The Force of Kindness: Change Your Life with Love & Compassion

by Sharon Salzberg

Distill the great spiritual teachings from around the world down to their most basic principles, and one thread emerges to unite them kindness. In The Force of Kindness, Sharon Salzberg, one of the nation's most respected Buddhist authors and meditation teachers, offers practical instruction on how we can cultivate this essential trait within ourselves. Through her stories, teachings, and guided meditations, Sharon Salzberg takes readers on an exploration of what kindness truly means and the simple steps to realize its effects immediately. She reveals that kindness is not the sweet, naive sentiment that many of us assume it is, but rather an immensely powerful force that can transform individual lives and ripple out, changing and improving relationships, the environment, our communities, and ultimately the world. Readers will learn specific techniques for cultivating forgiveness; turning compassion into action; practicing speech that is truthful, helpful, and loving; and much more. When we fan even the smallest ember of kindness, according to Sharon Salzberg, we begin to overcome our own fears, doubts, and personal attachments-and tap an endless source of gentle strength that is always available to us. With her graceful writing and six guided meditations on CD, this beloved meditation master empowers readers to enhance The Force of Kindness in their own spiritual practice.

Genres: Buddhism, Nonfiction, Self Help, Spirituality, Meditation, Inspirational

85 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2005

About the author

One of America’s leading spiritual teachers and authors, Sharon Salzberg is cofounder of the Insight Meditation Society (IMS) in Barre, Massachusetts. She has played a crucial role in bringing Asian meditation practices to the West. The ancient Buddhist practices of vipassana (mindfulness) and metta (lovingkindness) are the foundations of her work.

Reviews

[Leanne Kidd · Rating 5 out of 5]

There's much to love about this book, but interestingly, what keeps coming back to me after reading it this past week is kindness to self. Oh, how so many of us Westerners lack that ability. I've been working on practicing small things that she suggests doing in the book, such as being kind when one notices the feeling of upset, anger, or confusion, and the practice has been creating an interesting space between me and the initial trigger.

From the chapter on Kindness Toward Ourselves, she writes, "Part of that re-visioning process is to see our own anger and fear and jealousy--and all such states--as suffering rather than as being bad or wrong or contemptible. Then we can have some compassion when we face these states within, and by extension, when we see them at play in others. "

What I noticed when practicing this was if I noticed a thought process that was creating negative feelings or emotions to start having their way with me and thought to myself, "this is suffering, why do you want to create suffering for yourself?" It would immediately soften the experience. It's as though in practicing this, I was avoiding biting the "hook" as Pema Chodron describes with Shenpa.
Final Words:
A lovely read that I picked up from the library but would love to own so that I can highlight and write in it and continue to reference!

[Kerry · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book has a lot of highlightable and quotable passages that are worth thinking about at greater length. It does suffer, to an extent, from the same problem that other books based on Buddhist teachings do, namely the abstract quality of the writing. Salzberg was right to keep the book short for this very reason. She also has more concrete books, Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation being an excellent guide to meditation and seeking the freedom in letting go of negative emotions and embracing lovingkindness and other meditation techniques.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have had this book for a few years, but could never bring myself to read it. Anything by Pema Chodron always won out. Finally, mostly because it has a companion CD of guided meditations, I started reading the book and doing the meditations. I'm so glad I did! I will look into more books by this author.

[Cherie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sharon Salzberg books are like curling up with a cup of tea under a cozy blanket in front of a fire during a snowstorm, or reading in the shade of a beautiful tree on a blanket on a gorgeously sunny day. It's comfort, it's truth, it's being held. This book on kindness tries to get at the core of why and how to be kinder. If only we were ALL kinder...

[David · Rating 5 out of 5]

A refreshing rejuvenating view on kindness in one's own life and the life of others, this book has offered life altering views and practices that can help one to connect with others in a very deep way.

[Joanne Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Inspiring, touching. Would love to be able to implement the principles in this book without having to think about it. Will read it again.

[Colleen D · Rating 5 out of 5]

V easy read yet v meaningful

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will absolutely read this book again. It's clear and simple while also being profound. I loved its accessibility, infusing personal stories with Buddhist teachings and meditation practices.

[Kathy Jackson · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was alright - had a hard time concentrating, which is something that made the book not as enjoyable as it was for the person who recommended it to me.

[Ollie Barton · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve got a longggg way to go

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Kindness is a force that breaks open your heart even as it heals -- and in that healing sets you free. Perhaps one of the Buddha's most radical teachings, metta or "lovingkindness" is a much more than common nicenss or charity. It is a real-world practice to awaken your empathy with all beings and then radiate the fire of that compassion into the world.

"With The Force of Kindness , Sharon Salzberg offers her respected skills as a meditation instructor to teach you a series of practices for looking gently at the suffering within -- and to heal yourself with compassion. Complete with specific meditations on CD, this integrated learning course will show you how to expand your lovingkindness gently outward to friends, community, and, ultimately, even to those who have caused you suffering.

"Do you yearn to break free of resentments and pain -- and to share that inner liberation with others? In applying yourself to this practice, you will find that your sense of isolation from others will begin to melt, and even in themidst of troubles you will come more and more to possess the radiant force of an open and fearless heart."
~~back cover

I'm looking for lovingkindness in my life. I desperately need it for myself, and I yearn to expand it outward, to help bring peace to the world.

[Cheryl · Rating 2 out of 5]

"To explore kindness as that thread of meaning requires finding out if we can be strong and still be kind, be smart and still be kind, whether we can be profoundly kind to ourselves and at the same time strongly dedicated to kindness for those around us. We have to find the power in kindness, the confidence in kindness, the release in kindness-the type of kindness that transcends belief systems, allegiances, ideologies, cliques, and tribes."

"Kindness points to the core of what it means to be alive, which is to be connected."

The manifestation of kindness is not just in being nice and sweet- it has great forcefulness. The certainty of someone's conviction that we can be happy, manifested throough their caring, animates a potential within us that might otherwise just have lain dormant...If there is a fire within these spiritual teachers to be truthful, to wake up, to not waste one's life...it can light a similar fire in us as well."

[Sharon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buddhist practitioner and scholar Sharon Salzberg's latest work, "The Force of Kindness," is an in-depth look at the Buddhist metta meditation. Metta is a practice in which one starts by wishing love, joy and mental peace for one's self and then expands the circle out to family, friends, strangers and enemies in turn. The premise here is to practice mindful kindness.

Salzburg examines various ways to incorporate kindness into one's life through the metta, with discussions about intention, compassion, avoiding cruelty and so on. She provides specific tasks at the end of each chapter that allow the reader to put the lesson into practice.

The book is brief and interesting, and provides some useful tools. The included CD, with guided meditations, is particularly nice.

(Review based on uncorrected advance proof, with companion meditation CD.)

[Stella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I find this book to be a great guide and reading a chapter before meditating or spending some quiet time really affects the types of conscious thoughts that come up.

The best part about Susan Salzberg writing about kindness is the simple, clear and non-preachy way it comes through. She's even said before that one doesn't need to declare themself a Buddhist or a Hindu to "get it"; no one needs to deny or push away other teachings.

I had already heard Susan Salzberg speak about love and compassion before, so as I read this book I got the same feeling-- her voice is clearly in the text.

I recommend this for anyone who is familiar with the concepts of lovingkindness meditation, even if they didn't like "practicing" as such. My mind often wanders during meditation, but this book gives me something more constructive to wander toward and I think the effects are cumulative.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've read numerous books from the Western Buddhist community but had never read or heard Sharon Salzberg speak. I watched a video retreat online through my Tricycle magazine subscription and really liked her demeanor and the way she expressed herself. She made the teachings very easy to relate to in my daily life. I really enjoyed this material and will be reading more from this author in the future. I would love to attend a retreat at the Insight Meditation Institute in Barre, MA where she is on staff. On my bucket list anyway!!

[Susy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Difficult for me to get into. . .definitely not a night time reading book for me as I tended to drift off. When the suthor's insights hit me, they really made an impact. I'm afraid I missed too much in trying to get it read for book club. Will probably try rereading portions of it slowly.

[KJP JACKSON-PETERSEN · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to understand Salzberg talking about and instructions on buddhist philosophy and meditaion. I also could really relate--as most of the beliefs are already my own.

[Larry James · Rating 5 out of 5]

you will learn a practical path to cultivate a foundation of inward peace, open your heart with empathy, and radiate the force of kindness to those you touch in your life.

[Greg · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty straightforward kindness meditation book with four guided meditations on CD. Worth reading to add metta meditation to your daily meditation practice.

[Terri Stockdreher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book so much I've bought copies for others and use it at work with my patients. So simple, so good. Excellent meditations on the CD.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this book is life changing. I bought it after attending a meditation retreat with Sharon in February. I bought extra copies to give away. I hope others will be inspired by it.

[Arlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

A Buddhist discusses kindness as a guiding force for one's life - kindness for oneself, kindness for those close to you, kindness towards others.

[Sandra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Living gently...Sharon Salzberg is a gift, an inspiration, radiant, which shines thru in her writings! One of a few worth reading life changing selections. Included CD is wonderful addition.

[Victoria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing!

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

So poweful.