Voices of Insight

When I happened upon "Voices of Insight" at a local bookstore, I was overworked, depressed, and suffering from severe anxiety disorders. I had always been intrigued by Buddhism and the Eastern approach to life, and was hopeful to find something that could help me. This book opened my eyes and changed my life. This collection of insightful short stories demonstrates real world applications of the Buddhist approach to life. The fact that it is written from the perspective of Americans in the Far East learning from true Buddhist masters makes it a truly wonderful introduction to new ways of thinking for those of us in the Western world. The teachings of this book have been so influential in my life that I have included several passages in my own book about overcoming anxiety problems. I often find myself referring back to its pages for inspiring passages. It is also this book that got me interested in reading more about Ajahn Chah, one of the greatest Buddhist teachers in recent history. I highly recommend this book for anyone looking to gain a healthier perspective on life. Steve Pavilanis A Life Less Anxious: Freedom from panic attacks and social anxiety without drugs or therapy (Volume 1)

Each chapter of Voices of Insight is written by a different author, and almost all of them were born and raised in the United States. Then they trained and became ordained and legitimate lamas, abbots, Zen masters, and Buddhist teachers in India, Thailand, Japan, etc., and came back to the U.S. to teach. Buddhism is different in every country and in every historical period, and in this book we can see what modern American Buddhism is like. I think you're going to like it. Voices of Insight is also a good Buddhist primer. One author tells the history of Siddhartha Gotama Buddha and explains important basic ideas like nirvana and samsara. Another author covers the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path. Joseph Goldstein's chapter on the science and art of meditation explains what meditation is for and what you should be doing when you're meditating more clearly than anything I've ever come across, and all by itself makes the book worth getting.This book is helpful. It will help you develop your practice. It is not merely interesting and educational; it is practical. I'm the author of the book, Self-Help Stuff That Works, so I'm sort of an expert on applicable information. Voices of Insight is not only illuminating and enjoyable to read, it is thoroughly applicable.

This book is perhaps one of the nicest books I have read. It gives great stories, insight, and instruction from some of the best teachers of Buddhism. This book truly are the "Voices Of Insight" to the Buddhist heart.

"Voices of Insight" is a collection of essays by a variety of western Buddhist teachers, all of whom teach at the Insight Meditation Society in Barre, Mass. I have practiced with many of them, and so for me this book contains the familiar voices of friends. And so I was especially delighted by the fresh taste and the heartfulness of this book, and by how much I learned from reading it. There is a breadth and depth in this collection that can provide inspiration and spiritual nourishment for a wide variety of circumstances and with a wide variety of personal styles. Many of the essays emphasized daily life practice, cultivating awareness and compassion in the midst of washing dishes, working, shopping, etc. It is inspiring to read these personal anecdotes about the teaching available in everyday moments. A few of them describe the depth of the spiritual journey, the cultivation of deep states of silence and concentration, and the effort and joy of following this spiritual path to complete liberation of the heart.Some of the teachers writing in this book are monastics; most lead their lives as laypeople; some talk about their families, some describe their teachers in Asia or the West; and some discuss experiences of deep silence and awareness. The diversity of the teachings feels very inclusive, and it is delightfully balanced by the clarity and thoughtfulness with which this book is organized. There are sections focussing on the Buddha, representing both the historical Buddha and the various Teachers; the Dharma, or the reality of the teachings as they can be experienced; and the Sangha, the support and teaching we receive from being in relationship with others on a spiritual path. In each of these, the writers express their individual styles in a way that makes their stories accessible and alive. I continually found connections between the experiences described in this book and my own life, whether the teachers were describing formal meditation practice or the practice of being a mother. This book is not a meditation handbook or a guide for one's practice; it is more of an inspirational book and a demonstration of the teachings that are available. Fortunately, several of the authors, including Sharon Salzberg, have also written books of their own. After tasting their style in "Voices of Insight", it's great to be able to go on and learn more from them.