Books

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

Average customer rating:

Obedience resulting in transformation...
Classic Wisdom
Exceptional compendium and framework for Spiritual Growth
Celebration of Dicipline: The Path to Spirtual Growth
gnosticism?

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth
Richard J. Foster
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Richard J. Foster's Study Guide for "Celebration of Discipline"
Celebrating the Disciplines: A Journal Workbook to Accompany ``Celebration of Discipline''
Prayer: Finding the Heart's True Home
Spiritual Classics : Selected Readings for Individuals and Groups on the Twelve Spiritual Disciplines
Freedom of Simplicity: Finding Harmony in a Complex World

ASIN: 0060628391

Amazon.com

When Richard Foster began writing Celebration of Discipline more than 20 years ago, an older writer gave him a bit of advice: "Be sure that every chapter forces the reader into the next chapter." Foster took the advice to heart; as a result, his book presents one of the most compelling and readable visions of Christian spirituality published in the past few decades. After beginning with a simple observation--"Superficiality is the curse of our age.... The desperate need today is not for a greater number of intelligent people, or gifted people, but for deep people"--Foster's book moves to explain the disciplines people must cultivate in order to achieve spiritual depth. In succinct, urgent, and sometimes humorous chapters, Foster defines a broad range of classic spiritual disciplines in terms that are lucid without being too limiting and offers advice that's practical without being overly prescriptive. For instance, after describing meditation as a combination of "intense intimacy and awful reverence," he settles into such down-to-earth topics as how to choose a place and a posture in which to meditate.

Perhaps most interesting and useful is Foster's chapter on the controversial Christian discipline of submission. According to Foster, submission does not demand self-hatred or loss of identity. Instead, it simply means growing secure in the conviction that "our happiness is not dependent on getting what we want" but on the fulfillment that naturally flows from love of one's neighbors. Such wise and encouraging suggestions have helped many readers to discard the idea that discipline is an onerous duty and to move toward a liberating and simpler idea of discipline--whose defining character, as Foster never forgets, is joy. --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

The 25th anniversary edition of the most important contemporary guidebook on Christian spirituality, which has sold more than one million copies to date.

Customer Reviews:

Obedience resulting in transformation..........2007-06-26

"The Disciplines allow us to place ourselves before God so that he can transform us." With this line, Foster correctly positions this book as a tool for all Christians to use as part of their spiritual journey. I read this book almost ten years ago and still find it to be one of the most useful, practical and challenging books I've ever read. Celebration of Discipline is a treasure for the Christian who wants to draw closer to God.

Foster breaks down the spiritual disciplines into three categories: (1) The Inward Disciplines: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting and Study; (2) The Outward Disciplines: Simplicity, Solitude, Submission and Service; (3) The Corporate Disciplines: Confession, Worship, Guidance and Celebration.

At just over 200 pages, the book is a pretty easy read - about a 5 on the difficulty scale of 1-10. I would suggest that this book as a great gift for a student as young as eighth grade - and there is no upper age limit for this great resource. I have the HarperSanFrancisco 20th Anniversary Edition - and there is now a 25th Anniversary Edition as well - this book has been blessing generations of Christians for over 25 years! You should be able to purchase this book online or in any Christian or mainstream bookstore for $15 - $20. It will be one of your most treasured resources and makes an excellent gift to another brother or sister in Christ.

Classic Wisdom .......2007-06-11

Foster's profound insights on living out the spiritual disciplines in a sustainable way still work after all these years. By tweaking his classic volume for the 21st century the author has helped Christians everywhere understand how the "yoke" of following Jesus can become light. Genius!

Exceptional compendium and framework for Spiritual Growth.......2007-06-03

James 2:17 "So faith by itself, if it has no works, is dead." (NRSV)

For those of us who are trying to grow spiritually, and are looking for ways to practice our faith -- in the sense of practicing a craft -- this is am compelling and thought-provoking book. It is at once easy to read and hard to follow, but a joy to do.

This book does a great job of organizing disciplines into those we do individually inwardly, individually outwardly and in connection with others corporately. These disciplines are arranged sequentially; however, I have found great use in reading through these to help discern how God is calling me to serve next.

Finally, by reading and practicing the disciplines in this book, my faith has grown. For this, I am abundantly grateful.

Celebration of Dicipline: The Path to Spirtual Growth.......2007-03-18

Excellent book. The author has a basic, sensible style of writing that makes what he is saying very clear.

gnosticism?.......2007-03-06

Either we consider our subjective experience (mysticism or rationalism) as our basis for "truth", or we have some outside, objective standard of truth by which we measure our experience (revelation). This latter view does not discount or even diminish subjective experiences; it simply relegates them to their proper role in the pursuit of truth and knowledge of reality (particularly of God!). God has provided us with His Word as the perfect standard of truth. Is our knowledge of God based on our subjective experiences of Him, or are our spiritual experiences tested against the standard of His Word? It's the difference between "a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock" and "a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth" (Luke 6:48-49. I see three possibilities (rationalism, mysticism, revelation) and it appears that Foster has chosen mysticism. (Quotes from first edition.)

Foster starts off his discussion on disciplines with a chapter on meditation, claiming that:

`Christian meditation leads us to the inner wholeness necessary to give ourselves to God freely, and to the spiritual perception necessary to attack social evils. In this sense it is the most practical of all disciplines.' (15)

How are we to learn to meditate?

`If we are capable of listening to our dreams, we are taking the first steps.' (16)

How can we learn from our dreams?

`Benedict Perenius, a sixteenth-century Jesuit, suggested that the best interpreter of dreams is the "...person with plenty of experience in the world and the affairs of humanity, with a wide interest in everything human, and who is open to the voice of God." (24)

The "voice of God" is a vague generality that has no clear meaning. What is clear is the emphasis on humanity and everything human; interesting if you consider that all religions boil down to two, essentially: Gnostic humanism, and Biblical Christianity.

`Anyone who can tap the power of the imagination can learn to meditate.'(16)

Try this: `And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually.' (Genesis 6:5);

More on meditation:

`They are not laws nor are they intended to confine you; rather, they are a few of the many windows into the inward world.' (20)

`We simply must become convinced of the importance of thinking and experiencing in images.' (22)

Try: "Thou shalt not make thee any graven image," (Deuteronomy 5:8)

Note also Foster's panentheism/pantheism.

`"The simplest and oldest way...in which God manifests Himself is...through and in the earth itself. And He still speaks to us through the earth and the sea, the birds of the air and the little living creatures upon the earth, if we can but quiet ourselves to listen." [Agnes Sanford] We should not bypass this means of God's grace, for as Evelyn Underhill warns: "To elude nature, to refuse her friendship, and attempt to leap the river of life in the hope of finding God on the other side, is the common error of a perverted mysticality....So you are to begin with that first form of contemplation which the old mystics sometimes called the `discovery of God in His creatures.'"' (25)

Perhaps instead the simplest and oldest way in which God reveals Himself to us is in His literal spoken (and for us written) Word. But according to Foster we shouldn't start with the Word of God as our foundation:

"Having practiced for some weeks with the two kinds of meditation listed above, you will want to add the meditation upon Scripture." (25)

i.e. Filter Scripture through your experiences as a means of knowing its truth, rather than starting with Scripture and testing your experiences against it.

Another reviewer already quoted the passage detailing astral travel (!).

According to Foster, "time and experience" will teach you to distinguish the Truth, rather than the Timeless Truth distinguishing between experiences. In today's spiritual climate we must realize that just because the right buzzwords are used (Jesus, True Spirit, Creator) this is no guarantee that these are used in the sense in which we assume they are.

Foster's foundation of mystical experience/meditation/contemplation then becomes his basis for prayer:

`Meditation is the necessary prelude to intercession.' (35)

`We begin praying for others by first centering down and listening to the quiet thunder of the Lord of hosts. Attuning ourselves to divine breathings is spiritual work, but without it our praying is vain repetition.' (34)

Nevermind the countless passages in Scripture of prayers to be prayed, and Jesus Himself teaching us how to pray.

When he finally gets to the discipline of study (in chapter 4) he states that:

`Although meditation and study often overlap and function concurrently, they constitute two distinct experiences. Study provides a certain objective framework within which meditation can successfully function.' (56)

However, he doesn't even specify here that it is the study of Scripture that provides a certain objective framework within which meditation can successfully function. His notion of study certainly can't be limited to such a narrow focus; studying experience must have its place, as well as studying what we find within ourselves.

Many have documented the death of the Evangelical mind and in its place has risen a nonrational mysticism. I am not saying that mysticism and meditation have no place in the Christian life, nor am I saying that, in contrast, rationalism is the foundation of truth; either makes for a deadly "foundation." Mangalwadi puts it well when he says that "our knowledge of truth is not rooted in our abilities - rational or mystical - but in revelation." (Missionary Conspiracy). These reasons are enough cause for me to have serious concerns about the recommendation of Celebration of Discipline to anyone.

Please! don't be a lemming, even though anyone who's anyone in American "christianity" seems to be recommending this book.

The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God

Average customer rating:

Highly recommended reading for any Christian
Fulfilling
The Sacred Romance
Wildly Profound and Inspirational
New revelation, new spirituality

The Sacred Romance: Drawing Closer to the Heart of God
Brent Curtis , and John Eldredge
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Sacred Romance Workbook and Journal: Your Personal Guide for Drawing Closer to the Heart of God
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Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive

ASIN: 0785273425

Amazon.com

In The Sacred Romance, authors Brent Curtis and John Eldredge inspire readers to enter into the greatest romance of all time--one with God. Many Christians have tried to satiate the hunger of their hearts by substituting the love of God with things from this world. Since "our heart is the key to the Christian life," this often leads to spiritual stagnation and unhappiness, while God, the "Great Lover," attempts to lavishly adorn us with His perfect love. Doubting God's goodness coupled with fear of trusting Him blind the believer and prevent him from being wooed by God into a rich relationship. Life can soon become empty, cold, and worthless. Through personal narrative, Curtis and Eldredge take turns convincing the reader not only that God is good, but that recklessly abandoning oneself to Him results in a fulfilling life of abundance and awe. In this portrayal of God's character, the obvious error lies in believing that He could need anything from His creatures, or that He could be "hurt" by their unrequited love. On the whole, however, this is a call to a more passionate relationship with the lover of our souls. A follow-up book, The Journey of Desire, was written by John Eldredge after Brent Curtis's tragic death. --Jill Heatherly

Book Description

The God who saves is also a God who woos His own to a relationship primarily of the heart. As we draw closer to Him, we must choose to let go of other "less-wild lovers," such as perfectionistic driveness and self-indulgence. Eldredge and Curtis identify the lies offered by "false loves" and instruct us on the journey back to the Lover of our souls.In carefully crafted words and images, the authors entice the reader to his or her own journey of the heart, promising, "It is possible to recover the lost life of our heart and with it the intimacy, beauty, and adventure of life with God."

Customer Reviews:

Highly recommended reading for any Christian.......2007-06-18

See my review for the study guide because this is a great study to do with a group of people. Eye opening to say the least.

Fulfilling.......2007-03-30

This book really spoke to me and opened my heart to a whole new world: that perhaps God really wants to know us deeply and to love us as a lover does. The idea that we are His children, created by Him, and that we are glorious creatures marred by sin, that our hearts are new and good things once we accept Christ, are crazy ideas in the modern church, but these ideas hold up in scripture. This book has really helped me become closer to God, and closer to His true desire for my life: to live a great adventure with Him. I HIGHLY recommend it.

The Sacred Romance.......2007-01-05

I first read the book, which has profoundly and positively affected my spiritual life. In all of my readings on this subject over the years, nothing ever has put the love of God in such a relevant context. I am now re-reading the book and doing the accompaning workbook which I recommend as well. I highly recommend the book especially for those who are interested in developing a or strenghening their personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Wildly Profound and Inspirational.......2006-11-20

All of us spend our lives with a desire for something more, either buried deep within our hearts or just below the surface. This book reveals what that something more is and how we both draw close to it and away from it. The authors' insights into the causes of both our joys and our miseries are nothing short of revelation. This is not a "feel good" kind of book. It does not tell us that everything will be all right if we just have faith. It explores the harsh realities of life and the glorious possibilities of our God given destiny of a life in communion with Him.

I found myself moved to the core of my being, both laughing and crying at the same time as the words of this book cut straight to the center of what my life has been missing all along. This book is not a straight-forward outline of premises though. It is a journey with God. If your heart is not open to mystery of that journey, if it is not hungry for that something more, if it does not feel something missing, then it will not be open to the message of this book. I recommend picking it up when you are at a point in your life when you find yourself hurting, lonely, lost or numb and wondering where God is and why He doesn't just make the pain go away.

New revelation, new spirituality.......2006-10-30

First of all, this book mentions "the heart" and strays from the truth of scripture terribly. God's word says the "heart is deceitful above all things and who can know it?" There is nothing good in our hearts, apart from Christ, and whatever "good" there might be in there comes from Him. Scripture tells us that in the last days the church will go into apostasy. This time has come like no other time before. There is a move to to throw out scripture and move past it, ignoring what God has already told us. What we need to know is in scripture--especially those things we need to know about Him and what He requires of us. This move in the church today to "feel" God and go "to a deeper level" is a reawakening of mysticism which does not belong in the body of Christ. The truth and objectives of scripture are not mystical, for a reason. Jesus Christ was and is not a mystic. This movement is called "contemplative spirituality" and it is subtle and dangerous. Sadly, even Eldredge has taken this route. How many more good authors and great men of God are going to forsake the completeness of God's word to turn inward to "self" and think they will find something new? Solomon said, "there is nothing new under the sun." The devil wants us to think we can reinvent and invent "new" outside of God's marvelous confines. We need to stick to scripture and stop reading books like these written by men who want to offer us something more than the Lord commanded us. We are treading on shaky ground, but all we need is His glorious word and to do what He said: "Keep my commandments."

Average customer rating:

Great devotional-Streams in the Desert
Great
Encouraging for any trial
Great book
Excellent Devotional

Streams in the Desert
L. B. Cowman , and James Reimann
Manufacturer: Zondervan
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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Springs in the Valley
Streams in the Desert® Deluxe Journal (Journals)
Streams in the Desert®: Hope for Hurting Hearts
Contemporary Classic/Streams in the Desert (Contemporary Classic)
My Utmost for His Highest: An Updated Edition in Today's Language

ASIN: 0310210062

Product Description

The beloved classic devotional Streams in the Desert has been updated and rewritten in today's language for a new generation of readers. Scripture references follow the New International Version of the Bible.

Customer Reviews:

Great devotional-Streams in the Desert.......2007-06-18

Every day's devotional hit me exactly where I needed. The best devotional I've read.

Great.......2007-06-04

This book of daily motivations is just what anyone would need to get their day started. I read it daily and meditate on the message throughout the day.

Encouraging for any trial.......2007-05-23

A copy of this book was given to me by a friend when my mother passed away. It turned out that I was experiencing some big rebellion from my teenage daughter at the time that was even more difficult to go through at times. I found that reading these short devotions each day helped give me perspective and peace. I would recommend it to anyone going through loss of loved one, divorce, rebellion, financial trouble, anything.

Great book.......2007-05-14

I have thoroughly enjoyed this book. In fact, I bought seven more copies, one for each of the women in my small group. This book gets me started in the right direction every day. It seems to speak to me personally. I highly recommend it.

Excellent Devotional.......2007-05-13

I am very pleased with this devotional compiled by Mrs. Charles Cowman. It features the writings of several Christian writers and is particularly valuable to those who are going through trials and afflictions. It would make a great gift for someone going through difficult times.

Average customer rating:

A must for those in recovery
My favorite
Return of the Prodigal Son
A message for all people
The Parable of the Love of the Father

Return of the Prodigal Son
Henri Nouwen
Manufacturer: Image
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Wounded Healer: Ministry in Contemporary Society
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ASIN: 0385473079
Release Date: 1994-03-01

Amazon.com

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming is a spiritual adventure story. A chance encounter with a poster depicting a detail of Rembrandt's The Return of the Prodigal Son set in motion a chain of events that enabled Nouwen to redefine and claim his vocation late in his life. In this book, which interweaves elements of art history, memoir, Midrash, and self-help, Nouwen brings the parable to life with empathic analyses of each character. Nouwen's absorption in the story (and the painting) is so complete that the father's challenge to love the son, and the son's challenge to receive that love, become Nouwen's own. And Nouwen's writing is so clear and his tone is so appealingly frank and humble that readers--no matter how far from home--will find hope for themselves in the prodigal peace Nouwen ultimately achieves. --Michael Joseph Gross

Book Description

The beloved spiritual writer meditates on the parable of the prodigal son's return -- a powerful drama of fatherhood, filial duty, rivalry, and anger between brothers -- and its enduring lessons for Christianity.

Full-color photographs with gatefold.

Customer Reviews:

A must for those in recovery.......2007-06-27

I love this book. I could completely identify with all aspects of the Prodigal Son and Henri Neuwen is a great writer. I have read several of his books and find they help me deepen in my spiritual path, even though I am not a "Christian" in the fundamental definition.

My favorite.......2007-06-11

This is my favorite book of all time. I work with teens in a second year confirmation program and bought a copy for them. As of yet, none have actually made any headway but my hope is that it remains on their shelves as a permanent part of their library and that someday they will go back and flip through, discover its worth and wisdom and reference it throughout their lives as I have.

I turn to this whenever I need some inspiration. It renews me the way a good mass does.

Return of the Prodigal Son.......2007-05-25

Nouwen provides great insight into God's character and our walk with Him. The book is written almost like a journal and at times like a biography (of Rembrandt). This is one of my favorite books of all times.

A message for all people.......2007-05-12

This is my #1 pick of all Henri Nouwen wrote for the world. I have bought many copies of this book to give as gifts. It has touched the hearts of every recipient. It is a must read for everyone.

The Parable of the Love of the Father.......2007-04-01

I have heard the story of the Prodigal Son all my life, but Nouwen's discussion of it has drawn my heart to the Father more than anything has for a long time. I have just ordered my second copy because I marked up the first one so badly on my first reading that my copious notes now distract me!

Nouwen takes us through his own journey of spiritual discovery that was triggered by his fascination with Rembrandt's painting of the same name. While he refers to the painting more than to the biblical text, his exploration of the story is consistent (with only one or two exceptions that I can think of) with the text and its true meaning.

He directly but gently challenges us to consider in what ways we are like the prodigal son and in what ways we are like the elder brother. While I felt some pangs of recognition and remorse while I was reading it, it was never discouraging or disheartening, because Nouwen constantly reminds of us the unchanging, undeserved and undeniable love of the Father Who is always calling us home. While some sermons or books make me feel sad or guilty that I have 'left home', this one makes me _want_ to come home to the Father.

And then he adds an interpretive twist that I have never heard before: he calls us to become the _father_, to become like our Heavenly Father in loving and calling others home. too. We embark on a dual journey of becoming the beloved son or daughter of God so that we can become a father who loves as He loves.

Here is a summary passage that gives a taste of where Nouwen takes us on our journey:

"Living out this spiritual fatherhood requires the radical discipline of being home. I find it impossible to love consistently without asking for something in return. But the discipline is precisely to give up wanting to accomplish this myself as a heroic feat. To claim for myself spiritual fatherhood, I have to let the rebellious younger son and the resentful elder son step up on the platform to receive the unconditional, forgiving love that the Father offers me, and to discover there the call to be home as my Father is home."

In his warm, vulnerable and profound way, Nouwen offers this book that can itself help us hear the voice of our Father calling us home. I highly recommend it.

The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You (2 Volume Set)

Average customer rating:

Enriches the Gospels
Great
Just one word: Unbelievable
Enormously Deep and Significant for Spiritual Growth
Yes It Is True

The Second Coming of Christ: The Resurrection of the Christ Within You (2 Volume Set)
Paramahansa Yogananda
Manufacturer: Self-Realization Fellowship Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0876125550

Book Description

In this unprecedented masterwork of inspiration, Paramahansa Yogananda takes the reader on a profoundly enriching journey through the four Gospels. Verse by verse, he illumines the universal path to oneness with God taught by Jesus to his immediate disciples but obscured through centuries of misinterpretation: "how to become like Christ, how to resurrect the Eternal Christ within one's self."

Never before available in its entirety, this landmark work by one of the most revered spiritual teachers of our time transcends divisive sectarianism to reveal a unifying harmony underlying all true religions. A groundbreaking synthesis of East and West, it imparts the life-transforming realization that each of us can experience for ourselves the promised Second Coming -- awakening of the all-fulfilling Divine Consciousness latent within our souls.

Yogananda said, "In titling this work The Second Coming of Christ, I am not referring to a literal return of Jesus to earth. He came two thousand years ago and, after imparting a universal path to God's kingdom, was crucified and resurrected; his reappearance to the masses now is not necessary for the fulfillment of his teachings. What is necessary is for the cosmic wisdom and divine perception of Jesus to speak again through each one's own experience and understanding of the infinite Christ Consciousness that was incarnate in Jesus. That will be his true Second Coming."

Customer Reviews:

Enriches the Gospels.......2007-05-25

One day as I was working on my next sermon, I shared a complex passage from Luke with a friend, who happens to be an Interfaith pastor. As we both studied the text she brought out this two volume set of books; I read through Yogananda's discourse on that particular passage. As I read I found myself filled with excitement as new insights seemed to literally pour into my head and heart. I borrowed her books for a few days, and as I continued to read Yogananda's discourses, though I didn't always agree with his interpretations,I continually found myself being filled with an even greater appreciation for the Christian Gospels and a renewed awe and love for Jesus, himself. I now use these volumes each week as a supplement to the usual commentaries and resources for sermons, Bible classes,and the various talks I give on my own Christian faith. The feedback has been incredible. People tell me the teachings I now present stir them in new exciting ways; they say it is as if the Gospel messages are re-engerizing their lives. They come away with new insights and a deeper appreciation for their own faith in Jesus. I attribute much of this to the wisdom and thought-provoking discourses within these two volumes.
I highly recommend The Second Coming of Christ, along with M.Borg's books, for all clergy, of all faiths. Even when one doesn't agree with Yogananda's discourses, they will open one to greater, and exciting new ways of viewing the Gospels.

Great.......2007-05-18

This is an indreadible buy, having been taught the scriptures my entire life and then to read this WOW!

I have learned another perspective, deeper meaning and understanding of the scriptures.

It is very thought provoking and peaceful to make sense of "confusing double meanings"

Just one word: Unbelievable.......2007-05-08

The answers to those questions about the bible and christianity that has exercized you and others over the ages. What does the Bible say about reincarnation. What does the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost refers to. This book is an amazing compilation and interpretation of the Bible.

Enormously Deep and Significant for Spiritual Growth.......2007-04-24

I am quite taken back by this book set. If you're looking to really sink yourself into pivotal discourse, this is the set for you.
Paramahansa Yogananda gives his own discourse on the teachings of Jesus in a way that hits home - that being the heart - filled with reverence and wisdom that is difficult to find at best.

I actually had a dream to read more of Jesus' teachings, and I have long been reading Yogananda's works for nearly three decades. This is a book that ultimately you take into your soul, so it is a deeply personal journey of understanding and awakening.

It's quite deep and divided into different sections that cover different teachings of Jesus. If you are looking for greater spiritual understanding, this beautiful set will bring you just that! 10 Stars!

Yes It Is True.......2007-04-07

This work is the greatest gift to humanity. It is for those who want to be with God NOW!

A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness

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Elucidating truths about King David's life
A Tale of Three Kings!
A Tale of Three Kings
A Life Changing Book
A Biblical Handbook on Submission

A Tale of three Kings: A Study in Brokenness
Gene Edwards
Manufacturer: Tyndale House Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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The Prisoner in the Third Cell (Inspirational)
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ASIN: 0842369082

Book Description

Those facing the pain and brokenness that result from unfair treatment by other believers will be encouraged by this powerful story of David, Saul, and Absalom.

Customer Reviews:

Elucidating truths about King David's life.......2007-04-08

A Tale of Three Kings contains helpful information about how we can thrive in spite of being under the leadership of someone who abuses authority. Succinct and easy to read. Powerful.

A Tale of Three Kings!.......2007-01-24

Have you been burned by other Christians?
God spoke to me through Edwards' book. After reading A Tale Of Three Kings, I was fully convinced that God was sovereign over our situation. I did not need to harbor bitter feelings toward my brother. God was in complete control regardless of the impure motives and ill intent of the church "leaders." Besides, it's not MY kingdom... it's HIS!

A Tale of Three Kings.......2007-01-11

What an awesome book.
As you learn about the Kings you begin to look at your own heart and what is really in it--you look at your attitudes and motives and you decide which Kings charater and attributes you want for your life.
I feel it is also representative of the different levels of Christianity--Is your focus on the Kingdom and God and his will being done here on earth? Is it worldly and all about what I can for me? or Are we a usuper of someone else's place and position because we think we are intitled to it, for whatever reason?
It makes you look at yourself and your motives in your relationship with the Lord.

A Life Changing Book.......2007-01-10

Would highly recommend this book for anyone who is considering "getting even". This book was instrumental in my life as a young pastor when an older pastor was being unfair in my opinion. After reading this book, I realized God's annointed work differently than what I think.

A Biblical Handbook on Submission.......2007-01-06

The sub title of the book is: A Study in Brokenness. I prefer to see it as a Biblical handbook on submission.

I have been in leadership positions for over 30 years and quite honestly it has not always been fulfilling or with proper attitude. This book has set that in order. I am much more at peace with myself.

This book showed that Saul, who was the rightful king, did not finish well and was not a happy man as a result of his ego.

David who was not perfect but chosen and heading to his proper level of leadership needed to submit to his errant leader: Saul. He was to serve to the best of his capabilities and not allow Saul's shortcomings become his. Coups are never allowed or needed if you are on the right track.

Absalom, the beloved son of David, who talks behind his father's back and undercuts him with simple words like "I would have done it differently". I have learned from this simple book that even if I would have "done it differently" never to say that to my leader's staff.

This book has not only brought me greater peace within myself but it actually has brought me to higher levels of leadership and trust within my organization.

Remember: At the end of the day David does becomes king anyhow.

The Anger Workbook: A 13-Step Interactive Plan to Help You... (Minirth-Meier Clinic Series)

Average customer rating:

Anger Workbook
Not Great
Worth the price.
boring read
A Great Book for Christians Dealing with Anger

The Anger Workbook: A 13-Step Interactive Plan to Help You... (Minirth-Meier Clinic Series)
Les Carter , and Frank Minirth
Manufacturer: Thomas Nelson
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Accessories:

philosophy hope in a jar daily moisturizer

ASIN: 0840745745

Book Description

This is the only anger management system we've found that offers interactive exercises to help readers understand and modify their own behavior. Whether your anger is from tension at work, frustration at home, or just life in general - this workbook will help you identify and modify the anger that keeps you from inner peace and contentment. From doctors nationally known in the field of Christian counseling.

Customer Reviews:

Anger Workbook.......2007-06-11

Very good information. Very revealing to find anger issues buried deep inside. Christian based.

Not Great.......2007-03-21

Not the best workbook I have seen. It is not very interactive either. It also has a lot of references to religion.

Worth the price........2007-02-19

This is another great book by Dr. Carter. I found it very interesting and to the point.

boring read.......2007-01-23

there are far too many questions that to me seem pretty useless. I tried to read the book but it was way too boring and long winded.

A Great Book for Christians Dealing with Anger.......2006-10-07

This book is especially helpful to those who are trying to follow (or find) Christ and work through their anger. As for the reviewers who say there is no warning about it being Christian, Amazon says this: "From doctors nationally known in the field of Christian counseling" right in their editorial review. This book helped me through some very harsh anger problems and is a great tool to have. Highly Recommended!

A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix

Average customer rating:

Great Application of Family Systems Theory on a Macro Level
Courage in Leadership
Pointing away to find near
Rethinking Leadership
A "must" for all who truly would lead

A Failure of Nerve: Leadership in the Age of the Quick Fix
Edwin H. Friedman
Manufacturer: Seabury Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 159627042X

Book Description

Ten years after his death, Edwin Friedman's insights into leadership are more urgently needed than ever. He was the first to tell us that all organizations have personalities, like families, and to apply the insights of family therapy to churches and synagogues, rectors and rabbis, politicians and teachers.
Failure of Nerve is essential reading for all leaders, be they parents or presidents, corporate executives or educators, religious superiors or coaches, healers or generals, managers or clergy.

Friedman's insights about our regressed, "seatbelt society," oriented toward safety rather than adventure, help explain the sabotage that leaders constantly face today. Suspicious of the "quick fixes" and instant solutions that sweep through our culture only to give way to the next fad, he argues for strength and self-differentiation as the marks of true leadership. His formula for success is more maturity, not more data; stamina, not technique; and personal responsibility, not empathy.

This book was unfinished at the time of Friedman's death, and originally published in a limited edition. This new edition makes his life-changing insights and challenges to a new generation of readers.

Customer Reviews:

Great Application of Family Systems Theory on a Macro Level.......2007-06-11

This book provides a great application of Bowen family systems theory on a macro level. Having some basic understanding of family systems theory is helpful, but not absolutely necessary, in understanding the concepts of this book. Friedman applies family systems ideas to leadership in ways that will make you think differently about what makes an effective leader (whether it be a President or a parent or any leader in between). For those, like me, who use family systems on a micro level in psychotherapy to help individuals and families function better, seeing how these same family system ideas can also be applied to the "big picture" is eye opening. Friedman's writing style is clear and enjoyable. As a framework to explain his theories on leadership, Friedman uses the cultural mindset that existed in Europe at the time explorers were proposing to set out across the Atlantic to seek new trade routes to Asia. This framework may seem odd and out of place, but is in fact a clever and captivating means for Friedman to explain his theories effectively. The editors of this book also deserve praise in how they astutely updated and stayed true to this unfinished work by Friedman. Whether you are a leader looking for new ideas to become more effective in what you do or simply a person who is just interested in leadership as a cultural concept, this book will inspire you to think differently and question conventional wisdom.

Courage in Leadership.......2007-06-04

Note: This review originally appeared as a "You Be the Critic" column in the Rochester NY Democrat & Chronicle, 5/8/07:

In 20 years of coaching executives, I've read scores of books on leadership. I continue to return to Edwin Friedman as the most insightful, realistic analyst of the dynamics that occur in the emotional soup we call the workplace.

This book is not for the faint of heart. As the title implies, the antidote to a failure of nerve is courage. Courage becomes necessary once a leader begins to shift his/her own participation in the brokenness of the organization - e.g., to finally address a performance issue with a key employee. With this commitment to decisive, mature action, reactions are inevitable. Thus the need for courage: to persist in the face of those reactions.

Leaders will discover keys to recognize the emotionality that contaminates all decision-making processes, and what is required to provide clear, decisive, well-defined action. Friedman offers a treasure trove of tools, concepts and principles (e.g., five characteristics of a highly anxious system) to help leaders diagnose complex situations and to determine what is helpful and what is harmful.

Perhaps his most crucial contribution is the insistence that the leader focus on self: that is, in order to create transformation in a system, the leader needs to identify his/her participation in the present dynamic, and focus on altering his/her own role. Again, courage is a requirement here, but thankfully, focus on self diminishes the stress inherent in attempting to change others.

While the later chapters are sketchy (Friedman died before completing the text), they hold intriguing snippets - insights into the workings of our organizations and the challenges of leadership.

As with his other writings (e.g., "Friedman's Fables"), his insights are universal, and leaders will find application as much to their personal/family systems as to their work. His witty style punctuates "heavy" insight with a human and humorous twist that gives the challenges a pleasing flavor.

Frank Staropoli
President, Staropoli Consulting, Inc.

Pointing away to find near.......2007-05-22

Ed Friedman is sorely missed but this particular volume is a fantastic tribute to his quality of thought. Drawing from history, medicine, politics, and his own 4 decade career as a rabbi and counselor, Ed's thoughts transform our understanding of leadership. His concept of "self" reminds every parent or president that knowing where you are is perhaps the single most important concern.

Thanks Ed, and thanks Bethesda

Rethinking Leadership.......2007-03-25

This is what one expects of Edwin Friedman if you have read Generation to Generation or are familiar with his work elsewhere. If this is your first experience of reading his insights, you might have to reread spots because there is much to think about. I was affirmed in my own understanding of leadership throughout each chapter. Leadership can no longer be seen as a top down, hierarchical directing of others. One must be within the system if one is going to influence it. Yet, one's own sense of self or self-differentiation is that which anchors one amidst the storms that will come. Good leadership will bring tension to the system and, as well, draw those who wish to sabotage growth, consciously or sub-consciously. Any group, as a living organism, tries to maintain the emotional balance of what has been experienced in the past. Anything or anyone that upsets that, a necessity for growth, is not seen as welcome. I would recommend this book to all who wish to reflect on their leadership. But be forewarned, there is a cost in knowing one's self and being honest. There are no quick fixes, just a new reality and paradigm of what it means to lead.

A "must" for all who truly would lead.......2006-10-06

This is perhaps Edwin Friedman's magnum opus -- or would have been, had he lived to see this to completion. Building on his earlier work in Generation to Generation and on a multitude of conversations he had been involved in since the publication of that work in 1985, Friedman was working on this book on leadership at the time of his death in 1996. Friedman's wife worked with several of his colleagues to bring the manuscript to print -- at least, the 300+ pages that Friedman had written by that point. The first five chapters are thorough; the latter five chapters are somewhat more sketchy; but there is enough material here that the interested reader can get a pretty good glimpse of where Friedman was headed.

Friedman's thesis: there is a "failure of nerve" in American civilization today. "There exists," he says, "throughout America today a rampant sabotaging of leaders who try to stand tall amidst the raging anxiety-storms of our time. It is a highly reactive atmosphere pervading all the institutions of our society -- a regressive mood that contaminates the decision-making processes of government and corporations at the highest level, and, on the local level, seeps down into the deliberations of neighborhood church, synagogue, hospital, library, and school boards." This reactivity leads to what he calls a "leadership-toxic climate" that makes it exceptionally difficult for clear, decisive, well-defined leadership to function effectively. The book, he says, "is about leadership in the land of the quick fix, about leadership in a society so reactive that it cannot choose leaders who might calm its anxiety."

Reflecting on his learnings since writing Generation to Generation, Friedman says that he came to see that "resistance" is "part and parcel of the systemic process of leadership." He writes, "Sabotage, I began to realize, is not merely something to be avoided or wished away; instead, it comes with the territory of leading, whether the 'territory' is a family or an organization. And a leader's capacity to recognize sabotage for what it is -- that is, a systemic phenomenon connected to the shifting balances in the emotional processes of a relationship system and not to the institution's specific issues, make-up, or goals -- is the key to the kingdom."

In talking about what a "well-differentiated leader" looks like, Friedman says that he does not mean "someone who autocratically tells others what to do or coercively orders them around, although any leader who defines him- or herself clearly may be perceived that way by those who are not taking responsibility for their own emotional being and destiny. Rather, I mean someone who has clarity about his or her life goals, and, therefore, someone who is less likely to become lost in the anxious emotional processes swirling about. I mean someone who can be separate while still remaining connected, and therefore can maintain a modifying, non-anxious, and sometimes challenging presence. I mean someone who can manage his or her own reactivity to the automatic reactivity of others, and therefore be able to take stands at the risk of displeasing." He similarly talks about how leaders "function as the immune systems of their institutions." "The crucial issue of leadership in democratic societies may not be how much power they exercise but how well their presence has been able to preserve that society's integrity."

In the first chapter, "Imaginative Gridlock and the Spirit of Adventure," Friedman talks about the "quantum leap" forward that occurred around the year 1500 as enterprising leaders moved Western civilization out of "imaginative gridlock" through their self-differentiated leadership. These leaders shared five characteristics: a capacity to get outside the emotional climate of the day; a willingness to be exposed, that is, vulnerable; persistence in the face of resistance and downright rejection; stamina in the face of sabotage along the way; and a perception (by others with less resolve) as being "headstrong" and "ruthless." Friedman retells the story of Christopher Columbus from this vantage point (and, in the process, "rescues" Columbus from the bashing that he has received in recent years, making him appear significantly more interesting than most of us perceive him to be).

The second chapter, "The Nationalization of a Neurosis: Society in Regression," talks about the how, at the end of the 20th century, our society is stuck in "imaginative gridlock" in ways similar to that of medieval Europe at the end of the 15th century, and how we desperately need leaders with "a bold sense of adventure" to help us move to a new plane. Friedman describes our society, at present, as "chronically anxious," featuring five distinguishing characteristics: reactivity, hearding, blame displacement, a quick-fix mentality, and a lack of well-differentiated leadership.

The next three chapters ("Data Junkyards and Data Junkies: The Fallacy of Expertise"; "Survival in a Hostile Environment: The Fallacy of Empathy"; and "Autocracy vs. Integrity: The Fallicies of Self") all describe the ways in which Friedman sees leaders engaging in behaviors that lead in a direction other than self-differentiated leadership that can help our society move past our emotional gridlock. I found the chapter on empathy to be particularly compelling, particularly his analysis of the origins of the concept of "empathy" (he argues that it's only been since World War II that empathy has become part of common parlance) and the ways in which empathy is symptomatic, in his opinion, of the herding/togetherness force characteristic of societal anxiety. "Ultimately," he argues, "societies, families, and organizations are able to evolve out of a state of regression not because their leaders 'feel' for or 'understand' their followers, but because their leaders are able, by their well-defined presence, to regulate the systemic anxiety in the relationship system they are leading and to inhibit the invasiveness of those factions which would preempt its agenda. After that, they can afford to be empathic."

The last five chapters of the book ("Take Five"; "Emotional Triangles"; "The Power of Presence"; "Crisis and Sabotage: The Keys to the Kingdom"; and "The Presence of the Past") all build on the first five chapters. They outline -- in brief -- what self-differentiated leadership actually looks like, in practice. Unfortunately, these chapters are nowhere near as developed as the first five; all together, they comprise about only 20% of the book. But there is enough material here, combined with hints from the first part of the book, to make it clear where Friedman is headed. The section on sabotage is particularly helpful. Friedman identifies two different kinds of crises leaders face. The first has little to do with the leader's own functioning and is brought on by an outside source (such as a health crisis). The second type of crisis is "precipitated by the leader's own leadership -- that is, not his or her failures or incompetence but his or her success at self-differentiation." In other words, sabotoge is "part and parcel of the leadership process itself." Self-differentiation triggers reactivity. "The tendency of any leader when faced with this kind of crisis is to cease doing all that which had gone into differentiation. This is the moment when the adaptation pattern is likely to reverse itself and go in the direction of the most dependent and scared. This is the moment when a leader is most likely to have a failure of nerve. This is the moment when the leader will find it tempting to seek a quick fix." "A leader can never assume success because he or she has brought about a change. It is only after having first brought about a change and then subsequently refrained from changing back in order to calm down the resulting reactivity that the leader can feel truly successful."

On the whole, I found this book to be deeply profound. My penciled-in noted on the margins attest to the insights I found myself coming to as I worked through the book. This is a totally comprehensive view of leadership, a "lens" from which I now find myself filtering just about everything else I read on the subject of leadership. I would suggest that the mere process of working through this book (and it does, indeed, feel something like a "workbook") helps leaders to become more self-differentiated, to have a clearer understanding of their task and purpose (or, perhaps more accurately, presence), and to raise their level of courage and stamina. At least, that's what it did for me.

[A side note: This review is based on the original edition of the book, published through the Edwin Friedman Estate. The book has recently (2007) been published in a more traditional book-like form, with, I understand, some editorial modifications to make it less repetitive and a bit more accessible. I have not compared the two different editions myself, however.]

All in all, an incredibly important book -- one of the most significant, life-enriching books I've ever read. After soaking in this material, you will not be the same. You just might be . . . a more effective leader.

In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year (7 Volume Set)

Average customer rating:

Outstanding!
In Conversation with God
The Best Daily Devotional
A beautiful devotion
Here is Wisdom!

In Conversation with God: Meditations for Each Day of the Year (7 Volume Set)
Francis Fernandez
Manufacturer: Scepter Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0906138191

Book Description

Author Francis Fernandez-Carvajal makes generous use of the writings of the great saints as he brings you focused and moving meditations on themes taken from the Mass readings for that day, the liturgical season, and more. This work is rich and extensive enough to serve as your spiritual reading for a lifetime, as it helps you relate the particulars of the message of Christ to the ordinary circumstances of your day. Each volume is small enough for you to carry to Adoration or some other suitable place for meditation. The whole set comes with a handsome slipcase that prevents wear-and-tear on the individual volumes.

Customer Reviews:

Outstanding!.......2007-05-21

I am not one for meditations, but these are outstanding. The series is expensive if you are on a budget, but if you had to buy only one source of further spiritual guidance (other than your bible and your catechism) this would be it. I have not seen anything like it and it really just touches what you need to focus on in small, bite-sized pieces. I cannot say enough good things about this series...I have even purchased as gifts for others thirsting for spiritual guidance. The author puts in lots of explanations and foot-notes so you can do your own investigating, referencing of the different quotes and theology...etc.

In Conversation with God.......2007-05-13

I was very please with my choice in the Conversation with God as my daily devotion. If you are looking for more ways to incoporate God into your daily life then I highly recommend getting the Set of 7 Volumes of In Conversation with God. It has given me new ways of thinking about not only God but also our precious Savior Jesus and Our Blessed Mother. Order this set and you won't be disappointed!!!!

The Best Daily Devotional.......2007-03-22

In Conversation with God is an amazing devotional. It is the best that I have ever seen. It was referred to me by a Cardinal who reads it daily. I am blown away by the insights into the Scriptures, the Church, and God on almost a daily basis. It amazes me that one man could write all 7 volumes. A spiritual tour de force.

A beautiful devotion.......2006-12-24

In Conversation with God offers the reader a deep and beautiful devotion to be used everyday in meditation on Christ, and His place in our lives. It offers a detailed study each day on a subject of importance in the lives of the followers of Jesus. This series has been amazingly enriching in my prayer life and has drawn me closer to God with each reading. This is one of the most important finds I have come accross in my personal daily walk with God.

Here is Wisdom!.......2006-12-14

I have not read all the volumes in the series. I have dipped here and there. But I recently did read all of Volume One (Advent, Christmas, Epiphany) over two to three days (all 380 pages). Two things struck me: the reality of our divine filiation which is not just a metaphor and the practical insight into human character. The Spirit of God is speaking through this series and guides through this series. No Amazon reviewer can give a higher recommendation.

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller; Revised and Updated Edition

Average customer rating:

Nice book
the tibetan book of living and dying
Thoughts inspired by Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
Accessible interpretation of the most important teachings of Tibetan Buddhism
The single best book i have ever read

The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying: The Spiritual Classic & International Bestseller; Revised and Updated Edition
Sogyal Rinpoche , Patrick D. Gaffney , and Andrew Harvey
Manufacturer: HarperSanFrancisco
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0062508342

Amazon.com

In 1927, Walter Evans-Wentz published his translation of an obscure Tibetan Nyingma text and called it the Tibetan Book of the Dead. Popular Tibetan teacher Sogyal Rinpoche has transformed that ancient text, conveying a perennial philosophy that is at once religious, scientific, and practical. Through extraordinary anecdotes and stories from religious traditions East and West, Rinpoche introduces the reader to the fundamentals of Tibetan Buddhism, moving gradually to the topics of death and dying. Death turns out to be less of a crisis and more of an opportunity. Concepts such as reincarnation, karma, and bardo and practices such as meditation, tonglen, and phowa teach us how to face death constructively. As a result, life becomes much richer. Like Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Sogyal Rinpoche opens the door to a full experience of death. It is up to the reader to walk through. --Brian Bruya

Book Description

This acclaimed spiritual masterpiece is widely regarded as one of the most complete and authoritative presentations of the Tibetan Buddhist teachings ever written. A manual for life and death and a magnificent source of sacred inspiration from the heart of the Tibetan tradition, The Tibetan Book Of Living and Dying provides a lucid and inspiring introduction to the practice of meditation, to the nature of mind, to karma and rebirth, to compassionate love and care for the dying, and to the trials and rewards of the spiritual path.

Customer Reviews:

Nice book.......2007-05-21

A well written book by an author who understands the Tibetan teachings of impermanence. This book is an easy read for the novice student of Budhism, but I wouldn't recommend picking it up as a complete beginner. The book is best suited for early students who are at the least familiar with Tibetan teachings and philosophies.

It is an excellent companion to the Tibetan Book of the dead as it will help clear up some of the things explained in that text in an easy to read and understand fashion. The author makes good use of personal stories, and conventional teachings, and helps to simplify a very demanding aspect of Buddhist study.

the tibetan book of living and dying.......2007-05-14

I find it hard to fully express how important this book is.
The subject may seem morbid but the contra is true, like the bardol thodol it stands alone in spiritual writings.

Thoughts inspired by Tibetan Book of Living and Dying.......2007-05-07

This book is informative, inspiring and fascinating. It can make the most skeptical reader rethink matters of life and death. This book is impressive because nowhere does it smack of insincerity, pious claptrap, or rehearsed, self-serving platitudes that seem to plague books of this type. It is full of love for life and compassion for all living beings. It confirmed for me what I felt to be experiencing during the last month of my mother's life, when it seemed she was literally transformed from a physical being to a spiritual one. When she died she left only the purest form of love.

Accessible interpretation of the most important teachings of Tibetan Buddhism.......2007-02-05

This book is a classic on Buddhism, especially Tibetan Buddhism. It was written to clear some of the misunderstandings appeared after the West published "The Tibetan book of the dead", but Sogyal's teaching goes beyond that and explains the big picture of which the teachings of Tibetan book of the dead is only a part. He presents - incidentally or not - some of the great Tibetan masters of the last century, that he was a student of. I believe this to be the most important book I have read so far, and I think I'll study more about Buddhism.
The book was inspired by the deaths in his childhood of two people he loved. Noticing similarities and differences he then realized the power of Tibetan tradition, that better practice in the lifetime makes for an easier death, and most of all. the presence of a master near the dying is a very important element. After decades of living in the West he felt death is misunderstood there, although it is the most important moment of life.
Unfortunately, people are avoiding such important issues of existence and preparing for death, either by filling their schedule to the rim and doing countless things, so there is no time left to be alone with themselves (in the West), or by spending time foolishly lying in the sun, drinking tea and gossiping with friends (in the East).
The only permanent thing in life - the only permanence - is the impermanence. Mind has a temporary, superficial and deceiving aspect (sem in Tibetan) and the inner nature, real and primordial (Rigpa in Tibetan). Realizing the true nature of mind is the key to understanding life and death; we need to understand the nature, that aspect of mind which remains the same even after dying, and that understanding needs to happen in the lifetime; realizing the Rigpa means realizing the true nature of everything in the Universe. Training the mind is the most important thing to prepare for dying, because when dead mind is almost impossible to control unless we trained it. Buddha left behind 84000 meditation methods, and Sogyal explains a few of them and emphasizes that true meditation influences every moment of life, not only when sitting in the posture, close eyes and focus on ourselves.
According to the Tibetan Buddhist tradition the existence is made of four bardos (planes - intermediate, temporary realities): natural bardo of living, the painful one of dying, the luminos bard of dharmata, and the karmic bardo of becoming.
Even in the West many people believe in reincarnation - actually it was part of Christian teachings until Middle Age. Reincarnation - and life - is affected by karma (literally action), that is our good and bad deeds from the past (this life or previous lives). Per Buddhist teachings, a soul can reincarnate in one of six realms, depending on karma and the dominant negative emotion of the mind: gods (pride), demigods (jealousy), human (desire), animal (ignorance), hungry ghosts (greed) and hell (anger). The human realm is the best - or maybe the only one - for spiritual progress. The ego is the main obstacle of attaining enlightenment, because it determines a duality between "I" and the rest of the world.
In Tibet the master has a great role to play in enlightment, and he should have a known spiritual lineage, so the the student could be sure that the teachings are genuine. The student needs to fully surrender to the master, considering him even above the Buddha, because he is living in the same realm and can help much more than other enlightened being. Sogyal introduces the Guru Yoga - the practice of uniting with master's mind - every day, but most importantly at the moment of death.
The author presents some Dzogchen elements (most important compassion practices), explains the overview and emphasizes seeking a genuine master for going beyond that.
An important element of a good death is the knowledge of this book's teachings by the dying.and the accepting of death. Also, the family needs to accept it and let the dying know he/she has their permission to die, so that the death could be peaceful. The dying should get all the help they can get - even from lifelong enemies.
Compassion is an perhaps the main element of Buddhism - all religions actually - and is a very important step for attaining enlightenment. Tibetans have a special practice (meditation) for that, in which they help the beings in need, and those dying could benefit a lot from that. The people dying in pain could (mentally) direct their suffering toward helping others, and thus eliminating a lot of bad karma. That practice (Phowa) is all about transferring the consciousness from the dead body to another realm. Both the dead and others could do that. Phowa should begin shortly after dying and continued as often as possible for 21 days (or even 49).
At the moment of death, the best three attitudes are: meditation on the true nature of mind (Rigpa) - for people who achieved that, the practice of Phowa, or praying towards enlightened beings (or own master).
At the moment of death, the essence of the body transfers the subtle energy from gross essence to higher levels of matter. Eventually, the Clear Light (real nature of mind) will dawn - which is an opportunity for enlightenment. However, because or lack of training, most people will miss it, getting into a state of unconsciousness for three days (that's why Tibetan don't move corpses for at least three days after death). After three days the consciousness leaves the body definitively, the bardo of dying is gone,
The soul enters the bardo of dharmata, which has four phases - four opportunities for liberation (not as a great as the first one and even harder to recognize). It displays a landscape of light and sound, deities (depending of dead's beliefs), wisdom and spontaneous presence.
After the four opportunities are gone, the soul goes into the bardo of becoming, which will be inhabited for 49 days, of which 21 days have stronger connections to the life that just ended. It must be said that until now karma didn't manifest, the most important factor being the thoughts, the attitude at the moment of death (which is a good thing for those with lots of bad karma, because they can achieve enlightenment if they recognize the opportunities). In the bardo of becoming the mind takes over, and consciousness begins to wander away, terrified by the wind of karma. The mind is very difficult to master in this bardo, especially without training during life. The dead can read minds, and a person (or relative) thinking badly about the dead can have a disastrous effect, because the mind is out of control and the anger will be amplified and have strong negative influences on the next birth. On the other hand, thinking good about them has amplified beneficial effects. Eventually, depending on preferences and mostly on karma, most souls choose some parents and get born through a process opposite to the bardo of dying.
Meanwhile, the people alive can and should help the dead with rituals to help the consciousness choose a better rebirth.
Sogyal shows that modern near-death experience confirm most of the bardo teachings.
Different aspects of the mind get stronger during different bardos. Even during lifetime we get through all the stages: living (being awakened), dying (dreamless sleep), dharmata (the moment before dreams begin) and becoming (the dreams). Actually, between two thoughts we go through all the stages.
To conclude, the book helps putting the life in the proper perspective. If you are a seeker, but not for a very long time, probably this book can give you many answers and save you a lot of time of. I recommend it highly!

The single best book i have ever read.......2007-02-02

This is the best book on tibetan buhdism that i have ever come accros

powerful

direct

inspiring

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