06/10/2019
Yoga instructor Chen (I Wanna Be Well) presents meditations for processing pain, suffering, and death in this conversational work. Chen argues that cultivating bravery in the face of death—at any age or state of health—can lead to fuller, happier living. He draws from his own life, baring the emotional wounds from deaths of loved ones to show how disconnection and separation only serve to create more suffering by prolonging one’s recovery process. He explores different human conceptions of the universe and the afterlife (nirvana, heaven, hell, purgatory) and different circumstances of death (expected, unexpected, suicide). Mining various traditions, he shows how contemplation of death can teach readers the importance of claiming responsibility for attention and self-growth in every moment. He also guides readers through meditations, including traditional Buddhist death meditations. For Chen, striking a middle course between obsession with and avoidance of death offers means for re-establishing connection with loved ones and avoiding regrets. By exploring a difficult topic in a friendly, casual tone (“the power to move forward is actually ours. In a very real sense, we can be reborn without having to die”), Chen’s insightful ruminations will appeal to readers who enjoyed Brad Warner’s Hardcore Zen. (Sept.)
