Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning and Connection Into Every Part of Your Life

by Surya Das

Surya Das's breezy delivery makes his teachings come off like colorful conversation. In the third installment of his bestselling "Awakening" series, America's most popular lama shows us how to integrate inner and outer practices. Our inner spirituality, he says, can never be separate from our relationships with others. With his trademark clarity, he integrates his teachings with light- hearted anecdotes and down-to-earth practices. Basic meditation, for instance, can help us create a gap between our knee-jerk judgments and our reactions, allowing for calm, wise relations. Likewise, one can try authentic listening ("opening the third ear") or exploiting the power of speech to build deeper connections. And beyond human relations lies our connection to the natural world, for which Surya Das also includes a few lovely meditations. Taking that extra step in our practice from the self to the world requires more than just individual persistence, it takes compassion and teaches more than you'd expect. --Brian Bruya

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Religion, Self Help, Audiobook

Unknown Binding

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Lama Surya Das is one of the foremost Western Buddhist meditation teachers and scholars, one of the main interpreters of Tibetan Buddhism in the West, and a leading spokesperson for the emerging American Buddhism. The Dalai Lama affectionately calls him “The Western Lama.”

His most recent book is Make Me One with Everything: Buddhist Meditations to Awaken from the Illusion of Separation. He is well known for his internationally bestselling Awakening the Buddha Within: Tibetan Wisdom for the Western World and the sequels in the “Awakening” trilogy, Awakening to the Sacred: Creating a Spiritual Life from Scratch and Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning and Connection into Every Part of Your Life. His other books include:

Buddha Standard Time: Awakening to the Infinite Possibilities of Now
The Mind Is Mightier Than the Sword: Enlightening the Mind, Opening the Heart
Natural Radiance: Awakening to Your Great Perfection
Buddha Is as Buddha Does: The Ten Transformative Practices of Enlightened Living
The Big Questions: How to Find Your Own Answers to Life’s Essential Mysteries
Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be
Awakening the Buddhist Heart: Integrating Love, Meaning,
Natural Great Perfection: Dzogchen Teachings and Vajra Songs, with Nyoshul Khenpo
The Snow Lion’s Turquoise Mane: Wisdom Tales from Tibet

Lama Surya Das has spent over forty years studying Zen, Vipassana, yoga, and Tibetan Buddhism with the great masters of Asia, including the Dalai Lama’s own teachers. He is an authorized lama and lineage holder in the Nyingmapa School of Tibetan Buddhism, and a personal disciple of the leading grand lamas of that tradition. He is the founder of the Dzogchen Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts and its branch centers around the United States. Surya has brought many Tibetan lamas to this country to teach and start centers and retreats over the years. As founder of the Western Buddhist Teachers Network with the Dalai Lama, he regularly helps organize its international Buddhist Teachers Conferences. He is also active in interfaith dialogue and charitable projects in the Third World, and has recently turned his efforts towards youth and contemplative education initiatives, what he calls “True higher education and wisdom for life training.”

As a sought after speaker, Lama Surya Das teaches and lectures around the world, conducting meditation retreats and workshops. He is also a published poet, translator, and chant master. His blog, “Ask the Lama,” can be found at www.askthelama.com and his lecture and retreat schedule are listed on his website www.surya.org. Follow him on Facebook--Lama Surya Das--and Twitter--@LamaSuryaDas.

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*

Life is about relationships: relationship with ourselves, with others, with the environment, and with the world. In Surya Das’ Awakening the Buddhist Heart, Das explores how to enhance our relationships through spiritual intelligence. Spiritual intelligence allows us to see patterns, principles, and connections. It helps us create order and meaning from the chaos in our lives.

This is the second book I’ve read by Surya Das, and he does a good job explaining concepts and keeping the reader engaged. If you’re interested in reading about shame, vulnerability, and fears from a spiritual perspective you’ll want to read this book.

[D'Arcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I am exploring other spiritual connections in my life I found this one very valuable. I love the idea that we are all connected, that each interaction is important and valuable, and that people are brought into our lives for reasons. I loved the thougths on meditation and connecting with the higher power. The little buddha in my did summersaults of joy when reading this!

[Tim Weakley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I find Das to be one of the more clearly spoken of the western Buddhist writers. For whatever reason he is able to put his ideas in a way that I understand on a few levels.

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Buddha tradition is about compassion, kindness, the surrendering of the ego, and many other things that are not at all incompatible with Christianity. Many of the Buddhist teachings are similar, if not identical, to the teachings of Jesus. This is one of those practical guides to putting the teachings of Buddha into everyday life. I enjoyed it thoroughly.

[Kate Halma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lama Surya Das is a great writer - Jewish "boy" become Buddhist monk - top that!

[Abz · Rating 5 out of 5]

his trilogy of awakening is a constant recommendation for anyone i talk to interested in buddhism. he writes with humour, humility and practices that are straightforward and life changing.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've read 2 other books by Lama Surya Das. Including this one, all are helpful, hopeful and written well. He explains Buddhist ideas in ways that are easily understood by Westerners, but based on authentic research and deep understanding. Whether you are a novice seeker or well-traveled on your spiritual path you will find many ideas in the book to capture your imagination.

Politics and world events: in the USA and around the world, we are confronted daily by anger and ego blown out of proportion. (Trump Tweets, terror attacks, dysfunctional political battles, income inequality, bigotry, narcissistic culture, fast food when they get my order wrong, etc.) Except for that last example, it sometimes feels like we are marching toward World War 3. This book was a helpful antidote for me. It makes me want to go out, do more and be a better person.

I read a recent opinion piece in New York Times: "I'm OK - You're Pure Evil". It captures some of the frustration and disconnect of people who are polarized through social medial. "Radicalized" might be another way to describe it. Since we all share the same planet, we must all try to do better.

OK, that last paragraph isn't about the book, but reflects where my head is today. If I'm going to try to improve my corner of the world, this author says it must begin with listening to and improving my heart.

[Gabrielle Jarrett · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't find Awakening the Buddhist Heart to be Lama Surya Das's best writing. It is mainly stories, which many people do enjoy. I am more of the cut-to-the-chase when reading non-fiction. I also require original thinking to be satisfied. Das, in this book, is a very good reporter. I don't believe we have to love the people who deceive, control, and are violent to others. We do need not to hate. I don't need to forgive those who do not ask for forgiveness. I do need to heal what they have done to me and not be burdened with their offenses. I also need to step out of their way. Awakening the Buddhist Heart appears to have been written from the head, but not the balance of head and heart.

[Apple Pi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I would recommend this book to someone looking for a change of heart. If you don't know much about Buddhism but are open to learning more about Tibetan Buddhism, then you might find this book to be a compassionate companion.

Without further ado, here is my original review:

My copy came used. I think its previous owner found it just as priceless as I have.

My copy came with thoughtful highlights interrupting the small print, introspective notes lining the white space, and dog-ear-tags banning the book for aesthetic purposes. Yet it was clean and in fine condition otherwise, possibly illustrating the person's respect for it as a Dharma text.

If you read an off-hand excerpt, you might assume that it came from the self-help or New Age section rather than an ancient tradition and lineage. The author weaves together personal anecdotes, fictitious stories, Saint Theresa/Thich Nhat Hanh/HH Dalai Lama quotes, relationship advice, and even Jewish traditions that make this book instantly cognizable to a Westerner like me.

YET: "Awaking the Buddhist Heart" is the core of this book. The principles laid out are foundational to Buddhism, particularly to Tibetan lineages. A substantial amount of focus is on mind training techniques to cultivate mindfulness and understand Kharma at the heart center. Techniques like Tonglen (giving and receiving), the 37 Practices of a Boddhisatva, and Dak-Nang (pure perception) are discussed. I was shocked that Surya Das seemed to describe Chöd as they learned to meditate in graveyards.

I have not read the entire book. This is one to pick up and digest in small pieces. It gripped me from the first three pages. In fact, I have practiced for over a year and 1/2, I still harbor confusion about some basic concepts. Awakening the Buddhist Heart shone a fresh new light onto it.

[Elijah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an interesting read given to me by my friend Frankie. The author is incredibly talented, and I felt like he tackled all aspects of Buddhism and how to be a more loving and compassionate person. Personally, I love how he used anecdotes and quotes from well known monks like Thich Nhat Hanh to help the reader understand his concepts.

[C.C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three of the Awakening trilogy - LSD has a unique way of writing, one can get lost while reading.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good overall; not as engaging as some other Western Buddhist teachers (e.g., Sharon Salzberg, Jack Kornfield, Sylvia Boorstein).

[Nick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had a wonderful time reading this one---will definitely be seeking out my own copy!

[Deborah Charnes · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a very easy-to-understand book about basic Buddhism. It's written from a Western mindset, yet incorporates beautiful ancient stories and quotes.

[Jordan Jongema · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very well written, accessible and presented in clear waters giving an in-depth look to the core of Buddhism.

[Darcy · Rating 5 out of 5]

If everyone read this book at some point in their life, the world would be a much better place. This book covers it all and is so rich in lessons.

[Elaina Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Surya Das focuses here on the 'heart' side of Buddhism—relationships and connection. It taught me that the test of 'zen' in daily life was how I treated individuals, friends, and loved ones when things didn't go as I had planned.

[Yvonne Ciemniak · Rating 4 out of 5]

in Nederlandse vertaling

[Chavalita · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reading this book and what came of it was the continuation of a process which began about a year before and was put on pause for a short period. That "process" was enlightenment, spiritual seeking, growth, finding God, returning to love, etc.

This book shines a light on the power of connecting and relating with other human beings and on how enriched your life becomes when you do so. It is written with the simplicity that I think characterizes Buddhism and you most definitely don't have to be a Buddhist in order to take hold of the lesson being being taught. I felt an overwhelming sense of peace each and every single time I sat down to read this book and more than that, I can say it changed my life.

[Kath T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can keep coming back to this, this book is full of life's important lessons I feel like we should talk about more.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

While Lama Surya Das is best known for “Awakening the Buddha Within,” the first in the “Awakening” trilogy, this book is just as fantastic and foundational. He takes steep Buddhist teachings and translates them to be so accessible for anyone, especially Westerners. Highest recommendation, as are all his books. Read them all, awaken!

[Christine Chapman · Rating 3 out of 5]

So great. I listen to this audiobook about once every 18 months. Allows you to reconnect to your life and your world reminding you how beautiful simple acts like walking a dog can be utterly joyful.

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent introduction to the basic Buddha teachings and how to live a spiritual life.

[Jeff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I like Lama Surya Das's books as he is a westerner and he breaks it down to a leval that westerners can easily grasp.

[Linus Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a good book to want to move your life forward with.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read and understand -not particularly my belief system- but it never hurts to add more understanding and acceptance into my life.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I didn't always like the author's style and chosen example stories, but this book contained enough personally important messages for me to feel I really got something out of reading it when I did.

[Sonja Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good overview of several traditions of Buddhism, with an emphasis on Tibetan Buddhism.

[Cari]

Absolutely love this book. Well written so that anyone can enjoy it, and learn from it. I recommend it to all #

[Lois · Rating 4 out of 5]

This follows on very well from "Awakening the Buddha Within". Reads well however often you open it.