Open Your Mind, Open Your Life: A Book of Eastern Wisdom

"Genuine happiness, or enlightenment, is already within us; we have only to reveal it. As spring water rushes through open earth, so happiness flows through open lives." -Taro Gold Taro Gold has spent much of his life living overseas. He has traveled to over thirty countries and has lived in Australia, Spain and Japan. This is the second book and larger edition of "Open Your Mind, Open Your Life." The author has also written extensively for international Buddhist publications and is currently living in California. Quotes have always intrigued me because they contain condensed wisdom. In just a few words of a good quote, you see the big picture or universal truth. This is a collection of Eastern Wisdom and contains quotes by Buddhist and Eastern thinkers such as Nichiren, Lao Tzu, Confucius, and Mahatma Gandhi. Taro sees these quotes as "guideposts." He believes in having an open mind and in illuminating your life's path with wisdom from great thinkers. Taro also includes: The Buddhist concept of the Ten Worlds Short Allegories Short Biographical paragraphs of Historical Figures quoted in this book Longer passages for reflection Common Sense Quotes Universal Truths Eastern Wisdom An Iris represents Faith, Hope, Wisdom and Valor. Not only is the cover beautiful and filled with flowers, the entire books is beautifully illustrated in an ornate fashion. Almost every page has a beautiful border and then the quotes are in black ink and easy to read on white paper. Some of the quotes do not have sources and are probably sayings passed down through many generations. These include Japanese, Buddhist and Chinese proverbs. I've been contemplating the reality of how we become what we think. Lately I've been watching how my own thoughts change my behavior. Some of the quotes deal with the inherent nature of mankind or ask: "What is truth?" Taro Gold has included a quote from Mahatma Gandhi: "Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words. Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior. Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior becomes your habits. Keep your habits positive because your habits become your values. Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny." This beautiful mini-book will have me contemplating "thoughts" for a long time! An enjoyable collection of quotes to reflect on in moments when you want to think more deeply about life and your own journey to lasting happiness. A book you will love adding to your inspirational quote-book collection. ~The Rebecca Review Author of Seasoned with Love: A collection of best-loved recipes inspired by over 40 cultures

I had a dream a few months ago in which I discovered that I had wings. Big ones, too, with feathers and everything. There was no question that I could fly. The only problem was learning to _use_ them; I kept forgetting where the appropriate muscles were.Well, okay, you don't have to be Sigmund Freud to figure that one out. I mention it here because it's vaguely relevant to one of my favorite lines from this little book. It's a Mongolian saying: "Eagles don't chase flies."(Pause for a moment and roll that one around in your mind. "Eagles don't chase flies." Grows on you, doesn't it? Now see if you can remember how to flex those wings . . . )This little book is full of stuff like that -- some original to Taro Gold, some collected from many centuries of (mostly) Confucian, Taoist, and Buddhist wisdom, all of it designed to give you a stimulating poke right in your atman-which-is-also-Brahman.Some of the sayings will hook you right away. Others will look, at first reading, like outtakes from a motivational seminar. But read it twice: even the ones that didn't look so interesting on the first pass will _change_ a little the next time through. At any rate, you can skip the ones that don't grab you; there are plenty that will. (Do you like Thich Nhat Hanh? Then you'll probably like the flavor of this collection, which partakes very much of the same gentle spirit.)It's a nice collection. And it makes a nice gift: I gave a copy each to my two daughters for Valentine's Day this year.

It's incredible that such a HUGE treasure chest could fit into such a physically tiny book that can literally fit in the palm of your hand (and a pocket). Don't make the mistake of typecasting Taro Gold's tiny hard-cover book for one of those books that have a drawing and a short line on each page. Quite the contrary, this little book is CRAMMED with useful, short and profound gems from Eastern thought that can influence (or ease) your life. One page might have three or four lines, another a full page. And each message is profound (some more complex than others). The philosophical WEIGHT is huge for such a tiny book. And the size is PERFECT: you can carry it in your carry-on when you go on an airline (which I do) or in your pocket (which I do) when you travel. And it makes a SUPERB gift, especially to a high school or college graduate. Just remember: it's small in size -- and GIANT in content.

This book I have on hand for a daily dose. Basically one could say it is a little book of advise. The thoughts refesh your soul and even on the worst day a dose of this little book will help you get through it. Very powerful. Very insightful. Highly recommended as I don't leave the house without mine!

This book is such a great introduction to Buddhistic ideals without being either dogmatic or parochial. I've handed it to friends who are struggling and everyone has felt encouraged by what they read! Each little idea -- from several different sources, not just Nichiren Daishonin -- has a ringing truth that causes one to pause and think. As far as I'm concerned, there are not enough books like this in the universe -- those whose intention is to encourage. Too much on the market is focused on the bad things, the hardships -- and this is a refreshing change. Don't buy just one! Share it with a friend!