1325 Buddhist Ways to Be Happy

I bought this for myself, then another for a dear friend. It's lovely to keep beside you ... I keep it by my computer and when I am feeling frazzled, frustrated, irritated, etc, I just pick it up and randomly begin to read ... it is beautiful. Calming, and works fast! It's a joy.

This is what I would call a "meaty" book. A great many, well, 1325, nuggets in here and I'm thoroughly enjoying it. I really like how it is easy to read as much or as little as I feel like. One can read just one of the 1325 ways and sort of spend the day with that idea in mind. I also am finding it a great thing to read when I first wake up, right before I go to sleep, or in situations like busrides where extended focus (continuity) isn't necessary (or possible).

Barbara Ann Kipfer writes simple books with simple messages that can be signifantly life changing. Once again she delivers, this time using a Buddhist framework. Focusing on the themes of Compassion, Kindness, Peace, Karma, Meditation and Happiness, Kipfer offers a short introduction (sort of a motive for living in the 1325 Ways she suggests) and then offers brief nuggets of inspiration from either herself or quotes or tips on how to apply her "ways" to be happy. The quotes from others include wisdom from Buddha, e.e. cummings, Dalai Lama, and Anne Frank. I loved this advice, "A pebble in your pocket can serve as a teacher, a fellow practitioner - a 'mindfulness bell' - allowing you to pause and return to your breathing." In the compassion section, "Have a sense of gratitude to everything, even difficult emotions, because of their potential in waking you up." A reader could turn to any page and simply meditate on what is found there. Quality ideas are found on each page.