Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now [Hardcover]

Surya Das (Author)

Book Description

Release date: May 24, 2011

"Awealth of inspiration and practical tips for enjoying the Kingdom of God, thePure Land of the Buddha, now." —Thich Nhat Hanh, bestselling author of Peace Is EveryStep

"Fornewcomers to Buddhism (and non-Buddhists interested in universal wisdom!) and‘old hands’ at practice . . . [Das] promises nothing less than a liberatedlife, freed from angst over the tyranny of time, though the practice of lovingpresence." —Sylvia Boorstein, author of Happiness Is An Inside Job

Internationallyrenowned meditation scholar Lama Surya Das delivers a penetrating and practicalguide to discovering the power of living fully in the now. In the tradition ofthe Dalai Lama’s The Art of Happiness and Noah Levine’s Heartof the Revolution, Buddha Standard Time is a roadmap to discoveringyour own inner kingdom of awareness, patience, and love.

Editorial Reviews

Review

“This book is Lama Surya Das in his most tone-perfect Western guru voice: authoritative, inviting, generous, funny, poetic, imaginative and informative and totally accessible.” (Sylvia Boorstein, author of Happiness Is An Inside Job: Practicing for a Joyful Life)

“Lama Surya Das is on our best teachers of universal wisdom. Buddha Standard Time is fairly dripping with insights. It’s like a treasure to keep near you at all times.” (Marianne Williamson, author of The Age of Miracles)

“Lama Surya Das offers a wise and sane way to navigate these times. This pragmatic book will be illuminating and helpful for anyone wishing to find the timeless amidst the rush of time.” (Joseph Goldstein, author of One Dharma: The Emerging Western Buddhism and A Heart Full of Peace)

“I felt myself calming down as I read. Surya Das expands upon important wisdom from Tibetan Buddhism as well many other spiritual traditions, and shares this wonderful Native American quote, ‘Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way.’ This book could be one of those blessings for you.” (Mary Pipher, author of Seeking Peace: Chronicles of the Worst Buddhist in the World)

“If your life feels busy, frantic, desperately stressed – please read this book. Lama Surya Das is a rare and gifted teacher. I can think of few better guides in our time and he has given us a beautiful gift.” (Reverend Wayne Muller, bestselling author of Sabbath and A Life of Being, Having, and Doing Enough.)

“We all want more time. Surya Das reveals the open secret that we already have it, hidden within each moment. Discovering it is simple but not easy, and he gives us the tools and reminders to actally do it. Now. So let’s have tea....” (Mirabai Bush, Founding Director and Senior Fellow, Center for Contemplative Mind in Society)

“A wealth of inspiration and practical tips for enjoying the Kingdom of God, the Pure Land of the Buddha, *now*.” (bestselling author Thich Nhat Hanh)

“If you want your future moments to sparkle with ecstatic awareness read this book.” (Ram Dass, author of Be Love Now)

“...the author carefully evokes the power of perception and the creation of space within time and all of its vast infinities. Das weaves together intricacies of living in the moment, sensing inherently the overwhelming power of now. Exhilarating and profound food for the timeless soul.” (Kirkus Reviews)

From the Back Cover

We're all given the same twenty-four hours a day.We can spend our time feeling hurried and harried,overwhelmed by chores and demands, distractedand burned out . . . or we can awaken to BuddhaStandard Time, the realm of timelessness whereevery choice, every action, and every breath canbe one of renewal and infinite possibilities.

Buddha Standard Time shares one of the greatrealizations of Buddhism, an insight that anyonecan learn to apply. The minutes and hoursof our days do not simply march from futureto present to past. Rather, each moment isintersected by a fourth dimension. By learningto live in this dimension—Buddha StandardTime—we reduce the amount of stress in our livesand find greater focus, fulfillment, creativity, andeven wisdom.

Drawing on Tibetan Buddhism and other greatwisdom traditions, as well as on neuroscience andholistic traditions, renowned teacher and nationalbestselling author Lama Surya Das shares real worldexamples, practical exercises, and essentialtechniques.

The pace and pressure of today's world feels relentless.That is why, now more than ever, we need theancient wisdom contained in Buddha StandardTime. Far from being at the mercy of time'sdemands, we will finally realize that we have, infact, all the time in the world.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: HarperOne; First Edition edition (May 24, 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061774561
• ISBN-13: 978-0061774560
• Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #612,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him "the Western Lama."

Surya has spent nearly forty years studying Zen, vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia. He is an authorized lama (priest and spiritual master teacher) in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism as well as the founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts, and its affiliated branches. He is the founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network annual conferences with the Dalai Lama.

As a best selling author, sought after speaker, teacher, and lecturer, he conducts retreats and workshops around the world. Surya is also a published poet, translator, and chant master. He has been featured in numerous publications and major media, including ABC, CNN, MSNBC, NPR, The Boston Globe, Boston Herald, New York Post, Long Island Newsday, Long Island Business Journal, San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, The Jewish Free Press, New Age Journal, Tricycle Magazine, Yoga Journal, and The Oregonian.

One segment of the ABC-TV sitcom Dharma & Greg was based on his life ("Leonard's Return"). Surya has appeared on Politically Correct with Bill Maher and on The Colbert Report.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful for Almost Anyone - Helping Us Shift Our Relationship to Time, and Ourselves May 25, 2011

By L. Erickson TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Hardcover

Although written by an American Tibetan Buddhist Lama, this book is really for anyone that finds themselves saying "I just don't have time" (which is just about everyone.) It contains teachings, insights and exercises on mindfulness and meditation designed to help us shift our relationship to time, in a world in which we are constantly overstimulated, and pushed to do more faster. Although many of these teachings are drawn from Tibetan Buddhism, the book has a very ecumenical feel, with quotes, anecdotes and teachings drawn from virtually every other religious tradition, as well as medical science, neuro-scientific research, and popular culture.

I have always been a fan of Lama Surya Das' Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World, and frequently recommend it to people interested in learning more about Buddhism, because it is accessible and grounded in daily life within the Western world. I feel that is a great strength of this book too, as he effortlessly glides from telling a story about a traffic jam he was recently in, to a Sufi parable, to describing the different kinds of human brain waves and how meditation impacts them. This fluidity and movement between stories from daily life that almost any of us can relate to, to religious themes, to neuroscience, keep the book engaging and relevant throughout.

It begins with chapters on mindfulness, a cornerstone theme through the book (and of course of Buddhism too.) As the book progresses, it moves closer and closer to exploring what he calls 'Buddha Standard Time', a level of consciousness and/or insight both outside of and within the 'linear' version of time that we normally experience.... Every chapter includes two kinds of suggested exercises - 'Mindful Moments' describe ways to engage with our daily lives more fully in the moment, and 'Time Out' meditations describe more formal meditation techniques for retreating - even if just for a few minutes - from our hectic pace.

The exercises really span the gambit, and I think almost anyone will be able to find something they resonate with - he includes basic breath, chakra, mantra (chanting), insight, and deity visualization meditations, among others. He talks a lot about nature, and finding ways to connect to natural cycles, including the circadian rhythms of our own bodies (which he describes in plain English terms that anyone can understand.) Towards the end of the book he moves into a discussion of aging, our relationship with death and dying, and various theories on the nature of time - and its seeming acceleration in the modern age. As someone especially interested in women's spirituality, an added bonus for me were several sections that described some of the ways Tibetan Buddhism honors the sacred feminine, and others that summarized neuro-scientific findings on differences between the female and male brain.

Along the way there are many fun cultural references (did you know Sherlock Holmes traveled to Tibet and studied meditation in the original books??) It is a deeply spiritual book that doesn't always seem to be - which I mean as a compliment, and hopefully you know what I mean. So overall, an excellent book that I would recommend to almost anyone - relevant, grounded, accessible, engaging, and inspiring. Read more ›

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Time Enough May 24, 2011

By Barb F

Format:Kindle Edition

Lama Surya Das has always had the ability to present deep truth in terms, which can be easily understood at first glance and revisited at different times of life yielding various and deeper insights with each encounter. I think this is one of the timeless (pardon the pun) wriings that will wear well over the course of a lifetime. The simple meditations and exercises fit anyone's time schedule and call to that which is common to humankind. Who does not get caught up in the beauty of the occasional sunrise or sunset, which catches us unaware by its spectacular display? I find these moments have more to do with my focus than the actual event. This is one of the teachings I took away from this newest book, to bring awareness to as many moments as I feel like. I refuse to put awareness on a to do list and make it a chore. By offering so many easy to do meditations, I feel pretty sure I can fit one of Lama Surya's suggestions into my day. The one that comes to mind first is breathing itself. Since I am already breathing, paying attention to an in breath and an outbreath once in a while, and stepping outside of clock time to rest in the stillness of that moment, seems brilliant. I hope everyone can have the opportunity to find time enough to be on BST (Buddha Standard Time). Lama Surya has certainly provided enough options for me to find a way to be more present. Maybe I will even find the time to take pleasure in the time I "find."

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars both practical and inspirational June 27, 2011

By bbushorn

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really recommend this book especially for readers like myself who have had difficulty starting and persisting with medication practice. In particular if you procrastinate because of a hectic schedule & busy lifestyle.

I found the material to be quite profound and yet available & grounded. Each chapter ends with some "small steps" anyone can take to start small and go slow. He makes it seem less daunting to begin to alter one's sense of time and to become mindful during a variety of moments we all move through each day. I also felt a sense that his spirituality is well honed by years of his own practice & not just a superficial Americanization of Buddhism. Take (back) your time with this book. It will reward.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Take Back Your Time July 16, 2011

By Sheri Newton

Format:Hardcover

Buddha Standard Time by Lama Surya Das is the book to read if you are so busy that you think you don't have time to do things. Read this book and start to de-stress by getting back in tune with the natural time of things - not a clock.

Buddha Standard Time is a book that everyone who thinks they are so busy they have no time to even stop and enjoy a sunrise or sunset should read. It includes guides to help readers start living in the present moment and to enjoy things that they really want to do. It doesn't promise to expand your 24 hour day into 48 hours, but if you start practicing some of the steps and meditations, you may just find yourself with extra time in the day so you can start enjoying your "time" once again.

Overall, I found that the exercises are quite helpful in learning how to meditate and reconnect with nature. I highly recommend this book to everyone who needs help de-stressing and enjoying the time in a day again.

* Thank you to the publisher of Buddha Standard Time, Harper One, for providing me with a copy of this book for review. All opinions expressed are my own.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Buddha Standard Time, Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now May 30, 2011

By m&m

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

Whether one is a student in the university or a doctor, lawyer, professor, executive, professional or worker of any type, is there anyone in today's environment who is not faced with the seemingly impossible tasks to accomplish more with less while usually being constrained by that short but huge parameter we call time? Many of us literally race about with our demanding jobs and chores at our offices, homes, classes, autos, wherever, often leaving us with various levels of frustration, disappointment and lack of fulfillment. We become faced with our self-generated stress, often taking it home to spouses, children, loved ones, friends, colleagues--options which are not good for our mental, physical, emotional health. But recognizing this dilemma which so many face today, Lama Surya Das has stepped up in a `timely' manner and prepared for us a most interesting, sensitive, moving set of words and practices that have as their major focal point this seemingly lack of time in our modern and often hectic world.

Buddha Standard Time, Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now, is about various and numerous ways of slowing ourselves down, letting time seemingly move more slowly, move more with us rather than ahead of us, with the result our having more time, more quality time, less frustration and stress as we face our daily lives. Said differently, this book is about finding ways in our growing day-to-day race with time to live a more meaningful life generally, a more meaningful spiritual life in particular, a life more attuned to the basic rhythms of the natural world. It is a book about how to live our lives more peacefully within the uncompromising flow of all that seems to constantly confront us at every angle.... It is a book about learning to be oneself, changing the ways we cope, and enjoying ourselves more while continuing to get our necessary activities performed.

The tools laid out for us in Buddha Standard Time are not surprising to those who have experience in studying Buddha dharma. These tools are essentially mindfulness, meditation, nowness-awareness and compassion. These powerful practices are smoothly integrated into each chapter's short applications called Time Outs and Mindful Moment (Meditations). Even with practice of a few minutes a day, the rewards to us and, hence, to those dear to us, are discussed throughout the book,

As many know from his previous books, including the best selling Awakening the Buddha Within, Lama Surya Das was trained for decades in the Nyingma and Kagyu Tibetan Lineages in Tibet, Nepal, and India, As one of the few Lamas of American birth currently teaching and practicing in America, he writes and teaches generally in the Tibetan Dzogchen Buddhist tradition.

So, to whom is this book directed? Buddhists or Dzogchen Buddhists? Yes to both, but the focus of this book is much broader; it is for all of us, particularly those who become frustrated and stressed with the frenzied pace of today's world. Whether one considers themselves Catholic, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Baptist, Methodist, or those practicing Judaism, Islam, Atheism, Agnosticism, Buddhism, or whatever one's spiritual bent, this book, Buddha Standard Time, is for all of us.

Lama Surya Das is an enlightened thinker, teacher and writer. Buddha Standard Time is a joy to read, to learn from, to laugh with, to shed tears with. I highly recommend this book and it's timely, elegant messages to all.
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