by WildGoose | Mar 6, 2019 | Book Reviews
Book Info:
No Mud, No Lotus: The Art of Transforming Suffering, by Thich Nhat Hanh. Available as eBook or paperback (128 pages).
“The main affliction of our modern civilization is that we don’t know how to handle the suffering inside us and we try to cover it up with all kinds of consumption.”
Summary:
Most people don’t like to be with pain or suffering – especially not their own. We may talk about topics such as grief, sorrow, and pain, but it is rare that a book will help us learn to first sit with the suffering and understand it – and then even transform it. Often meditation books address the positive feelings and benefits that come from a meditative practice. These books may also address philosophy. But few books so specifically guide the reader to find the peace, beauty, and transformation through sitting with our pain, sorrow, and fear. A wonderful introduction to understanding our difficult emotions, it also helps us understand our selves better in the process.
Things to Know:
- Written in Thich Nhat Hanh’s signature gentle style, this book has many deep concepts that are written in an understandable way.
- This books explores difficult human emotions and experiences. While it is powerful, at its core, this book is an introduction. If implemented, this book will guide the reader to sit with, understand, and transform emotions and feelings the reader may not have known how to explore in the past.
- If you are looking for a deep exploration of sorrow, transformation, and meditation, this is a good starting point. Other books you may be interested in are: Radical Acceptance, and Solve for Happy.
The Bottom Line:
This book will help the reader release past grievances and work through sorrow. Self discovery and healing await those who practice the exercises and teachings in this book.
The Verdict:
Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.
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by WildGoose | Mar 6, 2019 | Book Reviews
Book Info:
The End of Your World: Uncensored Straight Talk on the Nature of Enlightenment, by Adyashanti. Available as eBook, paperback (240 pages), or audiobook (7 hours, 33 minutes).
“When you get out of the driver’s seat, you find that life can drive itself, that actually life has always been driving itself. When you get out of the driver’s seat, it can drive itself so much easier—it can flow in ways you never imagined. Life becomes almost magical. The illusion of the “me” is no longer in the way. Life begins to flow, and you never know where it will take you.”
Summary:
This book is a breath of fresh air and came at the right time for me. Written in both a gentle and bold tone, it embodies wisdom and compassion at the same time. For those meditators who have felt a level of transformation and are wondering “…What now?”, this book refreshingly comes with clear insights and answers. The writing is clear about finding enlightenment, the nature of enlightenment, and losing enlightenment. It defines aspects of compassion, growth and change, and the human condition that are often over-looked, and is delivered in Adyashanti’s signature understanding and clear style.
Things to Know:
- This book assumes a familiarity and/or experience with meditative terms.
- This book has many life-changing and profound concepts, however, it will not probably not appeal to those interested in meditation as a means to an end. If you are seeking out meditation for insomnia or reduced stress this book may not interest you.
The Bottom Line:
This book is aimed at the meditator interested in the topic of enlightenment. Learning to find greater clarity and peace in one’s own life is the journey of a lifetime, and this book addresses all of these topics and more like few books before it have.
The Verdict:
Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.
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by WildGoose | Mar 6, 2019 | Book Reviews
Book Info:
Meditation in Action, by Chogyam Trungpa (Afterward by Sam Bercholz). Available as eBook, paperback (112 pages), or audiobook (3 hours, 18 minutes).
So in order to achieve silence, you would not chase the birds away because they make noise; in order to be still, you would not stop the movement of air or the rushing river, but accept them.
Summary:
So you have a meditation practice and have enjoyed the good vibes during that practice. Now what? How do you take that meditative acceptance and peace with you into your relationships? During road rage? In your life? How do you carry the calm of meditation throughout life when life is anything but calm? Meditation In Action has insights into both carrying that meditative transformation with you throughout your day as well as gaining greater peace and clarity in life. While being altogether very insightful and profound, occasionally an analogy will become so complex that it becomes confusing to the reader.
Things to Know:
- This book is not an introduction to meditation, the author assumes a basic understanding of mindfulness and meditative principles when beginning this book.
- While interesting, at times the analogies or symbols become complex and can be confusing to the reader.
The Bottom Line:
If you are looking for a meditative book with new insights and information as to how to bring bridge the gap between your meditation practice and your life, Meditation in Action is a great book to read. Be prepared to pause and digest certain parts of the book that may be confusing, but regardless of those passages, there is much to be learned from this book.
The Verdict:
Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links that earn us a small commission, at no additional cost to you if you purchase using our link.
by WildGoose | Mar 5, 2019 | Book Reviews
Book Info:
Solve for Happy: Engineer Your Path to Joy by Mo Gawdat. Available as eBook, paperback (368 pages), or audiobook (11 hours, 12 minutes).
Wherever you are, whoever you are, you want to be happy. It’s a human desire about as basic as the drive to take the next breath… Why should something so basic be so hard to find? The truth is, it isn’t. We’re just looking for it in the wrong places. We think of it as a destination to reach, when in fact it’s where we all began.
Summary:
Have you ever wished you could have more happiness in your life? And then have it stick around… even during the hard times? Even though Mo Gawdat was a successful engineer at Google with a beloved family, he still yearned for lasting happiness. Solve For Happy chronicles Mo Gawdat’s quest to find a formula for happiness that he could keep with him through life’s ups and downs. Be ready to explore deep topics such as grief, the impermanence of thoughts, time relativity, and even the existence of a God. Even with such meaty topics, Gawdat holds the reader’s attention easily thanks to his charismatic writing and authenticity. The book contains plenty of excellent exercises for increased mindfulness as well.
Things to Know:
- Mindfulness concepts are a strong focus of this book, however, meditation is not specifically emphasized.
The Bottom Line:
Therefore, if you are looking for dependable happiness in your life this is a great book to read. Real-life situations – even tragic ones – and examples of mindfulness are at the core of this book. In addition, this is a great book for people interested in mindfulness but not necessarily interested in a meditation practice as of yet.
The Verdict:
Rochelle:
Alicia: 
Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.
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by WildGoose | Mar 5, 2019 | Book Reviews
Book Info:
Peace is Every Step: The Path of Mindfulness in Everyday Life by Thich Nhat Hanh. Available as eBook, paperback (134 pages), or audiobook (3 hours, 29 minutes).
“Peace is present right here and now, in ourselves and in everything we do and see. Every breath we take, every step we take, can be filled with peace, joy, and serenity. The question is whether or not we are in touch with it. We need only to be awake, alive in the present moment.”
Summary:
Meditation can sometimes feel overwhelming. It’s hard to know where to start. As a result, many people wait to learn to meditate until they feel they have the time to really focus on it. Thanks to Thich Nhat Hanh’s approach, which is both practical and easy to implement, it is possible to begin finding peace wherever you are in your life – right now! If you already have a meditation practice, this book will still teach many helpful concepts for taking your meditation practice with you throughout the day. Peace Is Every Step explores many meditative and mindfulness concepts including: finding daily peace, compassion and understanding of yourself and others. In addition, you’ll also learn tangible exercises that can be done throughout the day to find greater peace wherever you are.
Things to Know:
- Looking to dive deep into one style of meditation? If so, this book may not be what you are looking for. This book introduces many concepts in mindfulness and meditation, but does not explore any one specific style of meditation.
- Because of this book’s conversational style, occasionally it is possible to overlook how profound the principles are.
The Bottom Line:
If you are searching for tools and concepts that will help bring greater peace and wisdom in life, this book is a great launching point. Thich Nhat Hanh explores exercises such as “Bells of Mindfulness” and mantras to allow greater peace into the reader’s life. Concepts such as compassion and peace in one’s own life are also introduced. Learning to incorporate meditation and mindfulness into your daily life becomes accessible and approachable with Peace is Every Step.
The Verdict:
Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.
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by WildGoose | Mar 4, 2019 | Book Reviews
Book Info:
Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life by Byron Katie. Available as eBook, paperback (321 pages), or audiobook (9 hours, 7 minutes).
“A thought is harmless unless we believe it. It’s not our thoughts, but our attachment to our thoughts, that causes suffering. Attaching to a thought means believing that it’s true, without inquiring. A belief is a thought that we’ve been attaching to, often for years.”
Summary:
Loving What Is is a game-changer. It is written in a seminar format where people from various audiences are being led through what Byron Katie calls “The Work”. The purpose of The Work is to show us how our own attachment to our beliefs and assumption leads to suffering in life. Through seemingly simple questions, Byron Katie teaches us to closely examine our own situations and relationships. Ultimately we will see reality more clearly and experience freedom from previously held negative beliefs.
Things to Know:
- This book isn’t specifically about meditation, but by practicing The Work, the reader learns to embody the essence of mindfulness. In this case, mindfulness is accepting reality for what it is. This acceptance and accountability reduces our suffering.
- While this book is not written in a typical self-help format, the reader will be able to quickly understand how to apply the principles in their own life and situation. There are free downloadable worksheets on Byron Katie’s website that complement this book.
The Bottom Line:
Loving What Is would be helpful even for those who are quite self- aware and/or logically- minded. Anyone seeking relief from suffering from mental illness, difficult relationships, or old grudges, will find this book helpful. (But please note that the book is not meant as a substitute for the guidance of a physician or therapist.) Prepare to learn tools for freedom from suffering as you read this book!
The Verdict:
Check out more of our “short and sweet” book reviews HERE.
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