Sei dir selbst eine Insel: Buddhas Weg zu innerem Glück und Frieden

by Ayya Khema

In diesem Buch führt uns Ayya Khema zu den Kernfragen unseres Lebens: Wie kann die buddhistische Lehre uns dabei helfen, Sorgen, Schwierigkeiten und Ängste zu überwinden und die Fesseln unserer Gewohnheiten zu sprengen und Befreiung zu erfahren - und sei es nur für einen Augenblick?
Die Beobachtung unserer Reaktionen zeigt uns, dass sie vorprogrammiert sind. Wenn wir uns aber um Achtsamkeit bemühen, können wir unser Programm durchschauen und uns aus den Reaktionsketten lösen. Diese Erfahrung macht uns freier und zufriedener.
Ayya Khema versteht es, zentrale Aussagen des Buddhismus klar zu vermitteln und ermutigt uns, Wege echter Freiheit zu betreten und uns selbst eine Insel der Zufriedenheit und des inneren Glücks werden zu lassen.
"Wie können wir uns von störenden Gewohnheiten lösen und Gelassenheit lernen? Wie können wir in Harmonie mit uns selbst und anderen leben? Zufriedenheit hat nur eine Heimat: unser eigenes Herz - und dies gilt es zu kultivieren." (Ayya Khema)

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Meditation, Philosophy, Nonfiction

180 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Leslie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was more like a 4.5 for me. I enjoyed it enough and found the applications so practical and memorable that I got online and bought 2 other books of hers. She has also included a glossary at the back if you struggle with remembering what the different Buddhist terms mean.

This book deals with how to recognize how our thoughts can be the creation of the problem, how we need to be alert to these thoughts or they run rampant without our managing them and how we can let go and find that peace that we thought came by thinking our way through things. Having read a lot of Buddhist authors, she has found her way into one of my favorites. Clear. Insightful. Applicable.

[Rochelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book, probably only book one needs on the nuts and bolts of a spiritual practice. It will get you to square one, point in the right direction, though as some have said (and I agree) she is somewhat rigid in her thinking, probably a product of her discipline and the method of practice she inherited from her teacher. It is a clearly written book and an essential to the practitioner.

[Rachel Y · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 Ayya is my queen

[Dana Larose · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've enjoyed all of Ayya Khema's books so far, and at the moment this one might be my favourite. I feel like it's the simplest and most relevant for Buddhist noobs. Each chapter is quite short, so it would be easy to read one before a meditation session or in the morning to set the tone for your day.

Ayya's tone and writing is plain and direct. I get the impression she must have been like a stern, no-nonsense but caring grandmother :)

[Phil Calandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Be an Island" is a collection of essays that capsulate those important teachings in Buddhism. Where among other things, the author emphasizes the importance of remaining in the present moment and becoming independent of one's practice through looking inward for spiritual guidance rather than searching elsewhere. The author has that rare facility of breaking down those important Buddhist precepts in simple and easy terms that one can easily understand. I would highly recommend this book.

[Mariana · Rating 3 out of 5]

It took me a while to get used to her jargon and her use of Pali rather than Sanskrit.

[Tera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Life changing!!! Love <3 Ayya Khema

[Philosopherdog · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love this little book. Such succinct teachings by one of the great teachers.