Customer Reviews

Facing the Lion, Being the Lion: Finding Inner Courage Where It Lives

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Mark Nepo's small classic "FACING THE LION, BEING THE LION: FINDING INNER COURAGE WHERE IT LIVES" makes bold promises and largely delivers. I could quibble with elements of construction, and espouse frustration with the sinuous curves of narrative, or take issue with what sometimes feels to be disconnected topics, but in the end that's just life and that's what this book is all about. It's a small jewel that not only refracts and reflects but also generates light where there was darkness.

His core theme is courage and he leads an exploration that's centered on two facets. The first is how to get in touch with your core; that is, getting to know who you are, why you are that way, and then learning to just be yourself. He argues that this takes courage. We have to break through our ego attachments, the numbing of a thousand and one distractions, the reality of being spirit in a corporeal body, and shedding the inauthentic masks we wear to protect ourselves. These are significant tasks that require courage of self-reflection and a willingness to own what is ours. This is what he means when he talks about facing the lion.

Being the lion is the willingness and ability to show-up in the world while being true to our core. That extends to any and every situation where we have choices to make and where we interact with others. This is how he defines the spiritual life and notes that it isn't easy. There is risk in being misunderstood but the reward is a feeling of universal connection, not only with ineffable but with all of our fellows. Often the crucible is in relationships where Nepo asserts that we all screw-up and sometimes with considerable frequency. That's because of the inherent wear and tear of days. But he also claims that love is acceptance, not of behavior but of intent. Good relationships are those where love is the motivation.

"The ultimate aim of courage becomes a lifelong quest to know who we are, to care, and to find meaning in the face of death." In the end it's a brave book, one to be savored and not read for speed, that's often beautifully written and offers many moments of illumination. It's classified as self-help and it does help but there are no easy answers here. Instead, it offers a glimmering meditation on always becoming, Beginner's Mind, and the art of living. Although the book is mostly prose, Nepo is a poet so it's no surprise that this volume speaks at least as much to the heart as the mind, no small feat that.

This book is filled with pearls of wisdom and deep insights into the ageless wisdom. We get a glimpse of the author's own journey through life and the courage he has had to nourish. This is a deeply moving book and would be most enjoyed by anyone who is on a spiritual path and in need of courage during times where life seems to only bring trials and tribulations.

mark nepo is an engaging writer, he pulls from many wisdom traditions to make his points in his prose. thoughtful, personal, well written. highly recommend this book.

FACING THE LION, BEING THE LION: FINDING INNER COURAGE WHERE IT LIVES comes from a poet and teacher who offers many examples of courage and surveys some of the crushing effects of life and how to overcome them. From first-person experiences and lessons learned from other philosophers and teachers to historical references and case histories, FACING THE LION, BEING THE LION is packed with insights.

I was expecting an intimate conversation with the writer and his inner self. Instead, I feel more as though I've been sitting in an auditorium, listening to him talk about all the things he's learned. The occasional story makes a positive impression, but the way the book started created a false impression of its potency. At the same time, the book's brought tears to my eyes and encouraged me to continue reexamining myself...

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An easy read - with lots of reminders and helps on how to keep focused on being true to ones core values and true self.