Description

From renowned Buddhist teacher Boorstein comes a small, polished gem of a book that seems somehow even more intimate and heartfelt than her previous books Pay Attention, for Goodness’ Sake and It’s Easier Than You Think. Boorstein begins with an anecdote about a day when her writing was interrupted by a call from a friend with a very ill brother; the effort of consoling her made Boorstein forget what she had been about to write. Boorstein uses her moment of resentful impatience at the interruption to illustrate how easily the mind can fall out of caring connection. The whole idea of this book, she writes, is that restoring caring connection… and maintaining it when it is present, is happiness. This insight is a jumping-off point for Boorstein to explore three planks of the Buddhist path: wise effort, wise mindfulness and wise concentration. Her quiet insistence that the Buddhist practices of mindfulness, meditation and metta (lovingkindness) can quiet the mind, deepen concentration and lower anxiety is both convincing and inspiring.“This book will convince you that your own happiness really is much more available to you than you may have thought. Sylvia skillfully shares her inner life and her outer life and lovingly trains your mind and heart in the real practice of meditation, which is always about how you live your life right here and right now.”–Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses“Sylvia Boorstein’s lessons, gleaned from a life of internal reflection and mindful teaching, are delivered with such openness, love, and affection that it feels as if you are sitting with Sylvia in her living room soaking in the wisdom of an enlightened friend–wisdom that is also consistent with findings about how mindfulness changes the brain.”–Daniel J. Siegel, M.D., author of The Mindful Brain“A wonderful book, heartwarming and wise . . . It conveys the essence of what the Buddha taught–in the voice of a gifted storyteller, teacher, friend, and compassionate human being.”–Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindess“Reading this wonderful book is like having a heart-to-heart with Sylvia. It is wise, warm, and full of great stories that will make you smile. Best of all, it will cheer your spirit by showing you how to practice happiness.”–Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart“This is a truly delightful book, filled with simple wisdom for the journey.”–Sarah Susanka, author of The Not So Big Life“A generous gift for all of us to enjoy, to savor, and to learn from.”–Judith S. Wallerstein, Ph.D., co-author of What About the Kids?“Sylvia Boorstein has always been a world-class storyteller. But the stories in Happiness are altogether at a new level. I found myself talking back to this book repeatedly, saying, ‘Yes! That’s it! Exactly!’ It should be required reading for all human beings.”–Stephen Cope, author of The Wisdom of Yoga