Yongey Mingyur is one of the most celebrated among the new generation of Tibetan meditation masters, whose teachings have touched people of all faiths around the world. His first book, The Joy of Living (2007), was a New York Times bestseller hailed as “compelling, readable, and informed” (Buddhadharma) and praised by Richard Gere, Lou Reed, and Julian Schnabel for its clarity, wit, and unique insight into the relationship between science and Buddhism.
His new book, Joyful Wisdom (2009), addresses the timely and timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives.
His new book, Joyful Wisdom (2009), addresses the timely and timeless problem of anxiety in our everyday lives.
“From the 2,500-year-old perspective of Buddhism,” Yongey Mingyur writes, “every chapter in human history could be described as an ‘age of anxiety.’ The anxiety we feel now has been part of the human condition for centuries.” So what do we do? Escape or succumb? Both routes inevitably lead to more complications and problems in our lives. “Buddhism,” he says, “offers a third option.
We can look directly at the disturbing emotions and other problems we experience in our lives as stepping-stones to freedom.
- Instead of rejecting them or surrendering to them,
- we can befriend them, working through them to reach an enduring authentic experience of our inherent wisdom, confidence, clarity, and joy.”
Divided into three parts like a traditional Buddhist text, Joyful Wisdom
- identifies the sources of our unease,
- describes methods of meditation that enable us to transform our experience into deeper insight, and
- applies these methods to common emotional, physical, and personal problems.
The result is a work at once wise, anecdotal, funny, informed, and graced with the author’s irresistible charm.
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Product description
About the Author
Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, celebrated Tibetan Buddhist master and author of the internationally acclaimed The Joy of Living, is deeply versed in the practical and philosophical disciplines of the ancient tradition of Tibetan Buddhism.
Eric Swanson is coauthor of The Joy of Living. After converting to Buddhism in 1995, he co-wrote Karmapa, The Sacred Prophecy and authored What the Lotus Said, both of which focus on Buddhism within Tibet. --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
Review
"Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche, the Tibetan Buddhist master of mind-over-matter and co-author of the best-selling The Joy of Living...recommends Buddhism's cheerful, non-alarmist, big-picture approach to life's obstacles as a prescription for contemporary troubles."
--"Paper Cuts" blog, NewYorkTimes.com
"[Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche] has written an unusually lucid and graceful addition to the modern canon....The exceptionally clear descriptions combined with Mingyur's compassion and gentle wisdom make this book a valuable guide to Buddhist practice."
--Publishers Weekly
"Talking to Mingyur Rinpoche is like sipping chamomile tea. He has spent a lifetime cultivating calm. But, as a child, he says, he was plagued by nearly debilitating anxiety attacks. He moved beyond them, not by trying to be the master of this problem or by becoming its slave. He made friends with the problem. This is a third approach to adversity and one that Americans rarely consider."
-Arizona Republic
Praise for The Joy of Living
"Compelling, readable, and informed."
-Buddhadharma
"Rinpoche 's investigations into the science of happiness are woven into an accessible introduction to Buddhism."
-Tricycle
"I rejoice in this book, the first of its kind, a truly compelling and infinitely practical fusion of Tibetan Buddhism and scientific ideas."
-Sogyal Rinpoche, author of The Tibetan Book of Living and Dying
"There is real wisdom here. Fresh and clear. Mingyur Rinpoche has offered us what may well be an essential link between the Buddha and contemporary neuroscience and physics. He effortlessly makes connections between seemingly disparate and complex disciplines and makes the journey sparkle."
-Richard Gere
"An extraordinarily clear book."
-Jon Kabat-Zinn, author of Coming to Our Senses and vice-chair of the Mind and Life Institute
"[P]ersonal, readable, and wonderfully warm."
-Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness: The Revolutionary Art of Happiness
"Mingyur Rinpoche 's unique contribution to this emerging field is an early flowering of the interface of neuroscience and Buddhism. . . . I heartily recommend this to anyone interested in the healing arts, consciousness studies, and genuine contemplative practice
today."
-Lama Surya Das, author of Awakening the Buddha Within Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World and founder of the Dzogchen Center in America
"Mingyur Rinpoche is a charismatic teacher with a heart and smile of gold. . . . This is one of those rare books where you meet the author and learn from his radiance."
-Lou Reed
"This book is a must-read for anyone interested in the causes and consequences of happiness."
-Richard J. Davidson, director of the Waisman Laboratory for Brain Imaging and Behavior at the University of Wisconsin--Madison
"We are lucky and blessed to have the possibility to hear the candid, down-to-earth, and beyond the consciousness of imagination generosity that Mingyur Rinpoche exudes in his teachings."
-Julian Schnabel --This text refers to an alternate kindle_edition edition.
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Product details
File size : 1512 KB
Print length : 307 pages
Publisher : Harmony (4 April 2009)
Customer Reviews: 4.8 out of 5 stars 163 ratings
4.8 out of 5 stars
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Top review from Australia
Shanti Padme
5.0 out of 5 stars Truly brilliant! This warm
Reviewed in Australia on 7 September 2015
Verified Purchase
Truly brilliant! This warm, skillful and immediately likable Lama has written this book full of loving-kindness, wisdom and hope... a book that cradled and helped me through an incredibly difficult time in my life. I felt understood and hugged every time I picked it up to read! Thank you Rinpoche - you're truly remarkable and words will never express my deep gratitude to you.
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A book to inspire and encourage.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 26 February 2018
Verified Purchase
I've read a great many books on Buddhism over years and this has to be one of the very best. Clear, practical, commensense guidance for any one at any point on the path.
5 people found this helpful
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searcher
5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 19 July 2019
Verified Purchase
Mingyur Rinpoche's book contains wisdom which can change our lives- the book is so clear and inspiring -his courses are also brilliant- a trustworthy and precious teaching
2 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars This book is a treasure.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 14 November 2018
Verified Purchase
Rinpoche is freely giving us the treasure. This book teaches how to connect with yourself, people around you and life again. It teaches us to welcome problems, pain and obstacles and befriend them. I respect this book and rinpoche.
3 people found this helpful
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Joyful Wisdom: Embracing Change and Finding Freedom
by Yongey Mingyur, Eric Swanson (Goodreads Author)
4.32 · Rating details · 1,103 ratings · 93 reviews
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♥ Ibrahim ♥
Aug 03, 2013♥ Ibrahim ♥ rated it really liked it
Shelves: spirituality, religious-studies
It is wisdom to embrace change. We should not block distractions or give in to them. Instead, I should welcome them as friends: Hello fear! Hello itch! How are you? Why don't you stick around a while so we can get to know each other?"
This practice of welcoming thoughts, emotions, and sensations is commonly referred to as mindfulness, drenpa in Tibetan language, that is, to become conscious. Once I offer to make friends with my mind, it's astonishing to discover how shy it soon becomes. When I no longer resist a powerful emotion like fear, I am free to channel that energy in a more constructive direction. When I hire problems as my bodyguard, allied with me not against me, they show me how powerful my mind is. Their very fierceness will make me aware of how strong I am.
The reason behind the anxiety is not the problem I might be having because, in reality, the problem is not the problem but the real problem is the thoughts I may be having about the problem. It is my perspective-the way I choose to look at my situation. Troubles, sufferings offer an opportunity to discover a more vivid sense of peace, clarity, and compassion. The problem is the solution. Simply stay with the situation, look at it directly. This allows a bit of space to spontaneously open up around it, allowing us to see it as an endless ocean in which experience is nothing more than one among a series of waves- now rising, now falling-never separate from a limitless expanse. (less)
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Chris
Oct 26, 2009Chris rated it it was amazing
Shelves: buddhism
The first book about Buddhism I would recommend is "The Art of Happiness" by the Dalai Lama. The second book is this one. The author explains how to apply Buddhist philosophy to the human problems we all deal with on a daily basis. He shows how different methods of meditation can be used to get through common problems like self-doubt and frustration with work. He clearly explains step-by-step methods and illustrates his points with stories anyone can relate to. He is good at explaining Buddhist terminology, and I liked how he acknowledged that it is natural for beginners to become bored with the practices or confused with the theories. I will definitely keep this on my iPod, because the book contains more information than I can remember from one reading.
I listened to this audio book a second time, and I also bought a print copy to use as a reference book. (less)
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Megan
Jan 24, 2015Megan rated it really liked it
Shelves: 2015
It's kind of random how I came across this book - I had never heard of it before in spite of its best seller status. I know I've hinted before that I'm going through some big things in my personal life, so I'm sure this genre of book makes sense in that respect, but the biggest thing that lead me to this book is that my husband has really gotten into Buddhism lately and I wanted to be able to keep up with him so I searched my library catalog for "Buddhism" and perused the selection. I narrowed things down to what audiobooks were available (realistically I am driving so much that audiobooks are my best option to read right now), and this was first on the list that looked good to me. I'm glad to report that this blind picking method worked out well this time :)
Joyful Wisdom is what I like to summarize (loosely) as a practical guide to Buddhist meditation. The author is a monk from Nepal who travels around the world and teaches these basics. The book is broken down into 3 main sections: Principles, Experience, and Application. He covers the basic thought and history behind Buddhism first, moving onto what those basics mean in your own life, and then tells you how to apply these teachings to benefit your life. He uses examples not only from ancient Buddhist texts and teachings, but also from some of his modern students and what these specific techniques did for them.
In the application section, he literally breaks down how to meditate on a specific Buddhist principle with instructions such as, "Assume the 7 point position. Clear your thoughts and think about a person who you feel gratitude for. Don't ponder on it for more than a few minutes." Very practical. Very precise. He even talks about how it's ok and even needed to take breaks, and how even if we feel like we are failing because we can't clear our mind, that's actually a good thing. Basically there is no failure - a nice notion to go into things with, really.
I have always been the type of person who was interested in meditation, but I just never found any explanations that made sense to me as to how to go about it. I'm not one who easily relates to metaphysical-speak like, "make friends with your fears." Seriously? What? How does one do that? The greatest thing I gained from this book is an explanation of the meditation process that actually made sense to me. It was also wonderful to learn that I am not alone or unprepared for this practice - in fact, most people feel similar to me when they can't get their head clear enough to focus on what they think they should. It's about clearing other thoughts out of the way so that you can focus on what surfaces during that clarity. If that thought bubbles up to the top, obviously it is at the forefront of your mind and needs your attention. I've never had such a rational sounding break down of meditation before. I fully believe that anyone who is interested in meditation, whether you've tried it and felt like you couldn't do it, or if you're like me and have never fully tried because it never made sense, this book is what you need. There is so much information in here that I'm sure it would help even a seasoned meditator.
I'm sure there is plenty more that I could say about this book, but just know that I give this book 4 out of 5 stars. (less)
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Cynthia Egbert
Dec 05, 2016Cynthia Egbert rated it really liked it
Shelves: audio, library
I adored this book and am buying my own copy. I listened to this one on audio and the author uses one word repeatedly that he pronounced in an odd fashion and I just desperately wanted to make notes in the book as I was listening so I am looking forward to sitting down with my own hard copy. I could seriously just copy the entire book here aas good quotes but I am just going to add the ones most profound to me.
If you have a little water in ear, pour in more water and drain it all out. A illustration of the ancient Buddhist principle of using the problem as the anecdote.
When we become fixed in our perceptions we lose our ability to fly. (killing butterflies) (The butterflies that are mounted and displayed are not really even butterflies any longer since they cannot fly.) 3 poisons = ignorance (label on the bottle of hot sauce is the hot sauce), desire (for things to bring pleasure), aversion (the pushing away of things that bring unpleasantness).
I can choose how to think about myself and all the stuff happening around me. I consider myself very fortunate in fact. Some people aren't capable of choosing and some people don't recognize that they can choose. I guess I'm lucky because I fall in the category of people who are able to recognize their capacity for choice.
We must find the courage to be, just as we are, right here, right now, with all our doubts and uncertainties.
Story of the soldier with the poisoned arrow in his body. "Wait. Before you pull out the arrow I need to know..." All of his ridiculous questions. By the time the doctor learned the answer to everything the soldier was dead. This is an example of self created suffering, the kind of intellectual overlay that inhibits us from dealing with painful situations simply and directly. The moral of the story is to let go if the search for reasons, blame, or stories and simply look at the experience directly. Extract the poison arrow of pain right now and ask questions later or even never. Once the arrow is removed the questions are irrelevant.
Cultivate lovingkindnesscompassion.
Meditation isn't something separate from your life, it is your life
When we take the time to look at the way we see things, the way we see things changes.
Self awareness is a neutral mode that maintains self-reflectiveness even in the midst of turbulent emotions. -Daniel Goldman Emotional Intelligence.
Every technique of Buddhist meditation ultimately generates compassion. Whenever you look at your mind you can't help but recognize your similarity to those around you. When you see your own desire to be happy you can't avoid seeing the same desire in others. And when you look clearly at your own fear, anger, or aversion you can't help but see that everyone around you feels the same fear, anger, and aversion. This is wisdom, not in the sense of book learning but in the awakening of the heart, the recognition of our connection to others and the road to joy. (less)
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Kelsey
Jun 17, 2019Kelsey rated it liked it
Kind introduction to many key concepts and practices in Buddhist mindfulness meditation (e.g. Four Noble Truths, awareness, insight, empathy).
As the author succinctly puts it at the end of the book, “joyful wisdom comes down to choosing between the discomfort of becoming aware of your mental afflictions and the discomfort of being ruled by them.” (p. 268)
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Diana Shaffner
Mar 19, 2018Diana Shaffner rated it it was amazing
Shelves: psychology
What a wonderful book! Joyful Wisdom, who cannot use a dose of that?! In this book the author who sometimes describes himself as a 'happy little monk' starts out telling about his childhood struggles with intense anxiety that caused him problems well into his young adult years. He dealt with these difficulties despite having a loving home and a famous master of meditation as a father. While this book is full of wisdom, the perhaps most powerful one standing out is the one on impermanence. Nothing is permanent. Everything is in flux and will be gone one day to be replaced by something else impermanent. Wenn we cling to the idea of wanting things to stay the same, we create suffering for ourselves. In not clinging to anything we set ourselves free.
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Dinda
Nov 29, 2019Dinda rated it it was amazing · review of another edition
I gave it 5 stars because this book sparked so many conversations. Some tough and complicated ones.
I thought this book was kind of self help book, but it turned out to be ‘very Buddhis’. It’s About the concept of buddhist teachings such as mindfulness and how to practice meditation. It’s very interesting for me.
I might not be able to undestand it fully now - i really need to reread it again - but i got many ideas. I think that what makes a good book!
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Whitaker
Dec 10, 2010Whitaker rated it really liked it
A really great book shows us how everything is great and worth to die for
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Anastasiya Mozgovaya
Dec 24, 2018Anastasiya Mozgovaya rated it it was amazing
a must-read!
it is impossible to prevent change from happening, but it is possible to prepare yourself. an extremely nurturing book.
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Nikky3
Jun 30, 2019Nikky3 rated it really liked it
Very relatable and has some good life advice even if you are not interested in religion.
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Matthew Turner
Mar 29, 2018Matthew Turner rated it really liked it
It's been a long time since I have read a book on Buddhism and it was overdue. It's nice to get some perspective on modern day living from time to time. I had previously read a book by his holiness, the Dali Lama and I felt that I had a strong sense of what each of the four Noble Truths of Buddhism were after finishing his book. This book wasn't as concrete on what they were. I couldn't decide if that was a good or bad thing. The very fact that the author is more vague than the Dali Lama makes you think more about what exactly each noble truth is. In some ways that is a very good thing.
The first noble truth is that the nature of life is suffering. There is more to it than that, but that is the essence of the thing. The other truths are a bit more vague. You would have to read the book to probably put it in your own terms.
I found myself looking up Tibetan or Sanskrit words that I was not 100% clear on. After I finished the book I noticed a glossary at the back and read that also. I noticed several definitions of words that I had looked up online were not the same definitions as I found in the back of the book. I think many things were slightly different compared to my previous experiences reading up on this topic.
My assumption is that some of this is language barrier. However, there is an English co-author named Eric Swanson for this book so it can't all be the language. I still think you get the essence of the tenets of Tibetan Buddhism and if you are somewhat like me and think you have some small understanding of what they may be already, this book may force you to look at what you think you already know in a different light. It's all about perspective.
The final thing I wish to share about my experience reading this book is how it may have effected my personal life at the time without me even knowing it. I was about halfway through the book when I became involved in a disagreement with someone I know via text message. This person had no idea what I was reading but at some point in the conversation sent me an angry text that said, "Fuck you and your fortune cookie wisdom!"
This bothered me for about twenty minutes but after awhile I found the response rather amusing. A part of me wished that I could have said that to someone. A great response. That could be a line in a movie. I can't tell you that I resolved this issue quickly. The person in question remained angry at me for weeks because of what I said to them. I think it is safe to say that I have a long way to go to reach my own Buddha nature. However, I do not regret expressing my thoughts and feelings honestly and can't deny that to get a response like that from someone this book must have had some effect on my day to day life. I would like to believe a positive one, however trying to prove you have wisdom by listing an example of someone telling you to fuck off is not wise. Or is it? Meditate on that. (less)
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Adolfo
Jun 15, 2020Adolfo rated it it was amazing
This book was an in deep text about what is taught with words about Zen philosophy and meditation in a Buddhist temple in São Paulo. Although there are things that I personally don't agree, the book covered the subject clearly and deep enough.
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Bryce Holt
Apr 30, 2015Bryce Holt rated it really liked it
Even excellent books can catch you at the wrong time. This was a good book (I listened to the audiobook, FYI), but I think the messages were sadly lost on me. The messages of detaching oneself from fear, desire and those things that hold you back from living life as it should be lived...I just can't do it right now. I can't just breathe out the stress; can't detach myself from my work. It's sad to recognize that what this monk is telling me I need to do to "find freedom" is the very thing I just cannot do right this moment. Trying to put into practice what he was advising ended up only making me feel more overwhelmed, frustrated and lost. And the more I pushed myself, the more I felt anger rather than peace coming to the surface. Something that seemingly used to come so easily to me, it is as if I won't allow myself to find peace.
Still, this is my problem, not the book's. Yongey Mingyur's somewhat simple principles can be applied anytime to anyone, and given they are willing to relinquish what holds them captive (I just couldn't...), I could see this being a very powerful piece. I hope to revisit it in a year or two, and perhaps being open enough then to discover its riches because there are riches here.
If you are just getting into Buddhism, I'd go with Siddhartha or a book from the Dalai Lama to start with (the same way I would suggest starting with Bill Bryson's "A Short History of Everything" if you were wanting to dip your toes into an adult look at science for the first time), but this isn't too far of a leap from those subtly simple masters. I just hope that, when you come across this, your heart, mind, body and soul are more open than mine were so you get the full experience. (less)
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Nicholas
Aug 29, 2012Nicholas rated it really liked it · review of another edition
Recommended to Nicholas by: Nate
So far, the book is living up to its title. For example, pg. 84,
"Now, peeing may not be anyone's idea of an enlightening experience, but I can tell you that once I empty my bladder, I recognize that the deep sense of relief I feel in that moment is a good analogy for the Third Noble Truth: that relief was with me all the time as what you might call a basic condition. I just didn't recognize it because it was temporarily obscured by all that water. But afterwards, I was able to recognize it and appreciate it."
Don't let this isolated quote misconstrue the weight/substance of this book, but allow it to convey the 'approachability' of its content/message.
Almost every Dharma book unavoidably addresses the Four Noble Truths. I concede that a practitioner can never go deep enough into these fundamental teachings, but it becomes quite a skill for an author to explain them in an original or inspired way. Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche does an admirable job in revisiting the Noble Truths and illuminating them with his experiences. (less)
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Steven
May 30, 2017Steven rated it really liked it
This was my first time learning some of the concepts of Buddism and I was really happy with this introduction. A wonderful look at the basic of this ideology with great step by step procedures for getting started. I loved all the examples Yongey Mingyur uses from people's real lives and the way things were broken down for easier understanding. My first complaint is that it is a bit repetitive in the middle and I found myself losing interest, but the last few chapters made up for it. The other complaint I have is the lack of science which I feel is overly emphasized in the reviews for this book on the back cover. While the science is there and I really didn't expect high levels of sciences in an introduction to an ancient ideology, the back cover raised my expectations.
However, those two statements are minor complaints and the book really is an amazing introduction to the world of Buddhist thinking. I will definitely recommend this book to others and look for other works by this author. (less)
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Jo
Jan 16, 2013Jo added it
This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.
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Cole
Jan 31, 2014Cole rated it it was amazing
I'd like to write a quick review:
I read this after finishing "The Joy of Living." My friend swapped these books with me. I don't identify as a Buddhist, but I will say that much of his teachings and stories are uplifting and inspire me to cultivate a sense of stability in my life and compassion towards all beings. Yongey Mingyur alludes to his childhood, when he was filled with anxiety. I relate to this well, as I too have experienced anxiety in the middle portion of my life.
Stylistically, his writing is simple but is full of wisdom. I especially enjoyed the stories and experiences he shared to make sense of points he was trying to make. I gave this five stars because I gained a lot from it.
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Happyreader
Dec 07, 2009Happyreader rated it really liked it
Shelves: spirituality
A kind, gentle, and practical approach to developing awareness, insight, and empathy. I appreciated his approach to breaking down difficult mind states into smaller, easier-to-deal-with units and his caution to not overdo and to change up your practice to keep it fresh and relevant. His techniques and analogies are accessible such as his observation that the increased arising of difficult emotions can be a sign that your practice is progressing, like a dirty dish soaking in water. While the dish appears messier, it's all the dried-on, stuck food dissolving, making it easier to clean the dish. A great book for beginners and non-beginners. (less)
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Tenzin Tsokey
May 27, 2012Tenzin Tsokey rated it really liked it
I find this book a testament of Yongey Mingyur Rinpoche's personel practices and insights into meditation and Buddhist science. I am sure he has done really amazing job by writing this book for thousands of readers knowingly or unknowingly hunting for such book long times back.
Infact, it took me for awhile to read this book easily because I can not turn to next page to next without giving a thoughts to a particular page that I had read, as almost every single pages in the book demanding your not only concentration to read but your deeper sense and practical into it.
This is thought-provoking book!!! (less)
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Nicholas Carpenito
Jul 21, 2012Nicholas Carpenito rated it really liked it
This was a truly great read. It was insightful, it was light hearted, funny, and powerful. I learned things from it, I laughed a lot reading it, and I felt like following the lessons in it would really make me a more complete person, more able to help others find their way.
At not point did I feel compelled to finish this book, you can read it, put it down for a month, and start again, and nothing is lost. It feels like listening to an old friend speak to you, not like being preached to or taught.
Everyone should read this book, or at least read some of it, we all have something to learn from this man. (less)
두 사람의 뛰어난 스승이 하나의 육체로 동시 환생한 것. 이러한 영적인 분위기에서 성장한 밍규르는 아무런 가르침을 받지 않았음에도 어려서부터 혼자서 집 뒤 히말라야의 동굴로 올라가 명상을 하곤 했다. 극도로 예민한 감성을 지닌 탓에 공황장애와 소심증, 대인공포증 등으로 얼룩진 유년기와 청년기를 보내야 했지만 그러한 마음의 문제를 오히려 자신의 참본성을 깨닫는 도구로 삼았다.
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