Table of Contents
Basic Training: The chapters in this book are short and easy to understand, and can be read in any order.
Introduction xiii
Mindfulness
Grasping 3
Training the Mind 5
The Big Picture 7
Life Is a Piece of Cake 9
Less Is More 11
Unlearn 13
Sit Happens 15
We Are the Victims of Our Own Choices 17
Utopia 19
Leave No Trace 21
Love and Relationships
Love Is the Recognition of Beauty 25
What a Healthy Relationship Looks Like 27
My Wedding Day 29
Feelings vs. Emotions 31
Sexual Responsibility 33
How a Short Talk Can Make a Big Difference 35
The Healing Power of Love 37
Religion/Spirituality
A Simple Definition of God 41
The Divinity Within 42
The Danger of Scripture 43
Pray, Meditate, or Both? 45
Leading by Example 47
Karma 49
The Message, Not the Messenger 51
Buddhism as a Windshield Wiper 53
Teaching Kids How to Think, Not What to Think 57
Everyone Is Your Teacher 59
A Pseudo-Problem with the Golden Rule 61
Understanding
The Opposite of What You Know Is Also True 65
Rewriting the Stories We Tell Ourselves 67
One Man's Truth Is Another Man's Blasphemy 71
Repentance 74
Still Learning 76
Middle Ground 79
The Beauty of Gray 81
Live and Let Live 82
Voting 85
Success
True Luxury 89
Careers Are Overrated 91
When to Walk Away 93
Success Means Being Happy 94
Redefining "Enough" 95
A Simple Life 97
Knowing Is Not Even Half the Battle 99
Anger, Insecurities, and Fears
At the Root of Our Suffering 103
The Origin of Anger 105
The Two Wolves 107
Note the Antidote 108
It's Never Too Late 111
Controlling Your Temper 114
Insecurities 115
The Pain Behind Our Fears 117
Living in Gratitude
Grateful for Each Breath 123
Prevention Is the Best Cure 124
Versions of Violence 127
You're in Charge! 128
Why Gratitude Is So Important 129
A Simple Way to Be the Change 131
Thoughts, Words, and Actions 133
Doing the "Right Thing" 135
Activism 137
Permanence 139
The Charter for Compassion 140
Easier Said Than Done 142
