Saying Yes to Life: (Even the Hard Parts)

This is my third book by Ezra Bayda and in many ways it is my favorite. Thomas Moore sums it up best in the introduction when he said, "I like Ezra Bayda because I don't think he assumes he gets it all right." And this is why I liked this book, it does not provide answers it only provides questions for reflection. For some reason I like the format and I also like the way the book feels in my hand. It just begs to be carried around with you and read throughout the day. But unlike many books, I do not feel the need to read it from cover to cover, rather I use it judiciously throughout the day. I let the day determine what page I will read. If it is 9:34 in the morning I turn to page 93 and read the passage if the temperature is 74° I turn to page 74. I found this to be a great tool to return my awareness to what is real.

I admit when I bought the book I read it quickly cover to cover. I couldn't resist the overview, but I quickly saw that real benefit would only come through practicing in depth with each page. Ezra's words gently encourage us to go to our own edge...to hear his wisdom and use it as inspiration toward our own proving ground.

If you are looking for a book that goes into detail about the human condition and what a life of practice is in relationship to it, one of Ezra's previous books would be more appropriate. If you are looking for something that can instantaneously cut through the general sleep that is pervasive in day-to-day living, if used wisely, this book offers a hand. A place in my daily life where I tend to get consumed in the narrow tunnel of thinking is in relationship to finances. When balancing the checkbook I usually end up in a ball of constricted tightness and am completely asleep in my thinking. After purchasing a copy of this book I took one of the aphorisms and taped it to my computer where I do my finances. "You'll never be free from discomfort and fear, yet liberation comes from not needing to be free from them.", was gazing down at me throughout the process. Every few minutes I would take a look at the phrase and use it as a reminder to work with the experience rather than get completely caught in my usual mechanical way. Staying with the body, the breath, the sounds, observing the thoughts and this place, which usually leads to complete sleep, and suffering was just an interesting, even enjoyable experience. I recommend this book without reservation for anyone looking for a tool that can assist in the difficult process of a life of practice.

As Ezra Bayda says in the preface, this is a book to live with, not a book to consume. The words on each page will inspire, challenge, encourage, or perplex you. They invite you to open yourself up to life, including the parts we typically try to push away. Although these ideas weren't new to me, the gentle, wise presentation here helped me to live them more fully and see them in new ways. It's a great book for people familiar with Zen and would also serve as an excellent introduction for people new to Zen. It doesn't assume that it has all the answers - instead, it raises important, life-enhancing questions.

What I love about this book is that you can turn to any page and find something that's livable, do-able, and returns awareness to what's real. Having ways to bring attention to what's going on, even the hard parts that we might wish to avoid - but can't - is a great gift. Anne Manchester