Surya Das illustrates how to develop authentic presence, how to connect to our own life experience, build deeper relationships, embrace life's lessons, as well as learn how to love what we don't like.

Everyone needs to feel connected, to love and feel loved, to reach out to others and communicate in order to overcome alienation, loneliness, and a feeling of being disconnected. In AWAKENING THE BUDDHIST HEART Surya Das shows you how to reach inward and outward.

By developing spiritual intelligence, a sense of compassion that helps us be more sensitive, more aware of our own feelings and the feelings of those around us, we become more intuitive; we relate better and love better. Cultivating spiritual intelligence and learning how to connect will improve our capacity for intimacy, making us better mates, friends, parents, and coworkers; it helps all of us to become more giving and brings us fulfillment, meaning, and love. With tremendous insight he explores specific ways in which we can more fruitfully relate to our own experiences as well as each other in today's fast-paced, complicated, and often confusing world.

Advance Praise For Awakening the Buddhist Heart

"Surya Das's book brings to life the timeless wisdom of Buddhism in traditional teaching stories and heartfelt everyday examples.  Anyone on a spiritual path will recognize themselves in these pages and find both inspiration and practical advice."

--Sharon Salzberg, author of A Heart as Wide as the World and Loving kindness

"This brilliant, amusing, and wise book is the perfect distillation of ancient spiritual wisdom for our times. Practical and down-to-earth, written by one of the greatest American dharma teachers, it has the power to awaken you to an ever-deepening relationship with all of life. What a precious jewel you hold in your hand. Use it with joy."

--Joan Borysenko, Ph.D., author of Mending the Body, Mending the Mind and A Woman's Journey to God

"Awakening the Buddhist Heart contains about as much wisdom as any book I know. It will help you in the lifelong path of becoming more wise, more compassionate, and more joyful."

--Sam Keen, author of Learning to Fly

"When we come to the end of our lives, what will matter most are the relationships we've shared with loved ones.  In his new book Awakening the Buddhist Heart, Lama Surya Das takes you on a spiritual journey that will return you to this important priority-a deep connection with yourself, others, and the Divine. It is written with grace and love, and you'll not only want to read this book again and again, you'll want to share it with those who matter most."

--Cheryl Richardson, author of Take Time for Your Life and Life Makeovers

"Lama Surya Das makes the Buddha nature seem very real and accessible.  I feel lighter, I feel calmer, I feel more peaceful. This book is a blessing on my bookshelf and a blessing on my heart."

--Marianne Williamson, author of A Return to Love

From the Hardcover edition.

LAMA SURYA DAS, one of the foremost American Buddhist teachers and scholars, and whom the Dalai Lama calls the American Lama, is the founder and spiritual director of the Dzogchen Foundation (dzogchen.org). The author of several books, he lectures and leads meditation retreats all over the world. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.