Customer Reviews

The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice (Art of Spiritual Living)

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I could feel my attitudes changing as I read this book, slowly, chapter by chapter. I am so grateful to this author for teaching me about how to cultivate equanimity and what anger really is and how to try my best to avoid falling into it. This is one of the best books I have ever read because it tells me that I will fall short of my intention to be a better person, and that's ok, as long as I keep pursuing my spiritual growth. Thank you for writing this book, Rabbi Rami Shapiro! I recommend this book to anyone who wants to cultivate a healthier, more rewarding spriritual life no matter what religion they do or don't practice.

With insight, grace and humor this writer elaborates on the attributes of lovingkindness. He weaves the wisdom of many religious disciplines into his stories.
Rather than feel that he's behind an invisible pulput, his teaching seems to simply unfold, making it sweetly accessible to heart, mind and soul.
His medium and his message are one.

Chesed, kindness in Hebrew (often translated loving kindness) is the subject of this book. In it, Rabbi Shapiro gives very practical examples of how to be less judgmental, harsh and unkind to others and to yourself.

By far the best chapter is 5, equanimity in the moment. For here Shapiro gets to the heart of his ideas about God and religion: "God is bigger than our theologies" "...the things we rely on to bolster our understanding of God and justice are transient. The certainty we took for granted fades... This is the beginning of spiritual awakening."

For Shapiro, uncertainty is the basis of wisdom. Not-knowing with certainty is the key to his concept of spiritual life. For many, this message will be inadequate. For those who want a more complex response to various spiritual dilemmas, who can be satisfied with a maybe instead of an emphatic yes, this book is for you.

If you want to really understand what it means to be kind, this is the book for you. Rabbi Rami refrences many spiritual traditions in his deep teaching. I highly recomend this book.

Rabbi Rami Shapiro has done a wondeful job putting together a guide for the practice of the sacred art of lovingkindness. The book is packed with gentle suggestions written from the heart which resonate deeply when reading meditatively. One can easily look at the text as being a guidebook which provides tools you need to recognize the divinity within yourself and others -- very powerful. And, as Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi says, the book is a "masterpiece... a practical, inspiring, engrossing and very helpful ecumenical how-to based on the Jewish supermantra."

Rami has a way about him. His interfaith writings are insightful, maddening and calming all at the same time. If you want to learn how you can feel love and acceptance towards others and respond to people in a loving way, give The Art of Lovingkindness a careful read. But beware, Rami does not let you just read, he involves every part of your being in the active pursuit of godliness. You won't be disappointed.

The book is thoughtful, insightful and practical. Another excellent exploration of healthy spiritual living from Rabbi Rami.

The subject matter of this book is very important for our times. So much confusion is introduced by the least of us. This cuts through with wisdom from all traditions. The topics covered can set in place a firm grounding for spiritual practice. The anecdotes that Rabbi tells testify to his personal accomplishment in life: to become a decent human being. I loved this book..

Excellent book for deeper spiritual living. The Rabbi combined several faiths in his writings and practical and easy to understand ways to live fully.

Great book. Easy read. Several good exercises and meditations both for individuals and groups. As usual for Reb Shapiro, a good going over of his nondualistic theology.