Customer Reviews

Being Here: Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(1)
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2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

A Connecticut Reader

I love this book. It was not what I expected it to be but I came upon it at exactly the right time.

About the time I first picked it up, I noticed that I had been harboring a secret, lifelong "disdain for the ordinary". Deep down I was convinced I knew what was really important in life and I saw little or no value in the ordinary events and encounters of my day. In my arrogance I thought they were neither important nor worthy of my full attention. I looked past them and spent a good deal of my time and energy looking for "the big things", often ignoring what was right in front of me.

So, you can imagine what I was thinking when I saw the title of this book - it couldn't possibly be about anything "ordinary" because it was talking about "enlightenment" for crying out loud!

Truth is it WAS about ordinary things AND it was extraordinary. It opened the door to a whole new way for me to experience what shows up in my everyday life as an adventure and as an opportunity to tap into the full richness of what life has to offer.

The Kanes are masterful story tellers and many of those they tell in this book touched me deeply.

I bought copies of the book for family and friends and sent one to my almost 87-year-old Mom. She read it in one sitting and called to say thank you. During the call she said the story about Mary and her daughter had really moved her. With a few tears and some emotion, she told me that when she read it she really got in touch with her compassion. I found myself just hanging out on the phone with my Mom and being there for her as she was there for me.

Wow. It was just an ordinary thank you phone call from my Mom - but I was there for it this time - very sweet.

Perhaps these stories will touch you as well. I hope that they will.

This book is truly a delight. The authors, Ariel and Shya Kane, deliver stories of everyday life with a twist of transformation (which they define as an anthropological look without judgment into how you are living your life). We are all perfect representations of us. This book shows that if we bring awareness to our lives the opportunities for expansion are endless.

I would highly recommend this book as well as the Kanes' other two books, Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformation and How to Create a Magical Relationship. These books can bring you out of an ordinary life and into a spectacular one. Reading the words in this book took me on a journey by teaching me about an easier way to live my life. With stories about Intuition, Love, Compassion, etc. the Kanes' teachings of Instantaneous Transformation is presented in such a way that is easy to understand.

Being Here is one of those books that you will hesitate to lend, so be sure to get it back if you do lend it! You will also want to give it many times as a gift. Ariel and Shya Kane write stories with elegance and compassion about being human and how living in the moment regardless of the circumstances is a deeply rich and moving experience. Their stories have the true stuff life is made of... the real juice!! Their stories are fun, engaging and light. The magic of this book lies in that once you read it, a whole world opens up and life starts showing up as a miracle to be witnessed, like getting a new set of eyes. How do they do it? I have no idea, but the peace of mind, sense of wonder and fortitude of spirit that was awakened in me with their simple stories are something I want to share with everyone I meet.
Truly brilliant. Bravo.

"A need to tell and hear stories is essential to the species Homo sapiens--second in necessity apparently after nourishment and before love and shelter. (Reynolds Price)

So, if you love a great story with an enlightening twist, "Being Here" is a book you cannot miss. In this new title, the Kanes invite us into their intimate world, shining their unique perspective onto the events and fabric of their lives. Whether they live through the death of a loved one, a hurricane or the unfortunate activation of the seat-warming button in their car in the middle of summer, they shine their light on the gift contained in every moment and situation. Their writing style is very engaging. The stories range from deeply moving to funny, all consistently delivering the message that every moment is a life lesson and a gift for the one who is here to look and discover.

Beyond the obvious appeal and wonderful entertaining value of the stories, "Being Here" is a profound invitation to experience life more directly, with compassion and in lining with your true heart's desire. A fantastic book.

I really love this book. It conveys principles of enlightenment in lovely, often very moving, stories. It's great because at the end of each story I feel I've been given a little slice of enlightenment. I can relate to each of the tales (even better because they're all true!) and I think this is such a perfect, gentle and informative way of learning the secrets of how to be happy.

As promised at the beginning of the book, the stories within Being Here, Modern Day Tales of Enlightenment, will pull you out of the (often limiting) story of your own life and into the actual moment. These moments with the Kanes may be ones you have never experienced before, as you are tenderly linked to a real person and his or her eye-opening transformations. Be prepared to laugh, cry, nod your head enthusiastically, or simply have your breath taken.

In this book, as in the Kanes' previous two books Working on Yourself Doesn't Work: A Book About Instantaneous Transformationand How To Create a Magical Relationship, Ariel and Shya's specific blend forges a pure, honest connection with us, their readers. Like scaffolding, the writing allows you to stand on the shoulders of giants who have seen a view of something remotely different from what we normally encounter in our daily lives: something that is distinctly honest, trustworthy, satisfying, and even sometimes comedic! All the while, the authors' wisdom becomes so much your own that when you close the book, you are wiser, stronger, and more centered. How amazing is that?!?

The wonderful little stories in this book are like a group of friends in my life. They are there and if I want to, they enlighten the way in times when it gets dark and the path is different to see or even when it is bright and the way is straight and clear ahead of me, they make the journey even more fun. The Kanes don't set up a new bundle of rules, which you than have to carry around. They more likely plant flowers all over the place which grow and shine just in front of you on your way, when you need something beautiful to look at.
I highly recommend this book and its story tales. Deep wisdom, compassion and fun are hidden in these "little" simple stories and if you choose so, they are great companions on your way, wherever your way leads and however you want to travel it.

We've all experienced life-changing moments that have taught us valuable lessons: the death of a loved one, a personal obstacle we've overcome, falling in love. Being Here offers the lessons without the drama. In fact, it shows us how profound discoveries can be found in simple, ordinary and what most of us would consider "insignificant" daily events. From looking out the window, driving down the road, cleaning your desk, or watching a movie, 'transformation' - that phenomenon that the Kanes talk about when something inside becomes more crisp, more vibrant, more you and less mechanical - can take place.

Woven into these stories of unexpected magic are elegantly-recounted tales about more 'serious' events: finding peace with a loved one who is passing, learning to truly forgive another person, finding love and a partner, and discovering who you truly are. What I love about this book is the respect for life and for people as humans that comes across. No moment is more or less important than another - since all we have is this one - and no one's experience is more or less valuable than another's - since each of us can only be exactly as we are and no different. If you're interested in experiencing or rediscovering the wonder of life and what's possible, don't let this book pass you by!

Enlightenment doesn't have to be serious; it can happen through
being light. Ariel & Shya Kane help people discover their inner wisdom
through lightness and fun...and it is really apparent everywhere in
Being Here. They have cultivated a special ability to be enlightened
through the simple, but not always easy, practice of engaging in the
moment. The Kanes teach life-shifting Transformational workshops in
New York City, Germany and Costa Rica, and I'm happy that they have
translated many of their experiences and stories onto the written page
with Being Here.

Being Here colorfully shows the reader that true fulfillment and
happiness lies in the simplest moments of life. By developing an
awareness of just noticing and not doing anything to change or fix
situations or people, transformation happens time and time again with
each person in the story. It can even happen to others around them,
without their active participation as they get pulled into the moment
as well.

Each tale is well written, clear, compelling, and contains a treasure
trove of wisdom. Not only that, but the stories really are a blast to
read...no seriousness necessary! Some of my favorites are actually the
very first two tales: "About Compassion" and "See Dick Transform".
What an amazing set of stories...I actually could list them all!

It really is a must have for your personal library.

I hardly know where to start in recommending this book except to say I really recommend this book. My most favorite story in Ariel and Shya Kane's, Being Here, is "That Small Not So Still Voice". I am inspired and moved by how this man gets a message, in the form of a "knowing voice" or "intuition" that tells him something. This voice is oddly very specific, it gets louder and louder until-- well, I won't ruin it for you. It's a very fun story, very touching. But haven't we all had that? Something tells us something like "don't walk on that side of the street" or the phone rings and we know who it is before we pick it up. When we listen to that "knowing", we are astounded by the results. The Kanes describe a phenomenon called Instantaneous Transformation in detail through lovely stories throughout "Being Here". It involves living each moment as if it were new. Being this way nourishes our intuition and brings with it surprises and gifts.

You can get to this aware state of being on your own, without the Kanes' anthropological approach to life, without knowing the "3 principles of transformation" but if you want the good stuff, the great stuff consistently, you'll have the best shot at it by spending some quality time with the Kanes, and the insights they have discovered. This wonderful book is full of everyday people having lives that are just gems. Its proof that life -no matter what your age-- can be that special thing or rather special series of joyful occurrences we'd hoped it would be when we were kids. Thanks Ariel and Shya, I love that you and this book and it's inhabitants exist and that inexplicable miracles are happening everyday.

I had to write and say grab this book, read it, share with your friends and get some miracles of your own. Oh and look them up on the internet, they have even more to offer including workshops and weekly seminars...which, too, are great. Imagine that! in a world so complicated, that on a small but popular island (Manhattan) there is an oasis and you are invited!