The Way of Rest: Finding The Courage to Hold Everything in Love

by Jeff Foster

The Way of Rest gathers nearly 200 of Jeff Foster’s most inspiring essays, poems, and reflections on restoring and reviving ourselves when we feel exhausted or defeated. Drawing from his personal journey—including his own struggles with illness and depression—Jeff invites us to contemplate “the Way of Rest” and its potential to transform our experience of:

• Imperfection—how we are “gloriously flawed” yet complete exactly as we are

• Not knowing—how we come to trust in the greater intelligence of life

• Melancholy and loneliness—how we learn to release the healing energies of “exquisite sensitivity”

• Ordinary moments—recognizing and receiving “the closest thing of all”

• Discomfort and discontent—how our frustrations become an opening to deep peace

• Love—rediscovering who we are beyond our carefully constructed facades

• Silence—discovering the vibrancy of living by letting go of thoughts and concepts

“I hope the words in this book inspire, challenge, and encourage you. But most of all, I hope they help you remember that you are life, inseparable from the power that grows the flowers and gives birth to galaxies,” writes Jeff Foster. The Way of Rest brings you his companionship and support whenever you need it most.

Genres: Spirituality, Nonfiction, Poetry, Self Help, Psychology, Personal Development

354 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 1, 2016

About the author

Jeff Foster graduated in Astrophysics from Cambridge University in 2001. Several years after graduation, following a period of severe depression and illness, he became addicted to the idea of "spiritual enlightenment", and embarked on an intensive spiritual search which lasted for several years.

The spiritual search came to an absolute end with the clear seeing that there is only ever Oneness. In the clarity of this seeing, life became what it always was: spontaneous, clear, joyful and fully alive, and Jeff began to write and talk about "nonduality" (which he often calls "the utterly, utterly obvious").

He holds meetings and retreats in the UK and Europe, clearly and directly pointing to the frustrations surrounding the spiritual search, to the nature of mind, and to the Clarity at the heart of everything. His uncompromising approach, full of humor and compassion, shatters the mind's hopes for a future awakening, revealing the awakening that is always already present, right in the midst of life.

"

Reviews

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jeff Foster’s “The Way of Rest” which I won through Goodreads Giveaways is an inspiring book that gives us all the courage to live life to the fullest, accepting that we’re not perfect, will falter and fail and will face heartaches and despair. Yet amid all the turmoil in our lives we must forge ahead if we’re to discover the best in ourselves and to find peace in our discomfort.

With insights, poems and insights Jeff takes us on a journey drawing from his own experience and giving us all the power to transform our way of thinking, to be open to possibilities and not conform to the world’s way of thinking. This is a book written from the heart which I will continue to draw from and be open to sharing its wisdom with others.

[G. Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book. A collection of essays, poems and thoughts about the human condition, and taking care of yourself. Lovely

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Every time I dip into this book, I find my soul being stretched and my regular way of thinking challenged (in a totally good way!). Jeff Foster is alive with bright wisdom and I feel grateful to have found this author.

[Roos · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book contains beautiful, inspiring and calming essays/poems. It’s not a book you’ll read in one go, but it was lovey to read a (few) poem(s) a day. This book is a true gift, for yourself or someone else.

[Brian Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, a compilation of brief offerings of verse and prose, is directed to persons in the midst of a season of suffering. The author's own history of emotional suffering provides context for these worded rites of encouragement.

While we all have difficult times, this book would appeal most to persons who have known not just the common darkness we all experience, but those who have felt pulled to the bottom of the well of despair, depression, loss, being lost, ...

The author invites us, graciously, to embrace our humanness as integral to our path of wakefulness. He reminds us enlightenment is in the messiness of life and feelings, not dishonoring the suffering by denying it or merely trying to get over it.

The author presents himself, through these gifts of inspiration, as a benevolent presence, not someone trying to heal anyone, but a companion along the way, not as a spiritual expert, but someone as human as every reader. He gives us, likewise, a volume that can be embraced by persons of religious faith or not, for he presents a message inclusive, showing, in the process, how spirituality itself is about life, not about being aloof or apart from life.

One may find himself or herself reading along, as though walking down a well-worn path and, then, something is said in such a way that one stops, seeing something commonplace, seen and known many times, as for the first time. I found these moments to reveal a gift at creating inspiration by framing the everyday in a way leaving one in awe and seeing afresh the mundane and ordinary.

This tome invites us to sacralize our suffering, a suffering already holy, every thought and feeling whole in itself and to be embraced, like parent cuddling close child. He demystifies enlightenment, bringing liberation as close to use as this moment just as it is, not as should be or we should be. He calls this embrace of everything Love. These offerings invite us to relinquish the perfectionistic spirituality that many of us have been taught, and to relish spirituality as an authenticity beyond ideas of being spiritual or not being spiritual. Spirituality is, to the writer, just this being in intimacy with just this moment now, even when this moment is far from the moment we had dreamed it would be. Even the broken dream is holy, as sacred as the fulfilled dream, is inherently perfect in the glory of its imperfection. All is passing, all we have, he reminds us, is this one moment that never began and never ends.

[Deborah · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot say enough good about Jeff Foster's philosophies. His unique way of helping us look at existence, has changed MY EXISTENCE. I have a degenerative disease, which I was born with and is progressing as I age. Jeff Foster's essays, prose and wisdoms, have helped me to look at my "short falls" as gifts and opportunities. I have purchased this book for 3 of my friends and I regularly quote excerpts from this book when I am attempting to help my son cope with the pains of your adulthood. It is not a self help book, but rather a wise man's perspective, offered in thought provoking terms, helping the reader to appreciate and understand how each moment we exist, is a gift to our soul. To me, Jeff Foster is a teacher and a profit.

[Janet Bbgr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is not for me. I couldn't get past annoying writing style. It's a bit too sweet and soppy at times. And the frequent use of the word 'friend' when talking to me, the reader, really gets on my nerves. But that's personal of course.

[idealist at heart · Rating 4 out of 5]

how to stay calm and centred when you have big goals, big dreams and an ever growing to do list?

when you want to be a part of change and yet – day in, day out – you see how much there still needs to done?

sometimes, all of it just feels exhausting.

well at those times, i might help to take a deep breath and pause.

rest to recharge.

after all, you can only give to yourself and others what there is to give in the first place.

but as a beginner, your most pressing question (before even the question of what mindfulness actually really is, before booking a course and definitely before starting your own practice) might just be:

what could this feel like for me? is getting into this going to be worth it? for me?

long story short, this book may provide answers to these questions.

because reading this book is the closest i felt to being in a meditative state outside of meditation.

read the full review on the blog : https://idealistatheart.com/the-way-o...

[Patricia Schwartz · Rating 1 out of 5]

While it's good to want to help readers to realize our true oceanic nature, the author's overuse of imperative sentences is not instructive. His writing style alternates between demanding and poetic/self-indulgent. Rather than guiding us on a path to "hold everything in love", he commands us on every page to see, to do, to not do.

[Ann Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book feels like an invitation to be fully wherever I am right now- and I really liked it. I will come back to it and read a little now and then, and it will continue to encourage me to embrace all the many facets of myself. 4 instead of 5 just because I don't like being called "friend" all the time.

[miss c a shuter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificent Life

If I decided to quote the good bits, I would end up quoting the whole book. It has had a real impact on me. I am going to re-read it to fully absorb the message. As I read I realise this book reminds me of something deep down I already know, we already know about life.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The journey is the goal."

"Be the sky, in which thought-clouds can dance. Thoughts are not reality, not the truth, and not who you really are. They are sounds and pictures only."

"Keep your eyes on the prize, but do not oppose the present moment-this is the great paradox of transformation..."

[Alexa · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit repetitive throughout the book, but all great teachers repeat themselves, yes? I think it was pretty darn good.

[Jennifer Fenton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Full of wisdom to devour throughout a lifetime. Perfect companion to yoga and meditation practice.

[Dayna Wells · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this bedside table book for evening reading. Foster's wisdom for slowing down, accepting things for exactly how they are brings a quiet peace even in the midst of life's storms.

[Pranali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book bought me to life. I can just out up in simple words. During the pandemic, it gave a courage to be strong.

[Leandra Jordaan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book! It'll become part of my read again collection. I read it bit by bit each day so I could absorb the messages.

[Linda Smelser · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Way of Rest gives me hope and helps me relax into life as it is. Jeff Foster's perspective is open and accepting. It's a book you can open to any page and get inspired.

[Regan Tischler · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good book about being present and how to value your time, feelings, and positive or negative events.

[Robin Gidding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really powerful and true

[sillareads · Rating 5 out of 5]

Erg mooi🙏

[Noah Chase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really great

I enjoyed this book. In alignment with so much of my life. Can’t wait to read more by this author !

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written as a collection of short essays and poems, this book interesting, very well written and obviously a huge passion of the author. It's apparent how much work the author put in to this, which is impressive.

Unfortunately, this just isn't my type of book. For anyone who enjoys poetry and inspirational/self-help books, I would recommend reading this book.

Thank you to he publisher for providing me with a free copy via the goodreads giveaway.

[Rachel Stevenson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it’s quite possibly the best book I’ve ever read in my life. So unbelievably beautiful, so wise and compassionate. I read each piece at least twice. Jeff is so gifted, one to read again.

[Niki Walters · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book speaks directly to my soul. I don't even have words to describe it. I will quote it and refer to it and recommend it again and again until the end of time. This is a heart expanding masterpiece of love.