As human beings, we have one thing in common: we search all our lives for lasting happiness. YOUR WERE BORN FOR A REASON tells us that happiness can indeed be found. But it is not found in the place we ordinarily look, such as status, achievements, or family. This book, which has sold nearly half a million copies since its original publication in Japan, shows us how to navigate life's obstacles from a deep and abiding source of inner peace. The authors―a Buddhist teacher, a psychotherapist, a philosopher―bring their combined wisdom to bear on the age-old question: what is the purpose of life? They direct us toward answers contained in often-overlooked Buddhist teachings―specifically, in the words of Shinran, who is the founder of Jodo Shinshu, the largest of Japan's schools of Buddhism. In clear and compelling language, YOU WERE BORN FOR A REASON shows why human life is not only meaningful, but infinitely precious. It considers the many ills that plague modern society―suicide, murder, angst, a constant sense of futility―and guides us to the enduring truths that can renew our hearts and finally provide real happiness. CONTENTS: The Eternal Questions. Shinran's Answer/ The Root Cause of Suffering/ The Dark Mind: The Source of Suffering/ The Mind Shrouded in Ignorance/ The Dark Future Casts a Shadow on the Present/ The Tragedy at Rajagrha and the Vow of Amida/Shinran's Fulfillment of Life's Purpose/ Shinran's Masterwork Begins and Ends with a Cry of Joy/ The Clash over Whether or Not Life Has a Purpose/ The Key to the Mystery of Why We Live/ Turning a Blind Eye to Ourselves/ The Difficulty of Knowing Oneself/ Revelation of the True Self, etc.

Kentetsu Takamori has lectured throughout Japan and worldwide on Buddhism. He is the author of several bestselling titles in Japanese and is the chair of the Buddhist organization Jodo Shinshu Shinrankai. Daiji Akehashi is a psychotherapist and the author of several bestselling titles in Japanese on childraising. Kentaro Ito earned a master's degree in philosophy from the University of Tokyo and is at work on several volumes of philosophy.