The Joy of Living: Unlocking the Secret and Science of Happiness (Hardcover)

~ Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche (Author), Eric Swanson (Author), Daniel Goleman (Foreword)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Starred Review. This refreshing book is yet another sign that the next generation of Buddhism is creative, cross-cultural and cross-disciplinary. Born in 1975 in Nepal, the author is among the generation of Tibetan lamas trained outside of Tibet, and he's also a gifted meditator. His brain activity has been measured during meditation, earning him the enviable sobriquet of "happiest man on earth." He fuses scientific and spiritual considerations, explaining meditation as a physical as well as a spiritual process. Mingyur Rinpoche knows from experience that meditation can change the brain. He experienced panic attacks as a child that he was able to overcome through intensive meditation. If diligently practiced, meditation can affect the "neuronal gossip"—his imaginative rendering of brain cell communication—that keeps us stuck in unhappy behaviors. The meditation master offers a wide variety of techniques, counseling ease in practice to avoid boredom or aversion. Less is more; practice shorter periods more often, he says. His approach will be especially welcome for anyone frustrated by meditation or convinced they're "not doing it right." This book is a fresh breath from the meditation room, written with kindness, energy and wit. Three cheers for a cheerful contemplative. (Mar. 6)
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Review

“Compelling, readable, and informed.”
—Buddhadharma

“Rinpoche’s investigations into the science of happiness are woven into an accessible introduction to Buddhism”
—Tricycle

“There is real wisdom here. Fresh and clear. Mingyur Rinpoche has offered us what may well be an essential link between the Buddha and contemporary neuroscience and physics. He effortlessly makes connections between seemingly disparate and complex disciplines, and makes the journey sparkle. His voice is generous, intimate, and refreshingly personal. As he repeatedly reminds us, our experience of ourselves and our world is none other than an interactive projection of our mind; and most important, our minds can change. Our neurons can change structure and function, merely by observing the flow of our mental activity. Through repeated familiarity with positive mind states, such as love and compassion, and by transforming our limiting mental conceptualizing into vast freedom, we can achieve the already present basic mind of clarity and knowing—true happiness. Read this book.”
—Richard Gere

“An extraordinarily clear book on the whys and the hows of cultivating mindfulness effectively in our lives. It makes use of the idiom and exciting discoveries of modern science in ways that are easy to understand and entirely relevant to the meditation practices themselves.”
—Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses and vice-chair of the Mind and Life Institute

“The first of its kind . . . a truly compelling and infinitely practical fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and scientific ideas. Mingyur Rinpoche is a teacher for our time, uniquely gifted to bridge these two worlds.”
—Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying

“It is extraordinary to see the words lineage, compassion, spacetime foam, and limbic resonance all ... --This text refers to the Kindle Edition edition.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Harmony (March 6, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307346250
• ISBN-13: 978-0307346254
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (60 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #137,988 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

72 of 72 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Mind - East meets West, May 3, 2007

By	John Chancellor "Mentor coach, www.teachtheso... (New Orleans) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

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We often hear and talk about the different way of thinking - Eastern or Western and left brain vs right brain. But rarely do we see a work that brings it all together in easy to understand language. The Joy of Living really does a great job of explaining how the mind works and how to make the mind work for you and what you want.

"The mind is the source of all expereince, and by changing the direction of the mind, we can change the quality of everything we experience. When you transform your mind, everything you experience is transformed."

The book is divided into three parts. Part one is "The Ground". To trully understand the benefits of meditation, you need to understand how the mind works and what we need to do to make it work for us. Here Yongey goes into great detail to explain the different parts of the brain and their function. He also enlightens the reader with the movement of scientific research concerning the mind and how the Eastern and Western thoughs are moving toward the same goal.

Part two is The Path. Here Yongey gives detailed instructions on the various methods of meditating. His explanations are very easy to understand and follow. Unlike many books I have read on meditation, he tries to make it simple and workable. He is not so much concerned with technique as he is with results.

Part three is The Fruits. This is simply a recap of the benefits to be gained from meditation.

Even if you never plan to do any formal meditation, there is a lot to be learned from this book. Basically we grow up thinking in dualistic terms - that is self vs others, mine vs theirs, having or not having. When we think this way, we are bound by limitations. This way of thinking is a habit and habits can be changed.

There are basically two concepts that cause the majority of our problems - attachment and aversion. We become attached to the way we want things to be and have an aversion to change. The lessons about reality and preception are extremely good.

Do not expect to read this book once and become enlightened. There are many concepts that will take time to sink in and become part of your way of thinking. It is a book that will need to be studied and the concepts put into practice to give you the ultimate - The Joy of Living.

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Meditation clarified and simplified, May 2, 2007

By	David Humes (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I have been a meditator since 1980. Many people ask me how to meditate or they tell me of their problems when they have "tried" to meditate (too many thoughts, too fidgety, couldn't concentrate, etc.). Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche has clarified it so well that from now on I'm simply going to recommend this book, The Joy of Living, to anyone wishing to learn how to meditate. I facilitate TheHappinessWorkshop (dot com) and teach Meditation 101 for beginners. I learned many new practical things from him in this excellent, clearly articulate and easy to understand book. I HIGHLY recommend it.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars In gratitude, March 10, 2007

By	Melba K. Hannesson "Karma Chotso" (Miami, FL, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

As a teacher of Buddhism in America, I cannot thank Rinpoche and the brilliant Eric Swanson enough for this teaching. Finally there is something students can turn to when they find it difficult to have the faith that their practice of this path can result in the happiness the Buddhia taught could be found in one's own mind. It is also wonderfully helpful for non-Buddhists who simply want some benefits from meditation.

Many many thanks for all the work that went into the writing of this book and for all the wisdom it contains.