Embracing Your Life with the Heart of a Buddha by Tara Brach (2003-06-01)

The same friend who recommended The Lost Art of Compassion also recommended Radical Acceptance. Both are excellent! They explain the communities between Buddhist and Western psychologies. Both authors add enough autobiographical information to make the text interesting personally. Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance, is "a beloved meditation teacher and psychotherapist" according to her book's introduction. One read demonstrates this is so. Lorne Ladner Ph.D., author of The Lost Art, is similarly educated. "And", as the introduction to his book says, "he is a skillful practitioner of compassion in action in the most intimate healing setting of all, as a therapist and spiritual friend (kalyanamitra) of intelligent contemporary people who are suffering who suffering from the kind of confusions and stresses of the modern psyche and society that we can recognize all too well."

Tara Brach's volume takes the reader through her college years, like in an ashram, betrayal by a teacher, the death of a child, two failed marriages--one of which was arranged--the growing relationship with a son born of the second union, etc. Each chapter ends with a meditation or guided reflection designed to help us readers awaken from our trances. Lorne Ladner focuses more on patients he has helped. His exercises to help break trances are more cerebral than Tara's, but there is a helpful summary of all of them at the end of the book. Tara's book also contains accounts of how she has helped patients.

Though both of these books are deeply rooted in Buddhism, their insightful humanity appeal members of other religions as well--especially Christians, Jews, and Moslems with mystical inclinations.

John R. Amos, JCD

I really like this book. It comes from the author's experiences and personal journey to self-acceptance. It isn't simply a personal tale, however. It has solid information, references, and resources/tools for developing self-compassion and acceptance. It may be a helpful resource for anyone who could use a little more self-acceptance (and I'm sure I'm not alone in this group!)

If you are a reader of the spirituality, self development tomes of Pema Chodron, Sharon Salzberg and others of that ilk, this will blow you away. Tara Brach's Radical Acceptance teaches deep lessons simply and helps you to learn to treat yourself a little bit better as a means to undoing negative conditioning. Wonderful book, wonderful teacher.

I have been enjoying Tara Brach's meditations for a couple of years. This book is full of personal stories, revelations and common sense. Answers and healing come with awareness and love. Ms. Beach brings both. Thank you!

This book helped me get through a difficult relationship with my sanity intact. Beyond that, it has helped me understand what things I can affect and which are out of my control, while giving me the peace of understanding what I need to be responsible for.

Radical Acceptance was such an eye opening, enlightening read for me. I read it during a difficult struggle with chronic illness and it allowed me to find peace, to nit get lost in my emotions, to face my feelings with compassion. I recommend this book to anyone looking to grow as a human being.

I rented this from the local library sometime back, and I loved it so much I bought it for my Kindle. I find while I practice mindfulness I often lack in the acceptance department. This book really helps.

Radical Acceptance was such an eye opening, enlightening read for me. I read it during a difficult struggle with chronic illness and it allowed me to find peace, to nit get lost in my emotions, to face my feelings with compassion. I recommend this book to anyone looking to grow as a human being.

I rented this from the local library sometime back, and I loved it so much I bought it for my Kindle. I find while I practice mindfulness I often lack in the acceptance department. This book really helps.

I felt this book was a life improvement tool thatgave an approach to working through baggage from unpleasant happenings in our personal lives. I purchased and sent copies to my four children because it gave each of them access to the tool if they were interested.

I was introduced to this wonderful book through a program of study I am enrolled in through MARC: Mindfulness Awareness Research Center at UCLA. Tara Brach has done a wonderful job of explaining the inside transformations that can occur by the active practice and application of Mindfulness Meditation techniques when confronting the challenges of life. She offers detailed case studies from her own private practice and clients and her own personal experiences which help personalize the application of techniques. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in living a more peaceful and harmonious, compassionate life.

If you are tired of beating yourself up and want to achieve ease of well being in life, try this book. Lucidly written, it promotes and guides you through meditations to explore the negative charges that make up our stories, to see yourself as you really are and to accept what you find there. Tara suggests that this radical acceptance is the base for making fruitful change. A happier read than Eckert Tolle (who is also very thoughtful) Tara offers real life examples of discovery that light a path to pursuing your own work.

The books by Tara Brach have brought new meaning into my life: both Radical Acceptance and True Refuge are inspiring guides to being able to cope with important issues and let go of those that serve no purpose.

Great book for helping you with problems in your life. Shows you how to accept the downs and enjoy the upsides. Gave me a lot of insight into handling my problems with mindfulness and empathy for other people.

Tara Brach has written a truly incredible book here, one that really all of us could benefit from reading. Her insights into human nature are spot-on and have really touched my heart. Can't recommend this highly enough.

Hard to add anything that others haven't said. This is an excellent introduction to many principles of Buddhism. There are so many pearls of wisdom in this book. Learning to find goodness in yourself and others, no matter what the circumstances, is an important step in healing ourselves and the world.

The is one of the most transformative books I have ever read. Page by page you discover the truth hidden deep inside you that was hidden with "doing" instead of "being".

I have recommended this book to about 4 other people and sent it to 2 people. All have said the same. Truly a hidden gem.

The author, Tara Brach, clearly an experienced therapist, describes psychological healing techniques through the prism of buddhist meditation to stop fighting against your wants and events in your life.

I am not Buddhist but am interested in learning more about myself, particularly during one of the most challenging times of my life. This book was incredible, and has started me on a path of learning. Highly recommend.

If Eckhart Tolle acts as the sign post pointing toward the open door of awareness - Tara Brach & Radical Acceptance is the warm embrace waiting inside. Please listen to her talks and meditations on her website while reading this book. It's a truly beautiful perspective.

I only recently discovered Tara Brach when a friend from work who knows that I get stressed out easily recommended that I listen to her lectures and free meditations on the Dharma Seed website. I fell in love with Tara's wonderful lectures and approach to life!

I'm only half-way through this book at this point, but so far it's full of Tara's generous wisdom and healing advice. The emphasis is on learning to accept yourself *just as you are right now.* It's truly been a wonderful message for me.

I just ordered the CD Radical Acceptance: Guided Meditations (2 disc set) to go along with this book, and will update this review as I use those disks. You don't need to purchase them, but I wanted the audio component to help reinforce the messages in the book.

This book is full of guidance and insight that brings Buddhist practice right into the arena of our daily existence. It is full of heart. It breaks up the tendency for these practices to be merely intellectual exercises. Her Language, examples and guided meditation help is to honor and accept our most stickiest places. We are encouraged to see others in the same light of acceptance. It is a godsend.

Really enjoyed Tara's gentle, thoughtful approach to mindfulness and meditation. It's less of a guidebook and more of a meditation for anyone dealing with difficult life situations, so be prepared for the rather "hands-off" approach of mindfulness. It's not going to provide you with an easy "10 steps to happiness" or "quick fix," but it might provide you with more valuable qualities of thoughtfulness and awareness.

This is the ultimate reference for freeing yourself of fear, loneliness, shame, insecurity, and learning to live fully.

It teaches in the most thorough way how to learn to live with and accept those things and so be free of them, instead of resisting and suppressing and so being controlled by them. That is immensely easier said than done.

It summarises and goes into more depth and connects more honestly and compassionately with the actual experience of these things than any other book or teaching I've worked with. It also goes as deeply if not more into the actual psychology and specific approaches to deal with them than any other source I have encountered. It is accessible and substantial.

Thank you, Tara Brach, for a beautiful book!! Her words are full of inspiration as she explains how we can wake up from the "trance of unworthiness" to embrace life. The concept of applying mindfulness plus compassion is so powerful. If only people could be as kind to themselves as they are to their friends, what a happier place the world would be. Just try it for a day and you will be amazed! The anecdotes, quotes and poems included are just perfect. A life-changing book...I want to recommend it to everyone I meet!!

This was my first real exposure to meditation and the first self-help type book I ever read, and I was a little dubious going into it. But soon I was devouring every page -- it spoke to me so much -- and I can honestly say it has changed my life. If the subject intrigues you even a little, I think it's worth a read.

A life-changing book if you've suffered life-long self-criticism. Useful and relevant whether or not you have a background in Buddhism. Beautiful suggestions, relatable stories, applicable practices... Can't recommend enough.

Inspiring, very, comforting, well written, her experiences & realizations are easy to apply to your own inner journey. Really opened my eyes about just how powerfully connected the body & mind are.

The meditation and mindfulness activities in this book are practical and easy to understand. The writing was crisp and clear, which makes it accessible to both meditation "experts" and newbies alike.

amazing wonderful book, makes the Buddhist way , mindfulness, accessible, practical, understandable path for growing developing and healing oneself, the author in her approach , is truly to my feeling a person that be a great contribution to all of us , i highly recommend