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A
Guide to Developing Life’s Most Important Skill
BY Matthieu Ricard, Daniel
Goleman
Read by Robert Fass
Hachette Audio
December 11, 2018 / ASIN: B07L5ZNBMD
Nonfiction / Philosophy / Audiobook - Unabridged 8 hours-
59 minutes
Reviewed
by Nicole Merritt
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Happiness
as a title alone is enough to invite the reader into this
book. Then add Ricard’s credentials as a Cellular Biologist.
Further, enhance the validity of the information given by
the fact that he served as the Dali Llama’s personal
translator and, well, it is a winning combination. Narrator,
Robert Fass takes a little acclimation because of his heavy
accent, but is overall very compelling as a Buddhist storyteller.
The
book is all about feelings. Ricard teaches that our feelings,
however intrinsic and real, can be adjusted to help us enjoy
true happiness. We all get angry, but the ability to control
our anger is part of a learned response that can be changed.
The five mental poisons that distort our perception of reality
are responsible for factors that disrupt our inner wellbeing.
When we blame others or the outside world for bad things that
happen, we are not taking responsibility for ourselves.
His
story of walking in the Himalayans for days and wanting to
stop because of the extreme temperature and tiredness is likened
to our anxiety being the result of not having direction in
one’s life. It is important to grasp one’s own
potential for change. Changing the negative outlook into a
positive one can result in freedom. Simply knowing that making
a small change in our thoughts can change our existence, is
a revelation we can all use in our everyday experiences. I
listened to this audio book with intense focus. As a Christian,
I did not feel the least bit intimidated by the Buddhist lessons.
His presentation was simple and to the point. I got a lot
out of it and felt that I could use some of the lessons in
dealing with my emotions as well. Getting rid of toxic thoughts
that affect how we look at things and deal with others is
an important lesson for us all. If you have trouble dealing
with your emotions and need some guidance in harnessing some
of those chronic thought patterns that send you into a spin
every time they come up, listen to this audio book. If you
have ever been interested in meditation but unsure of it at
the same time, Ricard speaks to fear and offers clarity.
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