Customer Reviews

Courage and Contentment: A Collection of Talks on the Spiritual Life

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I've been reading spiritual books for over 25 years and I can't think of another book that addresses the Spiritual Journey more directly or more profoundly. I relished reading this book. With "courage and contentment," our life is truly rewarding.

This book's insights are not only profound, but also inspiring. They motivated me and, yes, even empowered me to go deeper. My practices are stronger as a result of reading this powerful little book. What more could I ask? Thank you, Gurumayi!

In this book Gurumayi gives us the tools to wake up to our inner courage and become steeped in divine contentment. This is a great book for everyone. Chidvilasananda's words are very comforting to the reader.Great Read!

I actually heard Gurumayi give the talk that is the title of this book and for the longest time I couldn't put courage and contentment together in a way that I understood, but I know that since hearing her talk and from reading the book and thinking about courage and contentment in all the many ways that the book discusses, I have come to a deeper understanding of courage and contentment. I would say that I am defintely a more contented person, because developing contentment is a priority now. And in many ways I am less fearful. I am in touch with my own courage. It's inside me for sure.

Definitely, reading the book and taking in what Gurumayi says and thinking about it and trying to live as she suggests, has made a tremendous difference for me.

What is remarkable, that I've just realized, is that "Courage and Contentment" really addresses fear and greed, which have run rampant in my life and, from what I can tell, are pretty much the causes of a lot of what's happening in the world today. So I think that Gurumayi, even though she comes from a very old tradition with roots in antiquity, is extremely contemporary and important, especially now.

This is a great book and she's a great writer and speaker.

What's really cool about this book in particular is that it has both "long" chapters and "very short" chapters where Gurumayi Chidvilasananda addresses a crucial Teaching in just a few words -- this makes this book very "user-friendly". With this book, I know that I ALWAYS have time to read something no matter how much time I actually have in front of me. Every chapter is life changing, especially the one "This Path is for the Courageous" where she addresses the fears and doubts that spiritual seekers may encounter in the course of their journey of disciplined Yogic practices. I have been studying Religion and Philosophy for quite a number of years now, and I must admit that having read almost all of Gurumayi's books and Muktananda's, I really understand why they are said to be amongst the most authentic and powerful Indian meditation masters of the century (cf. "Encylopedie des Religions, Bayard, Paris). Any sincere seeker should read this book.

I have easily read Courage and Contentment over 10 times since I bought it in 2002. Everytime I open this book, I find EXACTLY what it is that I need to learn at that given moment. When a seeker is tuned into the Heart and is truly searching for the Truth within, Gurumayi's words are just the bridge that is needed to take one across the ocean of wordly life into Heaven on Earth. This may sound like an awful lot of praise for a simple book; however, this is not merely a 'simple book'. Although the ideas appear to be simple and the words used are easily understood by all, the writings reveal a deeper level of meaning upon each reading.

I cannot express in words what a gift this book is. I recommend it to anyone who is looking for the Bliss of the Heart; for the innate joy within their very own being. Courage and Contentment is a blessing of a book, and regardless of what faith (or lack thereof) or religious background, I guarantee the reader will benefit from Gurumayi's simple, yet poignant message.

Blessings.

I just ordered another copy of Courage and Contentment because I keep giving mine away. I've read this book cover to cover several times, flipped open to a page or read a chapter that is pertinent to what's going on in my life at the moment. The beauty of it is that Gurumayi's words have never failed to help me change my inner state from negative to peaceful almost instantly. The book is a treasure.