Product Description

Lama Zopa brings contemporary relevance to timeless teaching of Buddhist psychology and everyday spiritual living.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #676232 in Books
• Published on: 2001-06-25
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 128 pages

From the Back Cover
"Happiness and suffering are dependent upon your mind, upon your interpretation. They do not come from outside, from others. All of your happiness and all of your suffering are created by you, by your own mind."

Commenting on a 13th-century Tibetan text of instructions and practical advice for everyday spiritual living, Lama Zopa Rinpoche literally teaches us how to be happy when we are not, by bringing about the changes in attitude that permit us to live a happy and relaxed life in which external circumstances no longer rule us. In Transforming Problems Into Happiness, Lama Zopa Rinpoche brings his own special flavor or contemporary relevance to a timeless teaching n Buddhist psychology. This volume will be valuable to everyone, whatever their religious of spiritual background.

Customer Reviews

Not practical
I wanted to like this book, but didn't find anything practical about it. The premise is great, turn your problems into ways for personal growth, but HOW? Never go that far, so no real practical value for me.

TRANSFORMING PROBLEMS INTO HAPPINESS
AS A TEACHER, THIS IS A 'REQUIRED READING' WHEN I AM ABLE TO
WEAVE THE TOPIC OF 'HAPPINESS' INTO ANY COURSE ! THE FOREWARD BY HIS HOLINESS, THE DALAI LAMA SHARES IMPORTANT FOCUS ON TOPIC OF HAPPINESS.

IT IS TRUE THAT EVERYONE WHO DOES READ THIS BOOK AS A 'REQUIRED READING' ... ADMITS TO READING THIS MAGNIFICENT SIMPLIED 'WAY' MANY MORE TIMES,BY CHOICE, AND, I AM TOLD REFER TO THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY... WHICH I DO ALSO... WHAT WAS
ESPECIALLY VALUED WAS THE 'GLOSSARY' OF TERMS WHICH ARE USED THROUGHOUT THE BOOK; ALONG WITH, THE SUGGESTED FURTHER READINGS ONE COULD EXPLORE. STILL STUDYING THE 'COURSE IN MIRACLES' ~ JOEL GOLDSMITH AND WALTER STARCKE WISDOMS, THIS INSPIRING BOOK ELEVATED MY ABILITY TO WELCOME ...'WHAT IS'... AND NEVER LABEL ANYTHING! HAPPINESS IS THE WAY... AS DR. WAYNE DYER TEACHES (ANOTHER FAVORITE AUTHOR). PLEASE DON'T MISS ADDING THIS TO 'YOUR WAY' ~ WITH PEACE IN EVERY STEP FORWARD ~ THIS IS MY FIRST RATING BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE OF LETTING YOU KNOW!

Wow!
What is the first noble truth set forth by the Buddha Shakyamuni? That we all suffer! We face trials and tribulations all throughout this human experience. Lama Zopa Rinpoche shows us how to successfully deal with such adversity, and as the title suggests, transform this into joyful experience.

It's essential, Rinpoche highlights, to be prepared for unhappy situations before they ever occur. Having the capacity to use these afflictions as a basis for cultivation of wisdom and happiness is a pretty difficult task. Lama Zopa makes no secret of it. But with previous training we can all straightforwardly apply the teachings of the Buddha to transform these afflictions via our practice. We must in a concrete way realize that our life's problems, beyond any doubt, are the necessary conditions required for a quality life and meaningful practice. The only way we can receive continuous happiness in our lives is from our misgivings and misfortune.

Lama Zopa points out that the idea the problem is an affliction is the one and only boundary holding your confines in misery, looking wan tingly into the field of joy and happiness. In that sort of state, there is no way we can transform the affliction into practice. So acknowledging that these problems are a true friend in our Buddhist practice, is the first essential step towards liberation. This book really helped me through some rough points not so long ago. Even though I knew what Lama Zopa was expressing long before reading this work, it was a bright and gentle reminder to employ what I knew to be the medicine into actual practice. When I did, I experienced vast relief. Buy this book, it can do wonders for you in your practice.