The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosity, and Forgiveness [Paperback]

Mary Brantley MA LMFT (Author), Tesilya Hanauer CMT (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 2008

Loving-kindness, the English translation of the Pali word metta, is defined as unconditional well-wishing and openhearted nurturing of ourselves and others, just as we are. By practicing loving-kindness, you can learn to treat yourself and others-even strangers-like dear friends, putting aside criticism and judgment and choosing instead to open your heart to greater generosity, forgiveness, and compassion.

While Buddha taught loving-kindness meditation as an antidote to fear, it can also quiet feelings of anger, judgment, and worry by helping you see the innate goodness within yourself and others. Whether used as part of a formal meditation practice or as daily mindfulness exercises, the 100 meditations in The Gift of Loving-Kindness make it easy to open your heart and share the seeds of loving-kindness with others.

The Gift of Loving-Kindness skillfully guides us to train our minds and hearts in the practice of loving-kindness meditation. The meditative exercises in this book can spark one's journey into greater love and compassion or enrich it anywhere along the path. Combining internal reflection and mindful exploration of our heart's capacity, these pragmatic exercises open us to genuine transformation.
-Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness

Keep The Gift of Loving-Kindness on your bed table and let its wisdom guide you. This book offers a rich assortment of contemplations that will open and free your heart.
-Tara Branch, Buddhist teacher and author of Radical Acceptance: Embracing your Life with the Heart of a Buddha

Simply reading these words will awaken you. Actually doing even one of these practices could profoundly transform your life. I offer warm and deep thanks to the authors for blessing us with these hundred doorways to the deepest and best parts of ourselves as human beings.
-Jeffrey Brantley, MD, author of Calming Your Anxious Mind

Use this practical and heartfelt book to discover how to open your heart in any circumstance. New scientific evidence confirms that filling your heart with loving-kindness can broaden your mind and build your best possible future.
-Barbara L. Fredrickson, Ph.D., recipient of the Templeton Positive Psychology Prize

Perhaps the greatest power of loving-kindness meditation lies in its elegant simplicity. It is a gentle, easy-to-learn practice, yet its effects are profound, like a deep massage for the mind and soul. The authors present this ancient wisdom in a way that can soothe, deepen, and enrich our busy, modern lives.
-Rebecca Elliott, Ph.D., psychologist

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

According to marriage and family therapist Brantley and massage therapist Hanauer, the practice of loving kindness helps believers offer unconditional kindness and compassion to themselves, their loved ones, adversaries, and anyone in between. Through specific techniques, meditations, and actions, readers will not only learn how to forgive but will be better able to overcome fears, judgments, worries, and pain. The book is essentially a composite of mantras, organized into such chapters as "Be Your Own Friend," "Open the Box of Love," and "We All Make Mistakes." Case studies help the reader apply the material. Best-suited for libraries short on alternative health/spirituality materials.
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Review

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Product Details

• Paperback: 300 pages
• Publisher: New Harbinger Publications (September 1, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 157224562X
• ISBN-13: 978-1572245624
• Product Dimensions: 5.8 x 6 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #223,219 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DailyBuddhism Review; a Great Introduction To Loving Kindness, October 14, 2008

By 

Brian Schell "DailyBuddhism.com" (Dayton, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosity, and Forgiveness (Paperback)

I've mentioned loving kindness meditation here on the DailyBuddhism quit often in my postings the past few weeks, and it may still not be clear what it's all about. This book makes it clear as glass. The book is small (6"x6"), and as the title itself suggests, would make an excellent gift for someone interested in taking up a simple form of meditation for perhaps the first time. Although the introduction and explanatory pages mention Buddha a few times, the book is not religious and could be enjoyed by anyone of any faith.

The introductory section explains why the authors wrote the book, how to use the book, and basic instructions for both formal and informal loving kindness meditations. This takes around 44 pages, and is an interesting, fast read. The instructions on the formal meditation are clearly presented, and easy to follow and practice.

The book centers heavily on the ideas of generosity, forgiveness, and compassion. Towards others, of course, but starting with directing those concepts towards yourself. The book explains early on that it's hard to direct loving kindness outwards towards others if your mind is filled with blame or self-hate. Therefore, the book focuses on directing loving kindness (generosity, compassion, and forgiveness) towards yourself first, and then expanding that mindfulness outward towards others.

The rest of the book is broken into four parts, consisting of exercises that expand or modify these basic instructions in simple, yet useful ways. Part one of the book consists of meditations of loving-kindness towards yourself, part two is about loving-kindness towards difficult emotions, part three covers loving-kindness towards others, and finally, part four involves loving-kindness towards the world. On the last few pages are some additional resources for further exploration.

The bulk of the pages are filled with 100 mindful practices that can be attempted in any order. Some are quite good, others are a little weak, but since you can pick and choose the ones that appeal to you, there's plenty to work with. Each exercise is explained clearly and concisely, usually with only two or three paragraphs. Some of the ideas are a bit saccharine, but with a book on this subject, that's nearly unavoidable.

Buddhism Level: Beginner. All DailyBuddhism readers should be able to understand all parts of this one. It has no jargon and requires no special background. It's even find for those who may be uncomfortable with Buddhism, yet interested in meditation.

It's easy to do, it's easy to understand. Send yourself a little gift of loving kindness, and you can learn to pass it on to the rest of the world.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars worthwhile, October 22, 2009

By 

B. Watson (North Carolina) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosity, and Forgiveness (Paperback)

These are helpful practices for loving -kindness, and most important for me they be for used for practicing and understanding kindness towards myself.

5.0 out of 5 stars share the love, September 21, 2011

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Minneapplemuffin "Deals, Deals, Deals" (Minneapolis, MN United States) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Gift of Loving-Kindness: 100 Meditations on Compassion, Generosity, and Forgiveness (Paperback)

This is a really good book to use in the morning for a meditation. It will help you appreciate the little things in life and those around you.