Don't Suffer, Communicate!: A Zen Guide to Compassionate Communication

by Cheri Huber, Ashwini Narayanan

This is a Zen guide to the principles of compassionate communication. Communication is among the most common yet difficult challenges humans face. Effective communication is rarely a simple give-and-take of information because of interference from individual egos, whereby input is taken personally, judged, and reacted against. This book can be read and the principles put into effect by a general audience.

304 pages, Paperback

Published September 1, 2019

About the author

Cheri Huber, author of 20 books, has been a student and teacher of Zen for over 35 years. In 1983, Cheri founded the Mountain View Zen Center, and in 1987 she founded the Zen Monastery Peace Center near Murphys, California. She and the monks at the Monastery conduct workshops and retreats at these centers, other places around the U.S., and internationally.

In 1997, Cheri founded Living Compassion, a nonprofit organization dedicated to peace and service. Living Compassion’s primary work is the Africa Vulnerable Children Project, based in Zambia, where for over a decade they have been working with the people of Kantolomba, beginning the process of turning a slum of 11,000 people into a self-sustaining community.

Cheri also has a weekly Internet based radio show.

Reviews

[Sophia T · Rating 2 out of 5]

Oh, I have a bone to pick with this author. I moderately enjoyed the other book I read from her, but I had so many issues with this one. She basically talks about how your ego influences your reaction and review in a conversation. And even though I agree with her technique, she seems to exaggerate about them and states that instead of getting angry at how someone is treating you, don't tell them and talk to yourself about it. I think it's important to express your anger at someone and that when somebody tells you their boundaries to respect them and change instead of thinking they are getting controlled by their ego. I just think she made it sound as though how we perceive people is wrong when in reality our perceptions help us survive and form our own personalities. You need your ego to help to keep relationships at times.