[When You're Falling, Dive: Acceptance, Freedom and Possibility] [By: Huber, Cheri] [March, 2003]

by Cheri Huber

This book combines the psychological concept of acceptance with ancient Buddhist teachings about the chain of interdependent origination, which provides immediately usable tools for looking at how suffering happens and how to let that go. Stressing the theme of accepting what life brings, it reveals what acceptance is and what stands in the way of being able to accept life's ups and downs. Four steps for combating resistance are also provided.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Buddhism, Spirituality, Personal Development, Psychology, Zen

Paperback

First published March 1, 2003

About the author

Cheri Huber, author of 20 books, has been a student and teacher of Zen for over 35 years. In 1983, Cheri founded the Mountain View Zen Center, and in 1987 she founded the Zen Monastery Peace Center near Murphys, California. She and the monks at the Monastery conduct workshops and retreats at these centers, other places around the U.S., and internationally.

In 1997, Cheri founded Living Compassion, a nonprofit organization dedicated to peace and service. Living Compassion’s primary work is the Africa Vulnerable Children Project, based in Zambia, where for over a decade they have been working with the people of Kantolomba, beginning the process of turning a slum of 11,000 people into a self-sustaining community.

Cheri also has a weekly Internet based radio show.

Reviews

[Katie]

Like Cheri Huber's other books, this is written simply with child-like illustrations. This book is about practicing self-acceptance and the way it is written is helping me to understand self-acceptance with my heart, instead of just thinking what a great idea it is with my head.

[Kris Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some interesting ideas, some challenging concepts.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Accettate. Respirate. Non polemizzate, non lottate, non resistete. Semplicemente respirate. Semplicemente notate. Rinunciate all'idea di arrivare da qualche parte.
Basta sedere e respirare e notare. Non importa cosa può accadere; se portate tutta la vostra attenzione e consapevolezza al respiro non solo vi sentirete bene, ma vedrete tutto quello che avete bisogno di vedere.

Apprendiamo che possiamo semplicemente rimanere fermi, lasciare che le sensazioni siano sensazioni, piuttosto che il preludio a una commedia in sedici atti che abbiamo visto milioni di volte.

Il sistema di sopravvivenza che tiene al suo posto la realtà è basato su convinzioni. Noi proiettiamo le nostre convinzioni sulla vita. Vediamo le nostre proiezioni e crediamo di vedere la vita. Finché non troviamo il coraggio di guardare oltre le nostre convinzioni, vivremo la vita dentro il cerchio delle nostre proiezioni, credendo di vivere la vità così come è. Finché non troviamo la disponibilità ad accettare ciò che è, non avremo il coraggio di andare al di là delle nostre convinzioni."

[Tony Kulla · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book helped me greatly during a difficult period of my life. It was given to me by my dear friend Cassy, who tragically passed away this year. We re-read the book this past winter and chatted about it and we were both surprised that we took different things from it than we had during our first read.

It's a quick read and I suggest it to anyone who wants to see themselves in a new light... it can be liberating. Here's a few thought I had on excerpts:

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“It’s not that we gain the power to change circumstances; we develop the skill to determine our experience of those circumstances.” (page 4)

This is one I really picked up on the first time I read it. Now, when I’m feeling blue (for a reason or just because I’m having an “off” day) I let myself experience it. I don’t try to fight it; I accept that being sad at times is part of life.

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“…dissatisfaction is at the root of our addiction to distraction.” (page 52)

How much of life is about distraction? Entertainment or work or even love can be a way to distract ourselves from the reality of life. What are we afraid to face?

[Alexa Clay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her little books are great, humorous, practical guides to navigating our lives from a mindful place. Good instruction for creating a meditation practice. Once you have read one or two, you have generally read them all.

[Moni Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. Finding this on the shelf at the library was serendipity and perfect timing. Highly recommend if you are distressed by current events. It is based on Buddhist teachings but quite accessible to non Buddhists.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

All of Cheri Huber's books are great.

[LemontreeLime · Rating 5 out of 5]

I always liked this one best.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great starter book for getting the benefits of "Zen" into your life. Much more to do from here, but this should set you on the way.

[Max Smirnoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[Sladjana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like Cheri's style of writing and illustrations.