Opening the Door of Your Heart: And other Buddhist tales of happiness

Description

In times of uncertainty, words of comfort are essential, and the stunning overseas sales of this title are testament to its universal appeal. These modern tales of hope, forgiveness, freedom from fear and overcoming pain cleverly relate the timeless wisdom of the Buddha's teachings and the path to true happiness in a warm and accessible way. Ajahn Brahm was born and raised in the West and in his more than thirty years as a Buddhist monk he has gathered many poignant, funny and profound stories. He has tremendous ability to filter these stories through the Buddha's teaching so that they can have meaning for all sorts of readers. There are many thousands of Australians who don't even know that they need this book yet, but who will no doubt embrace it just as overseas readers have. It is the perfect gift book as there is truly something in it for everyone.

UK-born Ajahn Brahm regarded himself as a Buddhist at the age of sixteen and his interest in Buddhism and meditation flourished while studying Theoretical Physics at Cambridge University. Ajahn Brahm is now the Abbot of Odhinyana Monastery and the Spiritual Director of the Buddhist Society of Western Australia.

More than statistics and theories, we really trust anecdotes and narratives. Our brains and beings are wired to learn deeply and easily via stories, and this splendid collection of 108 Buddhist-based tales proves the point with lasting, gentle, pervasive teachings ... In the dozen compelling and practical sections on topics like perfection, love, commitment, fear, pain, anger, forgiveness, happiness, freedom and humility, he weaves a long, rich tapestry of understanding using short threads of stories only a couple of pages long. Many tales lead one to the other, but each also stands alone. Resurrecting several 'chestnuts' as well as crafting new stories, Brahm avoids the pitfall of esoteric, inscrutable renderings sometimes found in Buddhist writing. Instead, without compromising integrity, he favours modern cadences and references (e.g., iPods and the World Wildlife Fund) to make the stories sail along ... this is a wonderful collection that can be enjoyed by a broad audience. - Publishers Weekly Ajahn Brahm is the Seinfeld of Buddhism. - Sumi Loundon, editor of Blue Jean Buddha: Voices of Young Buddhists and The Buddha's Apprentices