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  • Published: 26 November 2019
  • ISBN: 9781946764515
  • Imprint: Parallax
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $32.99

This Difficult Thing of Being Human

The Art of Self-Compassion





We all long for someone to offer us unconditional love and support. But what if that person is us? The practice of mindful self-compassion creates the space we need so that observation, acceptance, and real love can enter, no matter how judgmental or disconnected we may feel.

Become your own greatest advocate with this “wise guide” to developing self-compassion through mindfulness meditation, lovingkindness, and more—from a Buddhist scholar and teacher (Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance)
 
We all long for someone to offer us unconditional love and support. But what if that person is us? The practice of mindful self-compassion creates the space we need so that observation, acceptance, and real love can enter—no matter how judgmental or disconnected we may feel.

It sounds like a simple idea: to be kind to yourself. But if you pay attention to your thoughts, habits, and self-talk, you may find that it’s more difficult than it sounds. The intentional practice of self-compassion, outlined here by Buddhist scholar and teacher, Bodhipaksa, can help you find greater overall wellbeing, emotional resilience, physical health, and willpower. Bodhipaksa provides both the why and the how of mindful self-compassion, drawing on contemporary psychology and neuroscience and also on Buddhist psychology, weaving the modern and ancient together into a coherent whole.

Contemporary psychologists are focusing less on self-esteem and more on self-compassion. Bodhipaksa, a practicing meditator of more than thirty years, effortlessly blends ancient techniques dating back to the time of the Buddha with the most recent understanding of psychology and neuroscience. And in the end, as Bodhipaksa writes, it is actually quite simple: “Life is short. Be kind.”

  • Published: 26 November 2019
  • ISBN: 9781946764515
  • Imprint: Parallax
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 224
  • RRP: $32.99

About the author

Bodhipaksa

BODHIPAKSA started exploring Buddhism in the 1970s after coming across a copy of the Dhammapada in a bookstore in his native Scotland. He was given his name, which means “Wings of Enlightenment,” when he became a member of the Triratna Buddhist Order in 1993. He believes in exploring the interplay of different styles of meditation and teaches jhāna, the divine abidings, and insight practice. Increasingly, self-compassion has become the core of everything he does.

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Praise for This Difficult Thing of Being Human

"Bodhipaksa embodies an unusual combination of penetrating wisdom, simplicity and modesty, heartfelt good humor, deep contemplative training, grounding in science, and direct clear expression. A wonderful teacher for the path." --Rick Hanson, Buddha's Brain

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