Letting Go of the Person You Used to Be: Lessons on Change, Loss, and Spiritual Transformation

by Surya Das

Book Overview

The beloved American Lama, a spiritual leader whose inimitable light and
lively universal teaching style has awakened the spirituality of thousands, now shares an enlightened approach to change and loss, dealing with difficult emotions such as fear, grief, and anger, and the role of crisis in uncovering our authentic selves.

For many people, recent years have been characterized by profound change, whether it relates to financial upheaval,...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0767908740
• ISBN13: 9780767908740
• Release Date: August 2004
• Publisher: Harmony/Rodale
• Length: 240 Pages
• Weight: 0.64 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.5" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Excellent and well written book

Like Lama Surya Das's other books, it is an easy to read, well written book with the occassional funny, dry humor that I enjoy. The great thing about the Lama's writing is that he presents the writing from a viewpoint that anyone from any religion can appreciate.

Very well written book

Loved the book! Staight forward, easy to understand information. Very spiritual, not necessarily religious. This book made a lot of sense to me. Full of common-sense ideas and values. Will definitely read again.

Letting Go In So Many Respects Present Here

Lama Surya Das is a profound teacher when it comes to Tibetan Buddhism. He remembers that his teachers always observed that the most important step in dealing with grief and suffering was to look at the losses pragmatically. Surya Das adds: "Like the Buddha, we want to find the lessons that lie buried in suffering and pain. Questioning is an essential part of the spiritual path: self-inquiry, introspection, philosophy - all involve genuine doubt and skepticism as propellants fueling the spiritual journey. We find meaning in the seeking itself." In short, we must find the answers for ourselves. No text, as wonderful as it might even be, can do this exploration for us. As opposed to trying to escape from bereavement and hindrance, we can face them with insight and strength.There is an enormous breadth of teachings stories in this book. From something jotted down in a Nursery school by a toddler, to Zen allegories-Surya Das unabashedly draws from the best of so many sources to bring us a book so full of the good teachings. As he's done in his earlier books, Surya Das proposes precise practices in his dialogue of the circumstances we may all find ourselves in. For instance, mention how the loss of a loved one can make us "wrap up" or become solitary, he counsels using prayer to confirm our aspiration to keep our hearts unlocked and free. Like the old saying, "A bird only can stay in your hand without you killing it if your hand is open." We must cherish and love all that is, while being prepared to let go at any moment. This is how we should practice. Letting go. The Hindu text The Bhagavad-Gita states: "Death is certain for anyone born, and birth is certain for the dead. Seeing how this cycle is inevitable, you have no cause to grieve." Those are some really sobering words. This book answers a lot of our toughest questions in life with a kind and gentle hand. Enjoy it!