The Magnanimous Heart
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- $15.99
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- $15.99
Publisher Description
In her long-awaited debut, a beloved master teacher shows us how to move from the “constant squeeze” of suffering to a direct experience of enoughness.
The magnanimous heart is a heart of balance and buoyancy, of generosity and inclusivity. It allows us to approach each moment exactly as it is, in a fresh and alive way free from agendas and “shoulds,” receiving all that arises. It has the capacity to hold anything and everything, transforming even vulnerability and grief into workable assets.
In writing evocative of Pema Chödrön’s, Narayan Helen Liebenson teaches us exactly how it is possible to turn the sting and anguish of loss into a path of liberation—the deep joy, peace, and happiness within our own hearts that exists beyond mere circumstances.
The Magnanimous Heart shows us how to skillfully respond to painful human emotions through the art of meditative inquiry, or questioning wisely. Readers will learn how to live from a compassionate love that guides our lives and warms whatever it shines upon.
With metta and compassion as companions and allies, we discover how our own magnanimous hearts can gently allow the inner knots to untie themselves.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Liebenson (When Singing, Just Sing), a columnist for Buddhadharma magazine, explores how meditation, dharma, and awareness work together in her life in this helpfully challenging book. She starts from the assumption, central to Buddhism, that all people share certain core questions: How do I live a good life? How do I find peace? How can I find a fulfilling way to be in the world? These questions serve as jumping-off points for explorations of loss, grief, joy, and liberation. In each section, Liebenson discusses pertinent Buddhist teachings relevant to the given emotion (for example, regret) and suggests practices for readers to try, such as ways of letting go and strategies for reconceiving emotions during meditation. She stresses that meditation is most useful as an ongoing practice rather than something resorted to in extremes. Novice meditators may find the book intimidating, as it is directed toward readers with established mediation practices, but those looking to deepen or strengthen their meditation or understanding of dharma will find much to explore.
