5 comments about The Wisdom of Forgiveness.

1. "The Wisdom of Forgiveness" is a read that will fascinate accomplished Buddhist practitioners, interested fans and those who have never even heard of the Dalai Lama. The language is easy to understand and the read can go by quite quickly. Do not be fooled though: the book handles such deep topics as emptiness, compassion and of course--forgiveness.
   
   Especially for the price that Amazon is offering, you can't afford to pace this up. Such an uplifting story of the heart, "The Wisdom of Forgiveness" will open your consciousness and your heart.



2. I enjoyed this book for its supreme wisdom and forthright application of certain practices to invoke change from within. While this book is filled with nuggets of wisdom, a brief composite looks like this, "to reduce hatred and other destructive emotions, you must develop their opposites--compassion and kindness." Unlike other spiritual books, this one provides authentic practices to accomplish the goal. The Dalai Lama provides insight into engaging breathing exercises and guided meditations to overcome the hegemony of the mind which is sometimes locked into its own agenda to hold on to past hurts, and hatred. Like all human transformation, no easy way to achieve good results, reminding us that authentic change takes hard work. While I see the praxis offered in this book differently than other spiritual teachers who simply promote love in word for the sake of bringing home the bacon, the Dalai Lama has consistently demonstrated in word and deed that his praxis is in alignment with his deeply held values. Something I don't think you will find in other spiritual (New Age) books when measured against the lives of those who write them. In other words, this book delivers the goods in word and deed by a authentic spiritual Master grounded in compassionate action. It also reminds me how far I need to travel in this life, and perhaps many more before I walk in these shoes.



3. I have read 20+ books on the topic of forgiveness, and this book offered me nothing, nada, zip about forgiveness that I could take away and apply. Perhaps the book should have a different title. At any rate, I hoped for some bread, but ended up with nothing but chaff.



4. The title of this book implies that the book is an in-depth look at the issue of forgiveness - a spiritual step that many people struggle with, and an area where you might want to seek out the Dalai Lama's specific advice. This is not a "how-to" book, however. It is a very interesting, personal history of co-author Victor Chan's friendship with the Dalai Lama, a narrative which spans many years.
   
   Chan accompanies HH the DL on a number of trips, including a trip to Northern Ireland, where the issue of forgiveness is addressed. In terms of technique, the book offers the standard Tibetan "giving and taking" meditation (where the meditator "receives" other peoples' sufferings, and then "gives" them joy and happiness), as well as discussions on emptiness and compassion. He also spends time with HH the DL in Dharamsala and in Delhi.
   
   There are better "how-to" books out there. However, if you would like to read about how HH the DL handles everything from dental care (he brushes after every meal) to personal medical emergencies (he considers the worse-off condition of sick street beggars whom his car passes on the way to a hospital in Delhii), then this would be a good book for you. It gives a lot of day-to-day insight into HH the DL's life, shows his sense of humor and personality, and is an easy read. It would probably be a good book to take on a three-hour plane trip.



5. This book speaks to me strongly, clearly, and as simply as possible. It is filled with the insights of the Dalai Lama brilliantly communicated with the help of his friend, Victor Chan. All the true essentials of Buddhism are here, shared with love and humor. Myself having first been introduced to Buddhism at the age of 15, now 40 years later I find the Dalai Lama to be a most inspirational practitioner. I am grateful to Victor Chan for helping the sweet light of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to shine through to me through this book.

2 comments about Dare to Be Great!.

1. one of the most uplifting spirtual books as well as lots of practical advice on seroiusly breaking the negative way of thinking.



2. Read everything from Dr. Terry Cole-Whittaker... Become the person you are born to be. I spent an entire day with her recently... Dr. Terry is such a dynamic person with such insight... I am transforming at an excelerated rate since meeting her and becoming immersed in her materials.
   Thank you Dr. Terry, Joy from Lancaster, CA

5 comments about A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice (The Practices of Faith Series).

1. Can't get that song out of your head? Neither can they. In their new book "A Song to Sing, A Life to Live" Don Saliers, renowned professor of theology at Emory, and his daughter Emily Saliers, Grammy award winning singer/songwriter of the Indigo Girls, sing in harmony the praises of music and its connection to the soul. They remind us that it is music which generates the vibrating strings of energy connecting us to all living things. Their discussions of how music helps to shape us by connecting us to memories, people, places, and the Divine Source is both uplifting and inspirational. Both Don and Emily provide insights into how music has inspired them and directed their lives not only on a path of self-discovery, but a path of discovering the world around them; a world made visible only through music. This book will make you stop and look at the music you enjoy in a different light. I was deeply moved by the story of a young girl, Sarah, on her death bed waiting to hear Emily, and Indigo Girls partner Amy Ray, sing Emily's "Southland in the Springtime"; dying only hours after the duo finished their song. It made me question why even in death we long to fill our soul with our favorite music, but as Don and Emily point out, the cycle of life moves to music. They remind us that we cannot escape the rhythms with which daily life moves; whether it is the bustle of traffic, the roar of the ocean, or the singing of the birds. Our own bodies would not exist without the heart's intricate beating and the exact rhythm of our breathing. In essence, we are born in rhythm and die in song. I highly recommend this book as a primer in understanding the connection between music and the soul. This book is enlightening, uplifting, and fun. As an added bonus you'll also be treated to the personal stories and anecdotes of Don and Emily's encounters with music. Thank you Don and Emily for your courage and openness. Rock on!



2. I thoroughly enjoyed this book since I am an Indigo Girls fan-particularly of Emily's song writing. This book is about tolerance of all music and how it affects just about all that we do. It talks about some of the stories behind Emily's song lyrics which I find fascinating, but also gives a great history behind many of the hymns that her father plays in their church. I would have liked to have seen Emily mention her mother and her impact on her song writing, but overall...the language and the ideas expressed in this book are beautiful and wonderful. I was sent this book as a gift, and it truly was. What a delightful treat to read.



3. This book supports what many of us have long felt: that music is perhaps the best medium to express joy and affirmation of life. The thoughts and experiences of this father-daughter pair, one a church musician and the other a popular performer, resonate with those of us who are neither, but who love to sing and/or listen to and/or play music. Sometimes the prose gets repetitive, but it's always clear. You'll find yourself nodding vigorously, and probably smiling too, throughout.



4. Authors Don and Emily Saliers, father and daughter, write from very different but equally fascinating places. He is a noted church musician and composer and university professor at a major Protestant divinity school; she has left behind her traditional church upbringing and practice and now writes music and performs as part of the maverick singing group Indigo Girls which has been around for nearly 2 decades. If you are a church musician this book will especially speak to you I think. If you're not -- and I'm not -- many of the sections written by Don may leave you confused. At least that was the impact on me. Consequently, I wasn't able to connect to his spirituality in the way I'd expected, despite my longtime church background. Emily's contributions to the book, in which I was especially interested because of Indigo Girls' social justice activism, were far fewer up to the point, about half way through the book, where I finally quit reading. I was just plain bored, and I realized I'd been skimming through pages, hoping for but finding nothing that really touched or inspired me. I felt I was reading a college textbook. There was an emotional distance that seemed odd to me for a book about spirituality. Or maybe it really is a book about music, and I'm not a musician, though I love music and it is the source of my greatest spiritual growth and comfort. Because I admire both Emily and Don Saliers so much, I keep thinking it must be me that's the problem where this book is concerned. Maybe so. Maybe no. But I never finished it.



5. I always appreciate the swiftness in receiving a product, that I need as soon as I can get it.

1 comments about Divine Complement: The Spiritual Terrain of Soulmate Relationships.

1. I found Ariadne's narrative to be beautifully written, fluid and meaningful. I must admit some of the stories of meant-to-be meetings were so touching they drew tears from my eyes. Beyond just stories, this book examines in depth many spiritual principles that relate to the journey of twin souls, such as reincarnation, karma, redemption, destiny, and fate and makes them easy to understand with supporting examples. What I found the most fascinating was the author's examination of ancient and even modern symbols, like the Roxy and Volcom logos which the author says offer proof of an imprinted signature that connects us with a twin and with God in a place that Jesus even talked about --the bridal chamber. It brings new meaning and definition to the Holy Trinity. For those who are adding up the evidence that Jesus and Mary Magdalene were a couple, I think you'll want to consider this author's perspective and meaningful discussion on what their destiny was really all about.

4 comments about Touching the Holy: Ordinariness, Self-Esteem, and Friendship.

1. There is nothing that we could do that would make God love us any more than God does right now. We don't hear that enough. Robert Wicks reminds us of our holiness in our ordinariness. It's what God works best with. It's what God needs for us to be so God can introduce God's self to others through us. Wicks will reaquaint the reader with their goodness and the goodness of others simply by acknowledging that being human is "holy enough". He also challenges the reader to take an honest look at the different dimensions of friendship, helping the reader identify what is a healthy relationship and what may not be for now.



2. There is nothing that we could do that would make God love us any more than God does right now. We don't hear that enough. Robert Wicks reminds us of our holiness in our ordinariness. It's what God works best with. It's what God needs for us to be so God can introduce God's self to others through us. Wicks will reaquaint the reader with their goodness and the goodness of others simply by acknowledging that being human is "holy enough". He also challenges the reader to take an honest look at the different dimensions of friendship, helping the reader identify what is a healthy relationship and what may not be for now.



3. The book TOUCHING THE HOLY: ORDINARINESS, SELF-ESTEEM, and FRIENDSHIP was my first introduction to the writings of Robert Wicks. People had commented to me about his wonderful insights and that the book was written in a manner that was both inviting and engaging so I decided I'd read it while on retreat. It turned out the week was snowy, the retreat house had a fireplace roaring most evenings, and I had the pleasure of spending some time in front of the fireplace reading this wonderful book.
   
   Wicks focuses on three areas as the subtitle suggests. First, he focuses on our call as followers of Christ to ordinariness. Ordinariness for Wicks is not anonymity, weakness, or an encouragement to allow people to take advantage of a person. It is more of an invitation to simply be the people we were created to be. While it may sound as if he is challenging people to be less, his words are an encouragement to be pleased with who we truly are and not to strive to be what we are not meant to be. He quotes all sorts of well known names to base his theory. Some of the names include Thomas Merton, Robert Coles who speaks about his encounter with Dorothy Day, e.e. cummings, Henry Nouwen, and C.S. Lewis. His call to ordinariness reflects his training in both theology and psychology. He then looks at the call of ordinariness from the ancient writings of the Desert Fathers oaf the early Church and modern psychological beliefs about the true self/false self. While Wicks presents this material in an original manner, it is the final section of the book, that on friendship which for me was the book's greatest strength. This is where he first introduces his theory of the four types of friends: cheerleader, harasser, prophet, and soul guide and how our friends help us understand God's love and how we come to understand God's love through friendship. He alter expands on this idea in a book he co-authored with Robert Hamma CIRCLE OF FRIENDS.
   
   This is the kind of book that can be read either in a sitting or two or in small portions as material for prayer and reflection. My guess is that readers will discover a book with much to offer. For me it has become a favorite and I return to it again and again. As a matter of fact, it is after returning to it again that I decided to write this review.



4. This is the sort of book that, like an old friend, can be depended upon to bring insight, encouragment & refreshement. The full title of the book "Touching the Holy, Ordinariness, Self-Esteem, and Friendship" embraces the full spectrum of the author's understanding of what it means to fully experience the joy of being fully human.
   
   I have never read anything which juxtaposed these powerful concepts in such an enlightening & revealing way. I found the chapters on the the works of the dessert Fathers to be especially beneficial as their ancient wisdom still speaks so eloquently to our modern circumstances and brings a clarity which is missing amidst our harried life styles.
   
   This is a book that I've enjoyed reading & re-reading & I would higly recommend to anyone seeking a "breath of fresh air." It offers an insightful perspective that really helps in understanding why our simple "ordinariness" is truly a miraculous & extraordinary thing!

2 comments about The Spiritual Activist: Practices to Transform Your Life, Your Work, and Your World.

1. This is a restful, inspiring, fun and easy book for those in the trenches of social justice work, or anyone else with visions of making the world or her/his own life more peaceful and delightful.

   First, you need to have it just for the graphic design and ease of use. Open to any page, graze, and you will find a tidbit of fine advice, a personal story, an observation, a quote--something to enrich your day. All laid out in big print, with beautiful fonts, plenty of white space, and boxed out parcels. You can read this like a novel, but also play around. Shaded grays jump out at you with excerpts from all the world's major and some minor spiritual traditions--wisdom literature in bite-sized pieces, very digestible.

   The author's confessional honesty about her challenges to find meaningful rituals for life events, and her creativity in developing them, make this book feel like a good sit-down with a buddy.

   Even those with years of spiritual reflection and practice will find this book a great refresher, a patchwork quilt to warm and soothe life's hurdles and also a terrific guidebook for making small celebrations. It's fun. It's profound. I find this book ideal for a holiday/birthday/any time gift.




2. Horwitz has searched through our churches, schools, and community resources to find those people who live a life of quiet purpose, every day. Their essays, interviews, and questions bring to light the issues that we all struggle with, and the ways in which we can address those struggles without losing sight of our individuality.
   
   I think that many social activists reach burnout early in life. They become so overwhelmed with the ugliness and apathy that is present every day, that they are unable to continue the exploration of life in a positive, enlightening way. It requires a strong base to be able to see beyond the magnitude of the hurt, abandonment and loss that is simply a part of life. The exercises and suggestions in this book lead directly onto that path of purposeful building.
   
   Horwitz blends the traditions of a number of world religions, and allows the reader to see the similarities in each of them that tie us all together. It underscores the importance of prayer, awareness and ritual, regardless of the tradition from which it springs. With this book it becomes possible to build a spiritual practice that comes directly from the heart, and enables the reader to participate fully in life.

1 comments about Choose to Live Peacefully.

1. Susan Smith Jones is well thought of as a health and fitness expert, and this tape certainly presents her at her inspirational best. The purpose of the program on this tape is to help you reflect and renew, spend quality time in solitude and silence, simplify and rediscover your relationship with God, and ultimately make peace your constant compantion. These three cassettes contain 40 messages and affirmations. Some benefit most by listening to them all at once and others will find playing one message each day of most benefit. You may find suggestions that don't seem appropriate for your situation. For instance, a vegetarian diet might not be right for you. This shouldn't spoil the value of the total program though. This program is so good for your mind, your body, your soul.

5 comments about The Sound of Paper: Starting from Scratch.

1. This book is like every book by Julia Cameron. In it, she once again ponders her life as a writer. She once again pats herself on the back for all of her wondrous accomplishments. She once again looks in the mirror and assures us that she is still a beautiful woman. She yet again comes across as terribly lonely and makes writing look like a pathetic way to spend one's life.



2. I make a point of telling anyone searching for their inner voice or a sense of self about Julia Cameron. Her work, The Artist's Way changed my life. I was diligent and worked through Ms. Cameron's twelve week program several times over from beginning to end. The book, the exercises, and Ms. Cameron's method worked for me.
   
   As I talk to people about that book there were two recurring themes among those who had also discovered her work. Either they, like me, found it immensely helpful, or they started in and quickly lost interest. The second group is much larger.
   
   There are varied reasons the second group gives, but at the top of their list is the required discipline to make your way through The Artist's Way. Ms. Cameron addresses this problem in The Sound of Paper.
   
   The Sound of Paper is different. The chapters are short and the method and process aren't at the fore. This time, Ms. Cameron writes short essays from a biographical focus telling stories of her life, her failures, her fears and her successes. These short essays are lyrical snapshots of an artist's life. At the end of each essay is an exercise. For those who've skimmed, scanned or experienced her previous book, you'll notice many of the same exercises come up again. There isn't that sense of urgency about the process. Instead, the exercises are gentler and have a random feeling in their placement.
   
   While I will always recommend The Artist's Way as the life changing book that it is, The Sound of Paper is another excellent experience for those interested in discovering their artist within and letting that artist out into the world. Having choices and options is always a good thing and Ms. Cameron has delivered us choice in her latest work.



3. This is a book of essays on life and being a writer. There are interesting and helpful excercises at the end of each essay. Alot of the essays stem from her 'Artist Date' experiences, and her reflections and observations. She does write about the 'Morning Pages' that she has become so well known for. Besides the Artist Dates and Morning Pages, she also highly recommends taking a 20 minute walk everyday and an hour walk at least once a week.
   
   I have revisited this several times and, although I don't think it made a big difference for me with my writing, I do enjoy and benefit from many of the essays. Mostly according to what I'm going through at the time I read or reread this book.
   
   One thing is for sure. This woman knows about the pains of life, and writing. -And she knows how to keep on living in the most creative way she can. In many parts, I found myself consoled because I could tell that she wasn't merely speculating, you can feel that it comes from her heart.
   
   This is not just for writers, but any artists. Honestly, it didn't knock my socks off, but that doesn't mean that it isn't good. Do we always need for a book to be out of this world to get something valuable from it? I don't think so. This woman has already made a huge contribution to the world with her "Artists Way." She doesn't need to prove anything to anyone. I think it's great that she chooses to continue to share what she's learned and observed.



4. Julia Cameron is probably best known as the author of "The Artist's Way," a course she developed to help others (as well as herself) get over writer's block, although she discovered that the plan worked for painters, sculptors, anyone whose job or life's passion requires creativity. In "The Sound of Paper," Cameron has expanded this vision, offering more exercises and examples, as well as a more personal look at her own struggles as a writer.
   
   Cameron practices what she preaches: She is an accomplished author and playwright, and the book itself is testament to her talent. Her writing appears so effortless, mere musings. Try and copy that! It's no easy task. Even after I was long done reading the book, her descriptions of the New Mexico landscape have stayed with me, inspiring me to create a little of that magic. At the very least, it makes me long for a trip to the Southwest, again a testament to the power of words so carefully crafted.
   
   What Cameron demonstrates so effectively is that to be aware of your surroundings is to make your life your art, and that is the key to it all. Of course, another part of that equation is simply doing art, without the expectation of perfection. And that perfection is a tricky thing, a common trap for artists of all stripes. In the end, what "The Sound of Paper" conveys is much the same as "The Artist's Way." However, this book moves one step closer to illustrating the lessons so clearly delineated in both books, and that is something fine indeed.



5. What a ghastly let down ! Luckily this book was a gift and not a personal purchase. It seems to me that the author spends all her time writing books on how to write/be creative - without having produced much else at all. A really good writer writes books and maybe, just maybe, will write one guide to aspiring writers. I have not read any of Cameron's other works but the writing in this one is not a good advertisement for her at all. Her short 'essays' - presented to the would-be-creative-writer whose muse has gone on vacation are meant to be inspirational. I find them pedestrian at best; shallow and uni-dimensional in content and bristling with the shabbiest of clichés. An insult to anyone dedicated to meaningful, resolved writing. These short essays act as a prelude to a simple 'exercise' aimed at about Grade 5 level ( I am judging by what my children received at school here in Namibia at age about 10) which is meant to release one's creative spirit. To say that the book is steeped in mediocrity is almost too generous. I cannot recommend this to anyone who is serious about writing or accessing their creative spirit unless they are a teacher of pre-pubescent children.

5 comments about Be.

1. This is about as in-your-face as it gets. Lots of Buddist and other basic life teachings are put into a "get off your ass and do it now" plan for realizing who you are, your purpose and passion in life and what you want for a eulogy when you die.
   
   If you are in the frame of mind to change your life, this book won't help you do it, it will make you do it.
   
   It changed mine. It took less than 4 hours to read. So, there's really no excuse.



2. This is a good book with a lot of advice. It is only intended to make you think. Be does not offer easy answers. Most readers will complete this book in a couple of hours, however you actually have to do the exercises (which will be more than 4 hours).



3. If you want to change your life, "Be" will help you do it. If you don't want to change your life, then you probably wouldn't be attracted to this book in the first place. I like "Be" because it is to the point, non-preachy, written in an almost conversational style, and easy to follow. It provides the basic steps necessary for lasting and permanant change. One must simply do the exercises and implement what one has learned...Great book!



4. This is a great inspirational book to get you thinking about your life and where you want it to go. It makes you peer into your life and think about the type of person you are--and if that is who you really want to be. A.C. Ping (the author) definitely "keeps it real" by writing in slang...it makes you feel like he's a friend of yours. It is an easy-to-read book with a few workbook pages in it for you to write your own thoughts. A great book that shouldn't be passed up!



5. My local book store will continue to be out of stock of this book and other books by AC Ping because I buy them all! Awesome, easy reading with a clear cut message. If this aint' workin' for ya then I don't know what will! Excellent gift, too.

No comments about The Total Mindset: The Practicing Mind (Paperback)/The Meditating Mind (Audio 2-CD Set).