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A few of my favourite books!

Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Greetings book lovers!

I hope you are enjoying your experiences her at the forum with us today.

I decided to start a thread about some of the MANY books I have read over the past 40 years or so.

Let's start with a less-well-known book that I have read countless times.

It is called "The Lost Art of Compassion" by Lorne Ladner

He was amongst the first to bring Buddhist practices into western therapy.

Here's a few quotes to give you some idea -

Page 8 -

This brings me back to the earlier question of what constitutes a good, happy, meaningful life. When you ask Westerners this question, some answer based on external acccomplishments such as gaining a certain amount of wealth, popularity, sensual pleasure, comfort and social standing.

Others answer on a more deeply interpersonal level, focusing on their relationships with family and friends and on making some significant contribution to the world. It's extremely rare for anyone - even Western psychotherapists - to answer this question psychologically. The Buddhist response to this question is deeply psychological: Buddhism asserts that a good, happy life is determined not by anything external but rather by the quality of our minds and hearts in each moment of life. Regardless of what we do or don't do externally, a life spent cultivating wisdom and compassion is a good life.

Page 50 -

In all my years of knowing Western psychotherapists, meditation teachers and sincere spiritual practitioners, I can hardly think of any who did not get caught up in long periods of confusion or self-deception when it came to developing real compassion for themselves.

Page 234 -

The chapter is called: "Joyfully losing an argument".

At first, trying to use an argument as an opportunity to develop compassion and find joy seems a bit strange. Someone in your life approaches you in a provocative, agitated, unreasonable annoying way. You immediately think, "Oh, good, this is my opportunity. Here's an argument starting. Now I can really practice compassion!"

When you're just getting started, you'll be of two minds about the situation. Based on old habits, part of you will want the person to stop being difficult and to act kind and friendly. The part of you that is happy to find this opportunity initially may seem weak or less than genuine. That's alright; it just means that you're not yet accustomed to practicing compassion and inner disarmament. Lama Zopa Rinpoche advises us that when you get good at this practice, the thought of enjoying such challenges will arise as naturally and joyfully as the thought of liking ice cream or chocolate. It all depends on what you're accustomed to.

Enjoy the rest of your browsing!

:)
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
"True, or unconditional, love is unaware of the strange demands you impose on your relationships. Love is the same for all. Your attempts to reserve love for specific relationships and then withold it from others is the very thing that has blocked your vision of love's presence. Give as love gives - just as the sun that gives its light to all who ask, or the sparrow that sings not for the one who listens, but for the song itself. When you give love, love is your reward. When you judge some people as worthy of your giving and other people as undeserving, then it is you who is undeserving; not because you have been judged by love but because you have forgtotten love's law."

"You, in your essence are the foundation of unconditional love. The water you give refreshes the whole universe, for you are not separate from one part of the universe but are intimately linked to all. Let your gift be free, then. Let it flow from you and wash over all those you see, all those who cross your path. Do not think that you cannot still have relationships that are more involved than others. Involvement has nothing to do with love. There will always be those in your life with whom you share the deeper pulse of your thoughts and those whom you do not. But the love you give is the same for each of them. It is but the recognition of the very same life of which you are continually reborn."

"Love is a knowing, a pure understanding. It knows that all things are whole, regardless of their appearance or delusion, and it gives itself wholly, without judgement, without recognizing the difference between this relationship or that. It understands that there is only one real relationship and it is the one we all share, the Self that is beyond the thought or the idea of Love, the holy encounter of life with life. The secret of unconditional love is that we are all the same, holy beyond imagination. This is what the release of fear reveals. This is what you are all looking for. And this is what you will find when you open your heart to every element of creation."

We sat there for a very long time without saying a word. The silence was overwhelming. I looked up at Teacher and thought I noticed a change. His face began to glow, I was sure of it. The Light radiated from him and all around him. Then it extended to include all of us. We were engulfed in the Light. I cannot describe what this is like because it is beyond anything the world can understand. Several of the women and attendants stood up from their chairs. One of them started jumping up in the air and another began laughing out loud. Soon we were all laughing and dancing, moving with the energy and sharing the Light. I could no longer tell the difference between myself and the others. In that instant I understood everything. I was teacher. I was the Light. I swam in the ocean of sameness and knew I would never leave again.

From Emissary of Light" by James Twyman!

The author has a website - who doesn't these days!

Enjoy your browsing!
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Novelist and ordained Presbyterian minister Frederick Buechner laments the dangers that face his grandchildren but concludes it is all part of the human package: "Maybe the world's terrible fragility is the price God is willing to pay for humankind's holy and terrible freedom to be sinners or saints or the kind of hybrids that most of us are most of the time." Ethical activist and author William Sloane Coffin agrees that God will not intervene in the tragedies that encircle us at the expense of human freedom. It's all up to us. But the Holy One is there to provide ample assistance: "But ask of God a thimbleful of help to cope with the treachery and disappointments of life and you will get an oceanful in return."

Walking with God in a Fragile World by Leroy S. Rouner, James Langford | Review | Spirituality & Practice

Cheers!
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
I also have enjoyed reading Pema Chodron's books.

One of them is called "When Things Fall Apart" but it isn't nearly as depressing as you might think from the title :)

"The only reason we don't open our hearts and minds to other people is that they trigger confusion in us that we don't feel brave enough or sane enough to deal with. To the degree that we look clearly and compassionately at ourselves, we feel confident and fearless about looking into someone else's eyes."

"If we learn to open our hearts, anyone, including the people who drive us crazy, can be our teacher."

"Compassion is not a relationship between the healer and the wounded. It's a relationship between equals. Only when we know our own darkness well can we be present with the darkness of others. Compassion becomes real when we recognize our shared humanity."

"Most of us do not take these situations as teachings. We automatically hate them. We run like crazy. We use all kinds of ways to escape -- all addictions stem from this moment when we meet our edge and we just can't stand it. We feel we have to soften it, pad it with something, and we become addicted to whatever it is that seems to ease the pain."

Here is a site with some fabulous articles by Pema!

Also these quotes -

AZ quotes is huge! - plus similar authors listed!!!! - hours of fun for the whole family!
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
One of the most beloved of American Buddhist teachers, Pema Chödrön has devoted her life to inspiring people to awaken and has changed many lives in the process. She is the author of many influential books, such as When Things Fall Apart, Living Beautifully, and The Places that Scare You. Her writing, which explores Buddhist concepts and offers paths to conquering subjects such as suffering, fear, and difficult times, has inspired people worldwide. Lion’s Roar has published many powerful teachings authored by Pema. Read below for some of our favorites and to learn about her life and work.

The Best of Pema Chödrön: Life, Quotes, and Books

:)
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Why we incarnate

The planning we do before birth is far-reaching and detailed. It includes but goes well beyond the selection of life challenges. We choose our parents (and they choose us), when and where we will incarnate, the schools we will attend, the homes in which we will live, the people we will meet and the relationships we will have. If you ever felt you already know someone you just met, it may well be true. That person was probably part of your pre-birth planning ...

When we enter the Earth plane we forget our origins in spirit. We know prior to incarnation that we will have such self-induced amnesia. The phrase "behind the veil" refers to this state of forgetfulness. As divine souls, we seek to forget our true identities because remembering will give us a more profound self-knowing. To obtain the deeper awareness, we leave the nonphysical realm. The physical plane provides us with this contrast because it is one of duality: up and down, hot and cold, good and bad.The sorrow in duality allows us to better know joy. The chaos of Earth enhances our appreciation of peace. The hatred we may encounter deepens our understanding of love. If we never experienced these aspects of humanity, how would we know our divinity?

I believe that may come from a book by Robert Schwartz - he is on youtube!

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=Robert+Schwartz

Some are lengthy so make sure you have the time & the inclination :)
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Try - miracle of mindfulness summary - plus suggested searches down bottom

Here is one site -

The Miracle Of Mindfulness Summary

the-miracle-of-mindfulness-summary-768x384.png


Enjoy!
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Laughter

Laughing is one of the best ways to make yourself feel good. On a physical level, laughing releases endorphins that give us a sense of happiness. On a mental level, laughter occurs when we think about something positive or remember happy times. Laughing can increase our energy levels and thereby increase the positive energy that radiates from us to others. If nothing funny happens to you today, spend some time recalling something that made you laugh and enjoy that moment all over again.

Happiness

Rather than focusing on what makes you happy, think about what happiness is. Most of us imagine that happiness will come when we achieve certain goals. But happiness isn't reliant on external factors - it is totally within us. We create our own happiness every moment by our attitude towards ourselves and the world around us. If you expect true happiness to arrive only when you achieve your goals, you may be disappointed as it may always elude you. However, if you realise that you can create happiness, it has the potential to be with you always.

Compassion

It's very easy to fall into the trap of reacting to other people's behaviour. If someone is rude to us, or if an impatient driver cuts us off in the street, we become annoyed. Instead of feeling annoyed, try to feel compassion by putting yourself in their shoes. Imagine how bad you'd feel to be rude to another person, or how stressed you would feel to be in such a hurry. By taking the focus away from yourself, you realise that other people potentially have problems worse than your own, so be thankful for what you have.

Unconditional Love

The ultimate feeling we can experience is to give and receive unconditional love. Unconditional love means loving someone or something no matter what they do, for example, loving your partner even thought they've just said something hurtful, or loving your cat or dog even after they've destroyed your favourite plant. Today examine your ideas about love and see whether you are creating conditions for yourself and others such as 'I'll be loved if I lose weight' or 'I'll love him if he remembers my birthday' and start practising unconditional love. Take the time to notice the effect it has on you and those around you.

All of them from a book called "Soul Food" by Kate Kippenberger

:)
 
Geoff-Allen

Geoff-Allen

Resident megalomaniac
Why Zebras Don’t Get Ulcers

Our brain is a remarkable organ. It is responsible for all cognitive processes and functions our body undertakes on a daily basis. In other words, it helps us survive. However, unlike some animals, like zebras, for example, the human brain goes through multiple complex processes every day. However, these processes can sometimes do more harm than good, if we allow them.

Overthinking, stressing over what we cannot fix, becoming anxious over future events, are all a result of a restless brain. The problem is that the stress our brain produces reflects negatively on our body as well. It increases our cortisol levels and makes our cardiovascular system work poorly. It also messes with our insulin production, and generally with our overall health.

Comes from this book site -

Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers Summary

Enjoy your browsing!

:)
 
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