also recommended: "What Did Jesus Really Say, How Christianity Went Astray: [What To Say To A Born Again Christian Fundamentalist, But Never Had The Information]" by Peter Cayce



2. This book helps to develop personal relationship with God and find the way to Eternal Life. The person who gains Eternal Life has accomplished the goal of life. This book helps the humanity to accomplished the goal of life.



3. This was the first Kabbalah book that I read, definetely the right one, the subject being so new to me, since I am not Jewish, but Michael Berg writes so beautifully and it such simple words that I understood easily and so did my soul. It gave me a very good intro to Kabbalah, has beautiful stories about the Baalshemtov (a Tzadik, mystic, sage), it has the beautiful story about the white Angels, the black Angels and the grey Angels, after this story, I see dificulties in my life from a totally diferent perspective. This book talks about redemption, and God's mercy, and many more subjects that can only enrich your life!!! After this book I continue to read The Essential Zohar, the 72 names of God, which I meditate on frequently, and so on, the journey continues!!!



4. great book + great author = a perfect combination...even if i dont agree upon some of 'the way', it is indeed a great source for reference or personal library and spiritual quest...and although im not jewish, i know that i will flip the pages on a periodic basis ;)



5. This book has good advice/insight in some areas, but I didn't love it. Buy it if under $5. Otherwise, get another book on Kabbalah!

4 comments about As a Man Thinketh.

1. I highly recommend this Audio book narrated by Charley Steiner. I have friends and collegues with this audio book narrated by other people who say Charley Steiner's narration is by far the best.



2. This is an amazing work and I've never come across anything quite like it. The elegant prose is beautiful and the messages of inspiration and example are extremely powerful and thought provoking.
   
   I found myself going over certain parts again and again, not because they were difficult or confusing, but because the messages were so profound that I wanted to linger on them for a time before moving on. Truly a classic work in the field of personal development, this is a "must have" addition to you success library.
   
   In the spirit of full disclosure, I should say that I am a speaker, trainer, and author of another unique and highly valuable learning tool that can also be found here on Amazon: The WealthLoop Series Beginner's Guide to Personal Wealth Creation (Combo Audio/Data CD): Audio Seminar With Downloadable 40-Page Action Manual and Active Link Library. It is a straight-forward discussion of the art and science of personal wealth creation and should be considered by anyone serious about wanting to learn more about the right way to get started on the road to personal wealth creation and financial freedom!
   
   Other "WealthLoop Series" tools of worth looking into include:
   
   The WealthLoop Series Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth Buying Houses: The Foolproof Roadmap to Real Estate Riches Without the Risks and Hassles of Landlording
   
   and
   
   The WealthLoop Series Beginner's Guide to Building Wealth Buying Houses (Combo Audio/Data CD): Author's Audio Commentary Plus Downloadable 32-page Marketing Manual, Checklists, Spreadsheets, and Forms.



3. What an awakening! One of the most valuable knowledge for inner transformation. We are what we think! James Allen is a Heavenly Intellectual. His deep understanding and meditation into the mental and spiritual realm is a true work of art! Reading this book is like receiving food from Heaven. What a true blessing it is for me to discover this gem! Thank you James Allen!! Your spirit lives on......



4. This CD was interesting and had a good approach to personal responsibility; something that is sorely lacking in modern society.

5 comments about Simple Truths : Clear and Gentle Guidance on the Big Issues in Life.

1. Not often among writers do you discover anything of these valued SIMPLE TRUTHS, "In honored memory of one's Father!" My first reading came from my good-reader Friend's excerpt of Kent's neat Chapter entitled, "The Spiritual Journey."
   
   Kent's thoroughly organized headings, uniquely begin in Learning and Education, On Work, On Money, On Possessions, On Giving, On Travel, On Loneliness & Solitude, On Love/Marriage, Parenthood, with short but potent chapters, On Strength, On Tragedy and next Suffering! I am enamored with his depth of understanding of that spiritual "tradition that seems to give voice to the music of your Spirit...(to often being) afraid to follow!"
   
   After this shortest of his diamond-emerald Jewels, all coming from four unique perspectives, I am more than ever an admiror! After three reviews I am finally into the midst of NEITHER WOLF Nor DOG. It promises to be his education and first-hand report of dealing with his own people, in the person of his Elder, Dan asking for help in writing a book of Native American Wisdom! Retired Chaplain, Fred W Hood "Barbara377" (Fayetteville,GA United States)



2. "Life is a creative experience," begins author Kent Nerburn in his slim little volume of basic truths on which to build a life of value for oneself and others. They are, as the title states, basic and simple truths, but it is these simple truths that have been lost in the muddle and busyness and confusion of modern life marked by an embarrassment at claiming a value system. Nerburn continues in explanation of why we must reconnect to these simple truths: "We are shaping ourselves at every moment by every decision we make."
   
   And so we are. A moment taken to consider carefully the meanings and values of topics Nerburn has chosen here are moments well spent. To ponder these truths and to absorb them clears the path ahead and moves us forward with peace and conviction.
   
   Short chapters illustrate in clean prose the values of education and learning ("without knowledge I could not play the violin. Without wisdom, I could not play the music"); work ("we are what we do, and the more we do it, the more we become it"); money ("be a giver and a sharer... in some unexpected and unforeseeable fashion, all else will take care of itself"); possessions ("possessions are as likely to make you unhappy as they are to make you happy, because they define the limits of your life and keep you from the freedom of choice that comes with traveling light"); giving ("you have the power to create joy and happiness by your simplest gestures of caring and compassion"); travel ("if we don't offer ourselves to the unknown, our senses dull. Our world becomes small and we lose our sense of wonder"); loneliness and solitude (the first is a void, the second a sense of self-fulfillment); love ("treat what love brings you with kindness"); marriage ("if you believe in your heart that you have found someone with whom you are able to grow, if you have sufficient faith that you can resist the endless attraction of the road not taken and the partner not chosen, if you have the strength to embrace the cycles and seasons that your love will experience..."); parenthood ("in the bondage to a child you will find a freedom you never imagined, but neither should you seek parenthood as a way to fill an emptiness in your life. A child will hold a mirror to your life..."); strength ("true strength does not require an adversary and does not see itself as noble or heroic. It simply does what it must without praise or need of recognition... strength based in love is strength people crave"); tragedy and suffering ("they are the fire that burns you pure"); the spiritual journey ("spiritual understanding never becomes deep unless you subject yourself to the spiritual discipline of practicing your belief"); elders ("they were you and you will be them"); death ("it brings us to a judgment, so it is ours to control by the kind of life we live"); and concludes with an epilogue on embracing the mystery.
   
   "If we have played our part well - offering love where it was needed, strength and caring where it was lacking; if we have tended the earth and its creatures with a sense of humble stewardship - we will have done enough."
   
   Simple, yes, and shining with a timeless truth.



3. This book discusses many issues concerning the problems of everyday people which have been forgetten in this modern world.We get so caught up that we lose our true selves in the book helps to give you a calm sense of self worth.It explains in depth about education which is truly what you know, giving form your heart not worrying about the rewarding glory or praise to put forth extra time that is personal,love is internal and true love is accepted.



4. I've read alot of Kent Nerburn's books and have a few to go. They are great little bits of simple truth for the every day journey of life. It's so easy to loose sight of the true picture...I appreciate this simple wisdom and comfort that is brought in these words and the word pictures created by this author. I'm always grateful for anything that can help me along the way. Thanks



5. I love Kent Nerburn's works. I have read 5 of his books. I love them all. He is deep, very intuitive. His use of imagery is awesome. What is the phrase . . . ? "Nobody says it quite like . . . (Kent Nerburn) :-)

5 comments about Destructive Emotions: How Can We Overcome Them?: A Scientific Dialogue with the Dalai Lama.

1. I've never written a review before; but when I saw that nobody else had commented on this audio book (the four cd set), I wanted to enter an emphatic endorsement of it. I have read many books on psychology, religion and emotions. This book integrates all of them. I was originally interested the influence of meditation on controlling stress and negative emotions. That information is here and it is very compelling. (Consequently, I have also ordered many meditation and guided imagery tapes as well). But there is so much more in this book... so much interesting information, it's hard to even know where to start. I will try to give a couple of examples.
   For one, the panel of scientists had enlisted the help of a buddhist monk, who had meditated for years, in some of their experiments in emotional reactions. They have one study where they take an individual and measure their reaction to a very loud, startling noise. In 35 years of doing this experiment, everyone had measured some response in terms of the movement of their facial muscles. I believe they said the group who showed the least "startle" reflex was body guards who had worked for the white house... until they tested this monk. He apparently did not register any reaction similar to previous experiments. He said he was able to hear the loud noise as if it were a bird flying across the sky.
   The objective of these various experiments was to see if there was a link between some of the practices of Buddhism on controlling some of the negative emotions that people experience. This also sparked an interest in learning more about the Buddhist philosophy (though I'm a Christian, I believe many of the principles are the same). The Buddhists emphasize compassion - for self and others; and they also practice loving kindness, and mindfulness, which (based on my recent understanding) is to pay close attention to all aspects of life. In their meditations, they sometimes focus on breath, sometimes on putting yourself in the place of others (to instill compassion) and just in general, noticing the emotional and physical states of your body - where there is stress, etc.
   Another interesting fact they gave was that after suffering a trauma, children from a Buddhist culture are able to have a significantly quicker "recovery time" than children of any other culture, indicating that the cultivation of this gentle view of the world creates more adaptability and understanding.
   Finally, they gave some examples of how certain members of the scientific panel had developed programs for school children - to help them better control emotions. They also give a lot of information on the brain and what changes occur under stress and other conditions, and what effect this can have on emotion.
   I may not be able to do the material justice, but my impression every time I listen to it is that it is the most fascinating book I've ever read (or heard). I have gone back to listen to several passages more than once, and I'm sure I will listen to the whole thing again too. The information is too valuable to skim over. But it is presented in a way that is easy to follow.
   There is so much practical advice to be gained. It also seems like there were genuinely altruistic motives for pursuing these questions, in part based on the tragic world events in recent years. You get the sense that these scientists are hoping to make the world a better place. That also seems to be the goal of Buddhism, in addition to living in a more peaceful state of being in one's own life. The conversations with the Dalai Lama are also impressive.



2. I've never written a review before; but when I saw that nobody else had commented on this audio book (the four cd set), I wanted to enter an emphatic endorsement of it. I have read many books on psychology, religion and emotions. This book integrates all of them. I was originally interested the influence of meditation on controlling stress and negative emotions. That information is here and it is very compelling. (Consequently, I have also ordered many meditation and guided imagery tapes as well). But there is so much more in this book... so much interesting information, it's hard to even know where to start. I will try to give a couple of examples.
   For one, the panel of scientists had enlisted the help of a buddhist monk, who had meditated for years, in some of their experiments in emotional reactions. They have one study where they take an individual and measure their reaction to a very loud, startling noise. In 35 years of doing this experiment, everyone had measured some response in terms of the movement of their facial muscles. I believe they said the group who showed the least "startle" reflex was body guards who had worked for the white house... until they tested this monk. He apparently did not register any reaction similar to previous experiments. He said he was able to hear the loud noise as if it were a bird flying across the sky.
   The objective of these various experiments was to see if there was a link between some of the practices of Buddhism on controlling some of the negative emotions that people experience. This also sparked an interest in learning more about the Buddhist philosophy (though I'm a Christian, I believe many of the principles are the same). The Buddhists emphasize compassion - for self and others; and they also practice loving kindness, and mindfulness, which (based on my recent understanding) is to pay close attention to all aspects of life. In their meditations, they sometimes focus on breath, sometimes on putting yourself in the place of others (to instill compassion) and just in general, noticing the emotional and physical states of your body - where there is stress, etc.
   Another interesting fact they gave was that after suffering a trauma, children from a Buddhist culture are able to have a significantly quicker "recovery time" than children of any other culture, indicating that the cultivation of this gentle view of the world creates more adaptability and understanding.
   Finally, they gave some examples of how certain members of the scientific panel had developed programs for school children - to help them better control emotions. They also give a lot of information on the brain and what changes occur under stress and other conditions, and what effect this can have on emotion.
   I may not be able to do the material justice, but my impression every time I listen to it is that it is the most fascinating book I've ever read (or heard). I have gone back to listen to several passages more than once, and I'm sure I will listen to the whole thing again too. The information is too valuable to skim over. But it is presented in a way that is easy to follow.
   There is so much practical advice to be gained. It also seems like there were genuinely altruistic motives for pursuing these questions, in part based on the tragic world events in recent years. You get the sense that these scientists are hoping to make the world a better place. That also seems to be the goal of Buddhism, in addition to living in a more peaceful state of being in one's own life. The conversations with the Dalai Lama are also impressive.



3. I am primarily an aural learner. Listening to this book on CD was a delight. The last two cd's were phenomenal. I had read them but listening to them was like hearing them for the first time.
   
   I read this book when if first came out and enjoyed it tremendously. The first part of the book is a description of the way the research was conducted. If you are not familiar with Buddhism or the Psychological community and they way studies are conducted it will be of interest to you.
   
   I trust Buddhism and the Dalai Lama so I skimmed this part in the book. Listening to it was interesting and I was struck with the great effort to conduct it in a manner that the results would be acceptable to a wide a group of people as possible.
   
   Going by the title you might think that it is mostly a treatise on anger and the danger etc. of anger. It did have to do with anger but there was much more to it. The whole range of negative emotions and the havoc they wreak in our lives is examined, from a scientific viewpoint. From this viewpoint a whole range of finger-pointing is escaped and the explanation renders you able to get past the guilt of having these emotions and to the place where you can do something about them.
   
   I loved listening to this. I would recommend it for anyone scientific bent or not. It was an awesome set.



4. The Dalai Lama is a hero of mine, whom I hope to become more like, along with Mother Teresa and other humanitarians. He recognizes that destructive emotions are at the root of so much suffering. He and a group of psychologists and scientists met in a dialogue to discuss destructive emotions, their impact on our lives, and to question if they are necessary or if they can be eliminated to a significant degree. The Dalai Lama and Western scientists/psychologists spell out different types of destructive emotions according to the Buddhist and Western perspectives. There's a lot of overlap between the two perspectives, yet Buddhism categorizes destructive emotions into three main categories: hatred, delusion, and craving; other toxic emotions are derivatives of these three.
   
   The scientists ask: are destructive emotions the trade-off in our evolutionary history? Or can we bypass them? The Dalai Lama and the scientists were delighted to discover the brain's plasticity: new neural pathways can be formed throughout the course of a person's life. Even hardened criminals can improve with intervention and empathy training. (I remember watching a special on TV where inmates were responsible for taking care of cats. I was surprised and delighted to learn that these men grew to love these animals and took pride in caring for them.)
   
   The Dalai Lama talks about the antidotes to toxic emotions and spells out ways we can nurture them. For example, compassion is the obvious antidote to hatred and anger. He talks about the important bond between a mother and child and other close family members. We can practice feeling similar compassion towards non-relations and love them as though they were a close family member.
   
   The Dalai Lama and scientists discuss the very important difference between hating what a person did and hating the actual person. We can hate a person's mistakes, especially if they are far-reaching, but it is better to abstain from hating the actual person. Although I hate what Hitler did and how deluded he was, I can feel compassion for the fact that he was an abused child whose parents were related (his mother was his father's niece--it would be hard to be normal and well-adjusted under those circumstances). Also, he was on some serious, mind-altering steroids that would have made even Mother Teresa somewhat aggressive and irritable. These circumstances don't excuse the man's cruelty and delusions, but it does help put his far-reaching mistakes into a more compassionate context. He could not have been more wrong, yet it is better to hate what he did and his mindset than to hate the man himself. Also, it's pretty obvious from a psychological standpoint that all the anti-semitic (anti-slavic, anti-gypsy, etc.) things he said had nothing to do with the Eurpean Jewish people and his other targets and had everything to do with how badly Hitler felt about himself. He was picking on easy scapegoats/targets to deflect his own self-hatred. Anyrate, enough about one of history's most misguided persons. But the Dalai Lama does help us to see the important difference between hating someone's mistakes versus hating the person.
   
   The Dalai Lama wants everyone to have the tools to overhaul destructive emotions, but he especially feels that school age children need guidance from well-trained teachers. Some of the scientists wrongfully assumed that teacher's training programs don't include courses in child psychology, particularly socioemotional development. This is the point where I wanted to say teachers take lots of classes in child development, from cognitive, physical, to emotional development. Teachers also take classes in classroom management where they are taught to "sandwich" criticism. That is, a teacher will point out something specific that a child is doing well, tactfully suggest an area that needs to be improved, and then say another positive thing that the child is doing. Teachers also are encouraged to make it sound like the area of weakness is well within the child's ability to correct. Love & Logic is a classroom management technique that really involves diplomacy and consideration for the child's feelings (Jim Fay is the creator of Love & Logic).
   
   Of course, teachers can always improve and do things better---but I think these scientists should have checked their facts b/f making blanket statements about teacher's training programs. But I do agree that schools can help foster empathy and emotional skills in school age children.
   
   Overall, I found this to be an enlightening dialogue, initiated and led by a great guru of compassion, the Dalai Lama.



5. Destructive Emotions is a fascinating look at the human mind from the perspectives of both leading Western scientists and Buddhist scholars. Modern neuro-science and psychology meet Buddhism in a world wide scientific conference, with the goal of decreasing destructive emotions in the mind, and in society at large. The book gives interesting background information on the Dalai Lama's scientific life, which is fascinating and informative. The book provides an excellent and accessible overview of the very new discovery in neuroscience dubbed "plasticity of the brain" - the finding that neural connections in the brain are not fixed but rather changing throughout a lifetime. Buddhist meditation masters are examined with technological tools such as EKG's and MRI's. The results are truly astounding. It appears that meditation actually changes the structure of the brain, increasing neural connections and activity in the parts of the brain that experience happiness, contentment and positive emotions. This group of scholars sets out to examine how these practices could be applied to society at large to help mitigate the destructive emotions which plague humans on this planet. While the book starts of strong and extremely engaging, it does eventually devolve, much like the meeting it is describing, into a more disorganized group of questions and brainstorming that goes beyond the scope of one conference, or one book. By the second third of the book the more interesting ideas are rehashed to the point of redundancy and it is hard to hold interest. I have read this book in print form, and would recommend that over the audiobook. There is a lot of information useful to reference, which is hard to do in audiobook format without the aid of an index.

5 comments about The Zen of Recovery.

1. It is possible to get very gung-ho about Mel Ash's ZEN OF RECOVERY. I am not gung-ho about it, but the book does something which no other book I am aware of has achieved, made a sincere and plausible link between 12-step principles and Buddhist principles. Unfortunately, the book's Buddhism is Zen, only one of many different Buddhist paths. Thus the book lacks a certain universalism that I find unfortunate. However, it is well worth reading, if nothing else serving as a jumping-off point for investigating Buddhism (or the Buddha) as one's higher power. Any Buddhist who is in Alcoholics Anonymous or any other 12-step program is well advised to read this book. It will help one get past the bloc that I felt in 12-step programs, which in Western society are predicated upon Christianity or Judaism. ZEN OF RECOVERY reinforced in me the belief that I had a place in 12-step meetings, even though I did not believe in a God as defined in any theistic sense. Aside from the above caveats, this book is a radical step forward in the recovery movement.



2. Mel Ash, using Zen as the spiritual component, adapts the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous and zens it up. It's easy to swallow for me because the emphasis is not singularly recovery from alcoholism but also eating disorders, narcotic addiction, etc. The reading is gentle and doesn't underestimate or devalue the audience with sterile language. It gets awfully real world and how we can intermingle our recovery into our lives, which is what I wanted when I entered into recovery.
   
   He talks a lot about how our denial *is* our sickness...from the 12 steps perspective and from the Zen perspective; that even those not in a compulsion may still suffer simply from the predisposed human condition. He speaks of our *dualistic* thinking [good/bad, right/wrong, black/white] as the manifestation of our human condition and more to the extent of our compulsions... How we in our compulsions/addictions are the magnification of the human suffering condition...just to the extreme.
   
   This book is compassionate, intelligent, and worthy of top shelf status. It does not interfere with one's religious views but can enhance anyone's recovery. For me, this book, is what I have been searching for; the combined 12 steps with a spiritual component I can relate to. I really enjoy this book and know it will be favored by me in years to come, as it's more of a living philosophy within recovery and without.



3. As a person with an addictive nature I cannot speak highly enough about this book - it is lovely! I want to buy copies for everyone I know - whether they are in recovery or not. As for the review saying, "any zen book can give you principles to quit drinking..." I don't think the purpose of this book was to stop ppl from drinking, but rather: to accompany ppl who may already struggle w/ a higher power w/in the twelve steps. I suspect that most ppl reconnect with themselves AFTER moving into the program and encounter obstacles along the way. For me, this book acts as a liason between the twelve steps and my internal obstacles.
   
   Mel Ash's interpretation of the twelve steps is insightful and in no way contradictory to the program. His writing voice is simple and easy to follow; we are a culture who live in fear and this book delicately encourages those of us in recovery to find our bliss. When you see a flower, SMILE. The teachings are so simple - Enjoy!



4. As a "recovering alcoholic", I have had MUCH trouble within and without the rooms of Alcoholics Anonymous when people find out that I am a Buddhist skeptic who does not believe in the idea of a deity called "god". As a practicioner of Zen, I am pleased to see that Mr. Ash has a solid grip of the "Zen of recovery".
   
   Those who criticize the book for being "too Zen" as opposed to other Buddhist traditions should have read the title, "The Zen of Recovery", before they bought it! How much so like the average A.A. member, complaining about things that are relatively silly.
   
   This book spells out Buddhist detachment and the idea of a "power" that can "restore us to sanity", applying it skillfully to the 12 Step Tradition in the process. Most of what is IN the book has already been reviewed here, so let me end by saying that first of all, I don't go to a bunch of A.A. meetings anymore because of the culture of whining, glorification of the alcoholic history, and closed-mindedness towards any idea of "a power greater than ourselves" that isn't an anthropomorphic "god". However, I DO go to three meetings a meet where the envirenment is condusive to a true "spirituality", and I am definately going to be ordering many copies of this book to distribute to my many A.A. "peers" who actively criticize my "agnostic beliefs" and consider Zen to be a path towards relapse.
   
   Get this book if you can relate to anything I have just written, adn especially if you are interested in Asian spirituality as an alternative to the Judeao/Christian approach most often endorsed by the loving members of Alcoholics Anonymous!
   
   Good work, Mr. Ash.



5. I have given away several copies of this book, and own one of my own, which I enjoy re-reading. Many people struggling with addictions also have difficulty with Alcoholics Anonymous' emphasis on a "higher power" (generally conceived as "God"). This book serves the important function of introducing a non-theistic (non-"God"-based) approach to AA, and to a personal meditative practice.
   
   This book serves as a sort of "bridge" between Zen Buddhism (admittedly only one school, but Zen is the form which is practiced by author Mel Ash) and the 12 Steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. The book is organized in a way which mirrors the 12 Steps, and, as a result, it is easily accessible for people who are involved with that program. In other words, you don't need to know anything about Zen to get value from this book, but you do need to have at least a healthy respect for the 12 Steps as a path of recovery from addiction.
   
   "The Zen of Recovery" begins as a standard AA speaker meeting would - the author gives us his "drunkalogue" - a story of what he was like before he got sober- his trials and his humiliations. At the same time as he decide to stop drinking, the author also begins to practice zazen under a meditation instructor (zazen being the style of silent seated meditation practiced by Zen Buddhists). As a result, the author's perspective on the 12 Steps is colored by his growth as a Zen Buddhist.
   
   Author Mel Ash applies the teachings of Zen Buddhism not just to alcoholism, but to all addictions and cravings - the attachments which Buddhism says are at the root of all suffering. The book is therefore useful not only for alcoholics, but for anyone in the throes of a compulsive craving.
   
   I also really enjoyed the spare and elegant Japanese ink-brush drawings with which Ash illustrated the book. That's just me - I always like a book with pictures.
   
   
   

5 comments about Transfigurations.

1. Truly edifying, powerfully enlightening art of the nervous system (peeled open) and all its glory.

   The universe is marvelous, indeed. Grey is a shining star.




2. Although my other books reviews are totally sarcastic this one is sincere. Giving TRANSFIGURATIONS five stars tells you nothing, it is my most cherished possession purchased from Amazon. Alex Grey is the most beautiful inspiring artist I know of, disturbing as well. For both reasons I get goosebumps each time I hear his weird kind of slimy sounding voice on the DVD and audio tapes that I also purchased. I find his whole dark side very intimidating and there are a couple of spots where the blur between holy and immoral is way to ominous for my churchy little, reactionary mind to consider but I'm sure that in his genius he is expressing things that, like all of his works, are simply way beyond my comprehension.
   
   Even though I really like Grey's self-portraits as a boy, I usually skip past the first thirty-five or so pages to his more inspiring works of colorful anatomy charged with energy and connected to occult and mystical symbols of the spirit. I've always thought of these symbols as pertaining to aesthetics who live an isolated existence, however, for Grey's works they seem to be intimately associated with love, family, personal growth, and the journey through life.
   
   I find his most beautiful works to be his oil on linen anatomical scenes of his family which include one of him and his wife embracing and another with both of them, eyes shut, in a moment of reverence with their daughter in which all three pineal glands are actively sharing an interwoven and upward spiraling rainbow of purely intelligent energies. Another is of his young daughter, as a toddler, who draws out a sphere from her heart encircled by a rainbow of noble and vital energy containing within it a Tibetan symbol of primal purity.
   
   Alex Grey expresses better than anyone I've found how religious symbols from around the world are spun from the same spiritual desires and aspirations of people everywhere and are all equally divine.
   
   Transfigurations shows Alex Grey's development through his life cycle from the dark cocoon of young manhood through his emergence as a man of tremendous knowledge and beauty expressed in fantastic colors and intricate and intriguing layers and details. He is clearly one who has made an incredible journey in life and easily ranks with all of the most famous and greatest artists in art history.



3. Transfigurations is a beautiful book that does an excellent job presenting the work of Alex Grey, one of the most important artists of our times. There is no artist quite like Alex Grey. For many years, I have used this book and an earlier Grey book, Sacred Mirrors, as a transformative tool both in my own life and helping others.



4. I bought this book for my son who'd asked for a coffee table art book
   by Alex Grey, and he was happy to have received it. When it was under the tree unwrapped after Christmas, I took a look, and it's an interesting work. I'm not sure if it's in his room or if he took it to college; I'll have to look. If it's home, I can read more of it.
   
   It arrived in beautiful condition.



5. I bought Transfigurations and Grey's earlier book Sacred Mirrors at the same time. Both are visually amazing and the print quality is excellent. I especially liked reading about Alex Grey's journey as an artist that is part of Transfigurations. It's not a path I would want to tread, but knowing about his life gives good insight and empathy into the aesthetics of his work. I'm very glad he met with Tibetan culture, which obviously has influenced him greatly, and helped him escape the dark trap of Euro-American nihilist existentialism

5 comments about Living Through the Meantime : Learning to Break the Patterns of the Past and Begin the Healing Process.

1. This book is about realizing sometimes we are living our lives in between big events = the meantime. The author helps the reader understand this is a great time to get comfortable with ourselves because the more comfortable we are the more comfortable others will be! In a loving, comforting way she describes the steps which will help us reveal the magic within each unique person.
   Good book. Inspiring.



2. Anything by this author is great I would highly recommend anyone
   To read anything by this author Iyanla Vanzant The more you read
   the more enlighted you becomeLiving Through the Meantime : Learning to Break the Patterns of the Past and Begin the Healing Process



3. This was not my first book by her but this was the first one I didn't care for. I was very disapointed when I open the book. I was under the impression I would be able to work on my inner self. However, this book might work for others but not me. It ask me question that I was not able to answer. ex. Things about my mom. (mom died at early age) alot of the question I couldn't answer due to I don't know most of my family or know my family history. So I became very frustrated with the book an put it down and never looked at it again. I do feel if you have a strong connection or have been around your family enough you will be abe to work through the book. Good luck to other who might try



4. This is the perfect follow up for In the Meantime. On my journey to continue the healing process and grow this has been wonderful.



5. I bought this book because I thought it would help me sort out a lot of the issues that I was feeling emotionally and mentally from the things that have happened to me in the past. Iyanla starts off with a generalization of this prophecy. However, when you start this self help workbook, you get lost in the array of questions associated with your feelings, thoughts, and reasoning behind beliefs you've learned from childhood, or events that dramatically changed your way of innocent thinking. It then becomes hard to distinguish what your feeling from what happened. What makes it even more difficult is Iyanla provides suggestive statements that helps describe what it is your feeling and this confuses things more. By the time, I get through a chapter, I'm exhausted from figuring out what's top from bottom, that I really didn't aquire much. However, she offers a lot of love quotes and statements, that offer a quick fix to improve negative attitudes and beliefs. Great for memorizing and repeating through difficult times. Overall, I usually love Iyanla's books and activities, but this one....I really wished I hadn't purchased.

5 comments about Magical Beginnings, Enchanted Lives.

1. Always looking for practical solutions, I found that the Ayurvedic principles to deal with the misery of Morning Sickness were particularly useful. And loved the yoga positions too!



2. Deepak Chopra has an outlook on pregnancy and childbirth that assures you of the natural process and joy of bringing a new life into the world. Many books are so medical that they leave out the emotional components of this process. I found this book informative as well as very soothing.



3. This book makes me look at pregnancy in a whole new beautiful way. It's very empowering and could bring out the best in anyone trying to follow some of its wisdom and guidance during this period. It makes me think differently about labor and child birth especially too; rather than fearing the pain, I look forward to the miracle that the process will bring to life.
   
   I'm looking forward to using this book over the next 3 and final months of my pregnancy!



4. Not much to say, there are lots of repetitions in the book and the suggestions can be read in many pregnancy websites. The book is peaceful but limited, I expected a little more.



5. (Note: This review was written by my wife, Laura...)
   
   If you've ever read any of Deepak Chopra's books then you know they are beautifully written, full of inspirational messages, and grounded in spirit. This book is definitely no exception: in it you will find lots of suggestions for connecting with your baby through communing with nature, self-nurturing, healthy, Ayurvedic-based eating, meditation, visualizations and much more.
   
   You will learn how to find your center of peace within and how to live more and more from there as the months go by. He'll help you visualize your ideal birth and guide you towards making that a reality. If nothing else, this book will leave you feeling more grounded and full of love and peace.

2 comments about Coming Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World.

1. Without having to consult a post-modern dictionary, Joanna Macy and co-author, Molly Young Brown give inspiring and heartfelt explanations and examples of their lifework: dealing with the roots of conscious and unconscious pain that we all feel with regards to ourselves, while bringing home the concept of our connectedness to this world. They point out the fallacy of basic assumptions that we can fix whatever problems we create (the fix-it mentality), as well as dealing with resulting issues of burn-out and stress by alternatively doing the "work that reconnects". The dynamic model set forth in this book recognizes the role of community and encourages us out of an antagonistic "us" versus "them" concept which tends to lead us towards short-term NIMBY (not in my backyard) solutions.

   In the preface to the book, Joanna Macy writes, "THIS IS A GUIDEBOOK. It maps ways into the vitality and determination we each possess to take part in the healing of our world."




2. This is a great book written by a wise elder. While my sentiments are in agreement with the basic concepts of interconnection Macy writes so eloquently about, I am not sure that environmental policies may be achieved without polarization and confrontation of the forces of corporate hegemony. This is my only disagreement with the author. Is consensus really possible given the layers of entrenched elites running the global show?
   
   The practices within the book are meaningful for reconnecting to the wider imprint of nature. I found some to be in confluence with practices Ive learned elsewhere with indigenous peoples and another one of my mentors, the naturalist, Tom Brown.