The World's Best Book Summaries
Inspired by the Japanese way of life? What can Japanese wisdom teach you about living well? The Japanese way of life and philosophy offer a very different perspective from the West on living well. The Japanese wisdom is all about integrating ancient philosophies into daily life. Here are three concepts that will help you tap into the well of ancient Japanese wisdom.
Has somebody hurt you so badly that it feels like you can’t and don’t want to forgive them? Do you feel so much shame about something you did that you can’t forgive yourself? What is Radical Forgiveness? We can’t hate ourselves into being good people. Only with Radical Forgiveness and Radical Acceptance can we find the wisdom and compassion to correctly respond to our situations. We must learn to forgive even those who have betrayed us because doing bad things doesn’t make someone a bad person. Continue on to learn about Radical Forgiveness.
What does How to Read Literature Like a Professor say about baptism? What is a symbolic baptism? A baptism in literature doesn’t always have to be religious. A literary baptism is when a character escapes a watery death and reforms their life as a result. How they escaped drowning is an important part of the character development. Keep reading to learn what How to Read Literature Like a Professor has to say about baptism.
What is the story of Buddha and Mara? What does it mean to invite your negative feelings in for tea? In the story, the god Mara tried to sway Siddhartha but Siddhartha met every challenge with Radical Acceptance. Instead of trying to ignore Mara, Buddha acknowledged his presence by saying, “I see you, Mara” and eventually Mara would leave on his own. This story is about accepting your feelings instead of repressing them. Continue on to learn about the story of Buddha, Mara, and Radical Acceptance.
What are the best Ikigai book quotes? What do they say about the human search for purpose and meaning? In Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life, author and blogger Héctor García and novelist and self-help writer Francesc Miralles teach you how to apply the Japanese concept of ikigai, or life purpose, to your own life. The following Ikigai book quotes discuss some of the key themes and ideas from the book. Keep reading for the best quotes from the book Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life.
What is Buddha’s first noble truth? How are anxiety and selfishness related? How can you learn to accept yourself? Buddha’s first noble truth is that suffering is universal. Feelings of “selfness” can make you feel trapped, anxious, and always wanting more. But if you let go of the “I”, your personal suffering becomes universal and you can understand that there is nothing wrong with you. Continue on to learn about the first noble truth and letting go of selfishness.
What is logotherapy? What is the premise behind Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy approach to finding meaning? Logotherapy is a meaning-based and purpose-centered psychiatric therapy developed by neurologist and Holocaust survivor Victor Frankl. Logotherapy offers a highly specific understanding of “meaning.” It says we don’t create our life’s meaning. Instead, we discover it. Logotherapy says each person has a unique meaning, which evolves throughout life. Keep reading to learn about Viktor Frankl’s logotherapy approach to finding meaning in life.
How can we learn to see ourselves and others differently? What is the Buddhism idea of metta? Is it possible to feel lovingkindness towards those we despise? It can be difficult to see our own positive qualities, but by reminding ourselves of things that we admire about ourselves, we can reawaken love and compassion. We should also try to feel compassionate towards others rather than putting labels on them. Seeing the essential goodness in people naturally awakens what Buddhists call metta, translated as “lovingkindness.” Keep reading to learn more about compassion and metta towards ourselves and others.
Do you have trouble being present in the moment? Do you often find yourself ruminating over the past or time-traveling into the future? It’s easy to get stuck going over past mistakes or to spend time worrying about the future. In both instances, you’re thinking about things you can’t control. But when you focus on being present in the moment, time seems to move more slowly, you’re more relaxed, and better able to concentrate. Here are some practical tips on how to get your mind to focus on being present in the moment.
What is the Sacred Pause? What does pausing have to do with Radical Acceptance and Buddhism? In order to be fully present, we have to pause. The old folk story about the man who kept running from his shadow is the perfect example of this. He could never put even the smallest distance between himself and his shadow but if he’d just paused to sit in the shade, it would’ve disappeared. Keep reading to learn more about Radical Acceptance and the Sacred Pause.