How Generosity Works

The first in the How Life Works series, How Generosity Works is based on the best-selling book How Yoga Works. Like the tale told in How Yoga Works, which is pinned to Master Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, How Generosity Works is drawn from Master Shantideva’s teachings contained in A Guide to the Bodhisattva’s Way of Life.

Part instruction and part short story, this book illustrates how one can use the transformational power of Master Shantideva’s teachings to create a happier life for oneself and for others. Set in a small New England town, a connection is formed between Grace, a middle-aged Buddhist practitioner, and Troy. Still grieving the death of his good friend, a breakup with his girlfriend, and the fallout of his parents’ divorce, Troy has returned home after failing too many classes in college. At his father’s house, he endures the unwelcoming scorn from a combative and critical stepmother. Their initial connection through music sets the space for the deeper teachings of Master Shantideva’s verses. In a touching story that empowers Troy to take control of his own life, this story demonstrates how to transform pain into a profound experience of love.