Author

Fernando, Peter

Place of Publication

Boulder

Publisher

Shambhala Publications, Inc.

Publication Date

2016

Physical Description

Softcover ; ix, 222 p.

Subject

Mindfulness

Mind/Body

Chronic Illness

Chronic Pain

Emotional Health

Self-Concept (includes self-esteem)

Abstract

"'Let your illness be your spiritual teacher!' Make a statement like that to someone who's struggled for years with, say, rheumatoid arthritis, and be prepared for an eye roll (at best). To Peter Fernando's credit, he makes that statement, and no such impulse arises. We believe him because he's been there himself and because he backs up the statements with his own real experiences and with real wisdom from the Buddhist teachings. Fernando starts by defusing the pernicious belief that anyone is somehow responsible for their illness: you're not "wrong" for being sick. Then, having gotten past self-blame, one can begin to learn self-kindness. From there, one moves to mindfulness practices and cultivating body awareness?even if body awareness is distasteful when the body isn't behaving the way you like. Further topics include getting intimate with dark emotions (fear, despair, the scary future, frustration, grief, etc.), learning equanimity (rejoicing in the good fortune of those who don't share your suffering), cultivating healthy relationships in the midst of everything, and practical advice for living with pain. Each chapter comes with one or more practices or guided meditations for putting the teachings into practice"--from publisher.

ISBN

9781611802634

Language

English

Material Type

Book

Call Number

EF 850 FER 2016

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