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Its a Meaningful Life: It Just Takes Practice
A leading spiritual activist and cofounder of the Human Kindness Foundation presents an innovative spiritual handbook that combines personal spiritual practice with devotion to community and service to others, to help readers discover the path to a more meaningful and joyful life. 25,000 first printing.
- GenresSpirituality
288 pages, Hardcover
First published March 6, 2000
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161 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 22, 2016
Yeah, because you're not a selfish self important bastard who doesn't need to work on himself. Not even.
(Being flawless myself, I actually read this for a friend...)
(Being flawless myself, I actually read this for a friend...)
July 24, 2011
The one piece of advice from this book I still bring up in conversation is about a person's job. I've probably adapted it quite a bit over the years: On a superficial level, it should be something you like doing. On a deeper level, it should be in the service of something you really believe in.
Sounds really clear and true, right? The older I get, however, the more I realize how a pure ideal like this one gets diluted when I have negotiate with reality.
This book is full of advice, but it's seriously undercut by the author's personal troubles. You see, flush with cash from 90's Microsoft stock and a pliant wife, Bo Lozoff opened up a commune of sorts in North Carolina for recent parolees. He turned out to be a horrible leader of his community however, prone to sleeping with the females and flying into rages. When his poor conduct came to light, he shut down his project.
Because I feel this destroys Lozoff's moral authority, I threw this book into the trash and give it one star here. But I'd still like to keep that one ideal.
Sounds really clear and true, right? The older I get, however, the more I realize how a pure ideal like this one gets diluted when I have negotiate with reality.
This book is full of advice, but it's seriously undercut by the author's personal troubles. You see, flush with cash from 90's Microsoft stock and a pliant wife, Bo Lozoff opened up a commune of sorts in North Carolina for recent parolees. He turned out to be a horrible leader of his community however, prone to sleeping with the females and flying into rages. When his poor conduct came to light, he shut down his project.
Because I feel this destroys Lozoff's moral authority, I threw this book into the trash and give it one star here. But I'd still like to keep that one ideal.
September 29, 2024
Bo and Rita Lozoff along with Ram Dass founded the Prison-Ashram Project to teach people in prison to practice meditation and other spiritual techniques which he shares in this book.
According to Wikipedia, Lozoff was accused of sexual harassment in 2008. However, the Human Kindness Foundation continues to value his contributions to the community. "At the core of our work is the belief that none of us should be judged on our most hurtful actions alone... The genuine love that is tangible in Bo’s books helps us spread kindness and bring hope into dark places."
According to Wikipedia, Lozoff was accused of sexual harassment in 2008. However, the Human Kindness Foundation continues to value his contributions to the community. "At the core of our work is the belief that none of us should be judged on our most hurtful actions alone... The genuine love that is tangible in Bo’s books helps us spread kindness and bring hope into dark places."
July 13, 2020
This book is a practical guide to applying spirituality, done so well this type of thing is quite rare in my experience. Spiritual books and teachers can be mystical and ethereal for our understanding, but this book did an amazing job of translating the teachings of all different faiths into ways to live a spirit-full life. It covers the dual aspects of a wholesome path: communion and community. If you've read 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, you could equate those with independence and interdependence respectively.
Beautifully written, for me personally the second half on community had the greatest impact. That's likely because I do spiritual self-work often and have grown a lot from it. The first half of the book on communion is very valuable for those needing direction in how to work on their spirit. This is the precursor to community by outputting loving energy you've cultivated within yourself first. I believe now in my life it's time to create loving community, which is found in more places than you might think.
May it be fiends, friend groups, coworkers, family, acquaintances, strangers and even those you might hate, Lozoff emphasizes that service as the basis for creating a valuable community. He and his wife did a lot of work visiting prisons and speaking with inmates, leading them towards a better path on their way out. I realized these teachings on creating community are exactly what social justice is all about — not just feeling another's pain, but figuring out a way to do something to change it.
That's when community is at the height of its purpose. Instead of coming together in collective hatred, community is when you work together in the love of service no matter if your efforts only add a drop to the ocean... because what is an ocean except a myriad of drops. I loved that mentality of this book: no matter how little your efforts may accomplish in the grand scheme, a spiritual path is defined by the pursuit of betterment of life for all living beings.
In being One, we must all look to see which parts of ourselves are in pain and need healing. After learning how to heal our own mental and spiritual injuries, we acquire the skill to help others as well, which in turn heals us greater as we too are part of the whole. This book taught me a great deal on how to live a peaceful, fulfilling life, containing great resources for parenting, friendship and tough times alike. I'll definitely be referring back to this book, most likely rereading it as well.
Beautifully written, for me personally the second half on community had the greatest impact. That's likely because I do spiritual self-work often and have grown a lot from it. The first half of the book on communion is very valuable for those needing direction in how to work on their spirit. This is the precursor to community by outputting loving energy you've cultivated within yourself first. I believe now in my life it's time to create loving community, which is found in more places than you might think.
May it be fiends, friend groups, coworkers, family, acquaintances, strangers and even those you might hate, Lozoff emphasizes that service as the basis for creating a valuable community. He and his wife did a lot of work visiting prisons and speaking with inmates, leading them towards a better path on their way out. I realized these teachings on creating community are exactly what social justice is all about — not just feeling another's pain, but figuring out a way to do something to change it.
That's when community is at the height of its purpose. Instead of coming together in collective hatred, community is when you work together in the love of service no matter if your efforts only add a drop to the ocean... because what is an ocean except a myriad of drops. I loved that mentality of this book: no matter how little your efforts may accomplish in the grand scheme, a spiritual path is defined by the pursuit of betterment of life for all living beings.
In being One, we must all look to see which parts of ourselves are in pain and need healing. After learning how to heal our own mental and spiritual injuries, we acquire the skill to help others as well, which in turn heals us greater as we too are part of the whole. This book taught me a great deal on how to live a peaceful, fulfilling life, containing great resources for parenting, friendship and tough times alike. I'll definitely be referring back to this book, most likely rereading it as well.
August 3, 2020
I have really enjoyed reading the work of Bo Lozoff. Very freeing and inspirational. I love how Bo opens up the world to seeing God in everything and to opening up our hearts to love each other, even as Jesus commanded his disciples. My favorite part of this book is that life is not about the view from the top but rather the climb. We keep thinking that life will be what happens when we get to a destination but it's actually what happens on the way. A Road trip is what happens on the road... stop along the road way and run into the trees or to the lake... life is the open road not the motel room at the end.
We aren't going to get everything right. We need to quit beating ourselves up and as much, everyone else. We just keep practicing and we will get it right.
We aren't going to get everything right. We need to quit beating ourselves up and as much, everyone else. We just keep practicing and we will get it right.
June 16, 2024
Timeless spiritual wisdom, expressed in simple terms. Certain passages feel a bit outdated or overly basic, but still worth reading overall. I especially like the emphasis on “practice,” that is, exercises to align one’s actions with beliefs.
December 10, 2018
Much to love in this richly written book.
December 27, 2018
5 stars for the mantras though. I love prayers that get me out of my head.
July 16, 2011
I found out about Bo Lozoff through his work with the Human Kindness Project which brings kindness to prisoners. His book has two parts:
Communion and Community
In the Communion section, he has spiritual practices to help you get to know yourself better. In the community section, he lists practices that help you reach out to others and make a difference in the world.
He has some great ideas that I have already tried to improve my meditation and prayer. One of my favorites is the daily review. You look back on your day and note what you did that you were happy with and what you were not happy with. Then you commit to do more of one and less of the other. Sounds simple, but it works!
Two practices I have not tried yet and want to are:
A Day of Silence
Work/Life Vision Quest
I totally agree with him that the most important thing is to make time in daily life to do spiritual practice(s) that work for you.
I was very moved by what he had to say about his work with prisoners:
"Every prisoner is some mother's child and we do throw prisoners out of our hearts forever in our present criminal justice system.... We make people worse. We take many confused, mostly selfish, young men and women who could easily be turned around by kindness and skills training and instead we traumatize them so much that we create a criminal underclass of dysfunctional, alienated people who can never find their way back into decent society... We are hurting ourselves unimaginably, and the consequences will be felt for many generations to come. I pray we come to our senses soon."
Communion and Community
In the Communion section, he has spiritual practices to help you get to know yourself better. In the community section, he lists practices that help you reach out to others and make a difference in the world.
He has some great ideas that I have already tried to improve my meditation and prayer. One of my favorites is the daily review. You look back on your day and note what you did that you were happy with and what you were not happy with. Then you commit to do more of one and less of the other. Sounds simple, but it works!
Two practices I have not tried yet and want to are:
A Day of Silence
Work/Life Vision Quest
I totally agree with him that the most important thing is to make time in daily life to do spiritual practice(s) that work for you.
I was very moved by what he had to say about his work with prisoners:
"Every prisoner is some mother's child and we do throw prisoners out of our hearts forever in our present criminal justice system.... We make people worse. We take many confused, mostly selfish, young men and women who could easily be turned around by kindness and skills training and instead we traumatize them so much that we create a criminal underclass of dysfunctional, alienated people who can never find their way back into decent society... We are hurting ourselves unimaginably, and the consequences will be felt for many generations to come. I pray we come to our senses soon."
May 31, 2010
What a wonderful book! Life is meaningful and we all can take part in making it a much better world if we chose to do so. This book is set up in question-answer chapters with a 'putting it into practice' at the end of each chapter. Bo Lozoff puts forth questions that I imagine many struggle with, (I definitely do) and answers them in simple to understand words. A must read for those of us that want to live a more simpler, kinder and meaningful life.
March 21, 2016
It's a Meaningful Life reaches far and deep. Though recommended this book almost two years ago, I postponed reading it for a multitude of dumb reasons. It's a Meaningful Life, however, grabbed hold of me at what feels like the perfect time. Few books feel as consequential and meaningful as this one does.
March 28, 2014
Fantastic book with great life lessons. Each chapter is quite short, but filled with insights and thought provoking passages. Wonderful lessons about how to build a life filled with meaning and satisfaction. I did not agree with everything Lozoff said, but I found it all to be worth considering.
January 18, 2008
A very practical, useful, and inspiring book.
July 23, 2008
I respect Bo a lot and what he chose as his work. For me this book has been a very practical and powerful guide to help me work on me.
March 27, 2017
not my cup of tea
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews