I recently heard this book referenced by Jack Kornfield in an
interview/training done by Psychotherapy Networker. Jack Kornfield was
talking about how the main ingredient in psychotherapy is
love/compassion. I got to pondering and reflecting on this more, thus I
decided to read this book as well. Most of the things mentioned in the
book I already knew due to my lifelong curiosity and love for the tenets
of Buddhism as well as my interest in the increasingly popular theory
on how self-compassion can positively transform one's life (specifically
Kristin Neff's "Self-Compassion" I have recommended to many of my
clients struggling with extreme self-judgment). This book was a
refreshing and comforting reminder of why Buddhism has always been a
nurturing comfort to me, especially when it comes to suffering
personally and the collective suffering of humanity. I also liked how
this book gave different exercises one can try to combine deep breathing
with meditation.
My favorite thing about this book overall that I
hope to be my new mantra (especially in this polarized society we're
currently living in) is The Four Immeasurables Prayer:
May all beings attain happiness and its causes.
May all beings be free from suffering and its causes.
May all beings never be separated from joy that is free of misery.
May all beings abide in equanimity, free from bias of attachment and aversion.
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