Awakening The Buddhist Heart : Integrating Love, Meaning, and Connection into Every Part of Your Life

Rating:
Summary: Fine Heartfelt Book
Review: This is a very fine book on Buddhism in general and Tibetan Vajrayana in specific. I did like his prior "Awakening the Buddha Within" a bit better (I gave it 5 stars). For me, 4 stars is pretty darn good! This sequel is well worth reading. I think that if you are a Myers-Briggs F-type (Feeler) you will especially enjoy it, but perhaps the T-types (Thinkers) might just get more balance from it. Surya Das has a very easy-going style but gets across lots of good instruction and some practical activities as well. He uses lots of personal anecdotes which make the book more accessible than many others that are available. If I were to recommend books to someone first exploring Buddhism or Vajrayana, his would be at the top of the list (followed by Pema Chodron's books). Of course, it's lots easier to attune with a Western Buddhist master who shares more cultural assumptions and conceptions with you. Many Vajrayana books are laced with Tibetan mythology, psychology, medicine, etc. that are, frankly, alien to the Westerner. Surya Das' books have far less of this. My favorite quote from this book is: "No appointments, no disappointments...Unedit yourself...Become a spiritual astronaut." (page 173). Pretty modern view, no?