Living As a River: Finding Fearlessness in the Face of Change [Paperback]

Bodhipaksa (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 28, 2010

To face reality is to embrace change; to resist change is to suffer. This is the liberating insight that unfolds with Living as a River. A masterful investigation of the nature of self, this eloquent blend of current science and time-honored spiritual insight is meant to free us from the fear of impermanence in a world defined by change.

The primary vehicle for this journey is Buddhism's traditional Six Element Practice, a deconstructive process of deep reflection that helps us let go of the belief in a separate, static self-the root of unhappiness. Bodhipaksa takes readers through a systematic yet poetic analysis of the self that supports the realization of:

• A sense of spaciousness and expansiveness that transcends the limitations of the physical body
• Profound gratitude, awe, and a feeling of belonging as we witness the extent of our connectedness with the universe
• Freedom from the psychological burden caused by clinging to a false identity
• The relaxed experience of "consciousness, pure and bright"

Engrossing and incisive, Living as a River is at once an empowering guide and a meditative practice we can turn to again and again to overcome our fear of change and align joyfully with the natural unfolding of creation.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This book is one of the best explanations of what the separate self is, what it does, and how being free of the static sense of a separate self benefits humanity, leaving us "peaceful yet engaged." It reminds us of why awakening is not just about personal freedom, but also compassion, ethics, action, and care and concern for all sentient beings. These elements are sometimes missed in our modern attempts to translate Buddhist texts in order to "rush to a personal awakening."

"I wrote Living as a River because I'm fascinated by the Buddhist Six Element Practice and I wanted to communicate my explorations. But my book isn't really about the Six Element Practice (which is really just the framework for the explorations it contains). It's a way of letting go of our clinging so that we can, eventually, lose our clinging and find freedom. But that's not a very adequate description of the book either" says Bodhipaksa.

Living As A River contains a great balance between explaining awakening and giving direct injunctions to the reader to bring about the awakening. As Bodhipaksa explains, like a river --life is dynamic, vibrant, ever-changing. The static, fixed views of ourselves, others, and the world freeze us, stifling our creativity, and turning us away from the inherent love within each of us.

*Bodhipaksa adds: "I could describe the book in just two words: "Embracing change." So that's what the book's about. It uses the structure of the Six Element meditation in order to face up to the reality of change, and to help us let go of clinging so that we can embrace impermanence."

This book perfectly illuminates the real purpose of awakening, which is not to just talk about that river or even enter the river, but to realize we are it --fully. Review by Scott Kiloby, author of Love's Quiet Revolution, Reflections of the One Life, and Natural Rest: Finding Recovery Through Presence. -- Non-Duality America - Scott Kiloby

About the Author

Bodhipaksa was born Graeme Stephen in Scotland and currently lives and teaches in New Hampshire. He is a Buddhist teacher and author who has been practicing within the Triratna Buddhist Community since 1982 and has been a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order since 1993. Bodhipaksa runs the online meditation center Wildmind to increase awareness of the positive effects of meditation. His published works include the audios The Wisdom of the Breath and Still the Mind and the book Wildmind.

Product Details

• Paperback: 364 pages
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated (September 28, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591799104
• ISBN-13: 978-1591799108
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (31 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #431,508 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Bodhipaksa was born Graeme Stephen in Scotland and currently lives and teaches in New Hampshire. He is a Buddhist teacher and author who has been practicing within the Friends of the Western Buddhist Order since 1982 and who has been a member of the Western Buddhist Order since 1993.

Bodhipaksa runs the online meditation center Wildmind (www.wildmind.org) to promote awareness of the positive effects of meditation. He has a particular interest in teaching meditation in prisons.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

26 of 29 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Life changing November 21, 2010

By Tim Brownson

Format:Paperback

This book is like no other book on Buddhism I have ever read before. Maybe that's because it's not really a book on Buddhism, but on life (and death). I actually hate writing reviews for books even for my own blog because when I read a book I just want to enjoy it without trying to remember specific aspects or highlight pages.

However, I just wanted to make some comments about Living As A River because it has made me think and made me feel uncomfortable with some of my current beliefs. And that is a good thing because we have to move through a state of uncertainty when changing.

What Bodhipaksa does so wonderfully is weave a mixture of the past and the present. Yes he talks about the life of Buddha as you would expect in such a book, but it is a long way from being a biography or a book full of stories set in the dim and distant past. He also uses cutting edge well researched science to make some of his points about what we really are as human beings and possibly more importantly, what we aren't.

I don't expect to get too many people rushing to say this review was useful to them, but I will say this. I really enjoyed books by the likes of Kabat Zinn, Ram Das, Thich Nhat Han, Pema Chodron and Jack Kornfield, but in my opinion this takes it to the next level and does what those do only in parts, makes the Buddhist philosophy more accessible and understandable to the masses.

It's also a damn fine read and a book I will be recommending to clients.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Review in a Word: Comforting December 18, 2010

By Talking Wall VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

If I could only use one word to write this review I would use "comforting".

Bodhpaksa's book is literally the most amazing thing I have ever read, period - and I'm a well read guy, I've studied Carl Jung's writings, dozens of books on spirituality and volumes on Cosmology and Astronomy. I can honestly write that I have never read anything that left me with such a sense of clarity. This work is easy to read and understand and it left me feeling very comfortable with my self (whatever that actually is... maybe it depends on how you define is?) I will recommend this book to family and friends and probably even purchase copies for some. Simply amazing.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Everything You Didn't Want To Know About Your "Self" November 6, 2010

By Louis N. Gruber VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

Hard enough to realize that everything I have will eventually be taken away, that my body will age and die, that nothing is permanent--but then I always have my self, that immutable, indestructible core of my identity. Right? Wrong. Buddhism teaches that there is no permanent "self" after all, and that clinging to that concept is a cause of great suffering. Such is the major thesis of Bodhipaksa's book, and he fleshes out this teaching in great depth. He also gives a variety of suggestions for assimilating and living this truth, leading to a great sense of liberation.

Well, it's a challenge, but the author does a masterful job of explaining his points with great wit and verve and overwhelming scholarship. He uses Buddhist texts and abundant scientific research, in the fields of neurobiology, genetics, psychology and more. Much more. It's a treasure-house of cutting edge information. The book may not get you to enlightenment, but it will get you thinking and reevaluating some of your most cherished understandings.

Bodhipaksa writes in an easy, flowing style, at times a little long-winded, and sometimes repetitious. Still, he has digested so much scientific research and presents it so well, that you have to keep reading. He even tells a little (too little) about himself and his own spiritual search. He includes full citations for the research he uses, and also includes suggestions for the readers' own spiritual practice. If you're interested in what a contemporary spiritual master has to teach, this may be just the book for you. I recommend it. Reviewed by Louis N. Gruber.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Change is a fact of life January 26, 2011

By MommaMia VINE™ VOICE

Format:Paperback|Amazon Vine™ Review (What's this?)

We all struggle with change...well, most people I know do. I am no big fan of it and am constantly rebelling against it, when really, change is just a part of things, and this book gives you the tools you need to learn to accept things as they are and to realize that nothing is permanent. Nothing.

I found that the author repeated himself a few times and I found that a bit tedious, but mostly, the read was easy and not over my head in the least. There wasn't a lot of jargon I didn't understand or points I was not given sufficient explanation of.

I can't say I agree with his entire philosophy, or that it changed my life, because it didn't, but it certainly gave me food for thought and I found it a positive experience to read this book. Many years ago I was complaining to a friend who is as close to being a Buddhist as anyone I know about the impermanence of things, about how I liked living life in a nice, quiet little pool of water with no ripples or waves. We were at the beach. I illustrated my perception of how life should be by digging out a hole in the sand and filling it with water. He looked at it, looked at me and took a whole wad of sand and smashed my little tidal pool and said...life is like that. Nothing stays quiet and calm. Life is more like a river than a tidal pool. He said that to me almost 12 years ago. I was reminded of this discussion (which I never really forgot) after reading this book. Nothing stays the same, nothing good nor bad...we are all constantly changing. Maybe my friend should have written a book 12 years ago!

If you are looking for an easy to read book on this subject, by all means, give Living as a River a try.