Customer Reviews

Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom

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I just finished this wonderful book, and I am still filled with the warm glow of wisdom from this true Buddhist master. Amazingly, Rinpoche has been able to explain in scientific terms the pathways to human joy, its causes and effects. I would recommend "Joyful Wisdom" to anyone interested in clear, practical Buddhist teaching, or really anyone that would like to cast off depression, anger, and other feelings that stop us all from moving forward and embracing life. This is a truly magical book which will be read and reread for generations.

This book primarily discusses Tibetan Buddhist philosophies and meditation. Rinpoche states what Tibetan Buddhists believe to be the sources of mental suffering and anxiety, which he claims is caused by natural causes (aging, illness) and self-inflicted causes (attachment to thoughts, perceptions). He posits that one can become more accepting of change and also reduce suffering by becoming less attached to one's thoughts and perceptions, which can be achieved by meditating regularly and also adopting some Buddhist viewpoints.

The book does a good job of explaining Buddhism and, more importantly to me, meditation. Most of the content is well written and easy to comprehend.

Rinpoche has written two books. Joyful Wisdom primarily discusses Buddhist philosophy. His other book, the Joy of Living, goes more into depth of meditation. If you want to learn about Buddhism, choose this book. If you want to learn how to meditate then choose the other book, which is the best book I have read on the topic of meditation.

For those of you who are looking to mindfulness as a way of life, or just trying to temper your routine with calm, I can't recommend "Joyful Wisdom" enough. This is Eric Swanson's second book with Mingyur Rinpoche, and he has a truly uncanny talent for translating etheral concepts into immediate tools for living. Also, in this economy, I don't know anyone who couldn't use an anodyne for the stress that afflicts us all. Bravo, Rinpoche and Swanson, and thanks for helping me breathe.

I've come to a rather cynical place where I sometimes believe there is nothing i can learn from meditation books and 'spiritual manuals'. After all, they contain empty words while all that matters is experience, right?

Getting ahold of JW made me realize (yet again) how often i get it wrong. Reading itself created an inner shift in me, i could see my breathing change, awareness sink into the body...i quickly realized that this book is a gem. Although Rinpoche does not shy from delving into obtuse Pali texts (such as the Nikayas or medieval Tibetan discourses by Gampopa) nor does he skip recent fMRI studies and their implications for phenomenology, this information is delivered in unpretentious prose which never patronizes or simplifies but rather focuses relentlessly on the bigger picture. Both authors appeal to the common denominator we share as beings trying to spiral out of ignorance into something, something more...free. I guess this is because Mingyur's mind is, in fact, clear and free. Some stuff I encountered here for the first time, such as the incisive discussion of the Buddha Nature blockers. Other teachings are put in a way that inspires and encourages. There are many stories from Mingyur's own life, always put in a positive, light-hearted, unpretentious context.

Rinpoche, son of the famous tulku Urgyen Rinpoche is aware of his relative youth. While it is unusual to see young Tibetans take such prominent public profiles - he handles his own with humility, insight, grace and with a remarkable affinity for scholarship. I especially appreciated his talent for collaborative investigations with contemporary neuroscientists into the nature of the mind, something that the Dalai Lama himself has taken great interest in. I'd guess the Rinpoche's relative youth provides him with more insight into the complexity of the Western mind and its (our) convoluted coping strategies than an older master (Namkhai Norbu, say, or Sogyal) might have. The light touch makes the book a delightful - and instructive read. A good book for beginners and for old farts.

This book is a great introduction to Buddhism. Good examples and kind explanations appear through the whole book.

The Buddhist philosophy and its main ideas are firstly presented, followed by the main meditation practices and how they relate to the theory, and finally Rinpoche gives great advice about how to apply the right meditation practice depending on your particular situation, explaining how practice will help you in real life to face problems "making friends with them", looking at them with a more joyful and wiser point of view.

Specially recommended for people facing difficult situations, I rather recommend it to everybody... As Mingyur Rinpoche says, no one is born with the "Handbook of Happiness", we all face problems during our lifes, from the smallest ones, like an inch, to the biggest ones. This book offers a great aproach for learning to deal with them.

One needs to keep exploring life whether you're 13 or, like me, 58 with cancer...there are always questions waiting for answers..sometimes there are no answers...this book helps one deal with the "no answer" questions. It has helped me maintain a postive attitude towards this life that I am living and how to make it the best I can. Everyone has difficulties...be it cancer, teenagers or too much money(or not enough)...this book reaches out to all in a clear, consice way that can touch your very soul.
Bravo!

A great book for beginners with many refreshing stories, and the "Four Noble Truths" developed fully.

This book changed my life. I applaude Mingyur Rinpoche & Eric Swanson for writing a book that anyone can benefit from. You don't have to be a practicing Buddhist to apply these simple but profound principles to your life.
I highly recommend this book to ANYONE who wants to have a more enriched and fufilling life!

Though I generally steer away from the American marketed Tibetan Buddhist literature, this book caught my eye and my curiosity.

Having just received my new BeBook eReader (http://mybebook.com)I wanted to buy my first ebook. So I took the plunge for this book. The style of the book is soft and soothing and the writing is easy to grasp. The writer offers examples that work for today; things that are constant and common for all beings.

If you are truly interested in understanding the root of your dis-ease I would highly suggest you read this book...it may change your expectations of life and improve your ability to live your life fuller!

I enjoyed the book so much that I bought one each of my close friends. The audio edition is particularly good.