The Quest for Personal Power

Too many books competently discuss the causes and symptoms of modern misery and unhappiness, but offer no practical solutions. They simply suggest to "change your beliefs" or offer other such vague advice. Dr. Neernberger brilliantly demonstrates the limitations of "positive thinking" and clearly shows that what we need is not more positivity, but instead, a quiet mind. He states that this is a handbook for self mastery. Mastery requires two conditions: self awareness and skill at using the built-in resources that we all possess. Then, he clearly explains exactly what has to happen to reach this awesome state. This book is satisfying to the intellect, but goes far beyond it. I have read literally hundreds of these kinds of books, and this is my favorite. I read it every day and will continue to do so, because I find new treasures each time I read it. This is an experience, not theory. (PS: it is from the Hindu tradition, not Buddhist).

I was lying on my belly in the bath, satisfyingly successful at driving away the common-cold chills that had vied for my energy all day. I was thinking only about the warmth. Then I started thinking about being sick, and the times I had been sick before, particularly the time I taught kindergarten to impoverished migrants, and how disrespectful some of them had been, then about rotten children in general... And I started sneezing furiously. Sitting up, I realized what I had done. I had let the mind chatter start again. But I also know I can turn it off. This singular suggestion was worth the price of The Quest for Personal Power, by Phil Nuernberger, Ph.D. He has a book full of ideas, all based on Buddhist psychology (which is not the Buddhism religion). My beloved yoga sun salutation is there, though I recommend learning it from a video or class. The author encountered Buddhist psychology after receiving his conventional psychology degree, and knowing that it wasn't enough. I have enjoyed reading a similar book at the same time. Thoughts Without A Thinker, by Mark Epstein, M.D., is from the perspective of someone who studied Buddhist psychology before studying to become a psychiatrist. As an aside, these two books are the first ones I have read by men authors in quite some time. I have been doing the feminist thing for a while, unfortunately being only moderately and sporadically comforted.