Light Comes Through: Buddhist Teachings on Awakening to Our Natural Intelligence

Description

We all just want to be happy, right? This book reveals that the true secret to attaining happiness has everything to do with shifting our focus from ourselves to others. According to Dzigar Kongtrul, author of "It's Up to You", when our natural intelligence and innate compassion are sparked by Buddhist meditation and contemplation, we discover insights into what true happiness means - and how to achieve it. The longing for happiness expresses the great natural potential of the heart and mind, and turns us toward our innately positive attitude. Kongtrul, who is Pema Chodron's teacher and friend, shows that when we include others in our wish for happiness, we move toward joy and contentment based on selflessness and the concern for others' well-being. 'In trying to articulate what is so profound about his style of presentation, I find that partly, it is the prolonged and intensive Buddhist training he received; partly, it is the way he never holds back but always challenges himself; partly, it is his good heart and humility; partly, it is that he has immersed himself wholeheartedly in Western culture; partly, it is that he knows the minds of students; partly, it is his almost ruthless directness; partly it is because you feel understood and appreciated; partly, it is because you feel you can't get away with anything' - Pema Chodron.

Dzigar Kongtr l grew up in a monastic environment and received extensive training in all aspects of Buddhist doctrine. In 1989, he moved to the United States with his family and in 1990, he began a five-year tenure as a professor of Buddhist philosophy at Naropa University. He also founded Mangala Shri Bhuti, his own teaching organization, during this period. He has established a mountain retreat center, Longchen Jigme Samten Ling, in southern Colorado. When not guiding students in long-term retreats and not in retreat himself, Rinpoche travels widely throughout the world teaching and furthering his own education.

"This is a wonderful fresh look at the amazing potential of our human mind."-Pema Choedroen, author of When Things Fall Apart "There is a comforting bravery in Kongtrul's thinking that clarifies the differences between 'trying to arrange the world according to our preferences' and 'delighting in the way our experience naturally unfolds.' This is a suitably calm and graceful pathway illuminated by a Buddhist master."-Publishers Weekly "An interesting and refreshing snapshot of Buddhist teachings."-Yoga Magazine (UK) "Light Comes Through is an inspired, well-written, and creative examination of topics such as faith, romance, developing happiness for others, and facing our own suffering with perspective and compassion. It is a wonderful guidebook for living a very different kind of life."-Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness