Synopses & Reviews
We’ve all said things we lived to regret. But what if we communicated mindfully instead, stopping first to consider how our words might hurt rather than help—or if we need to voice them at all? In What Would Buddha Say?, best-selling author Barbara Ann Kipfer offers 1,501 reminders for staying on the path of positive communication. Based on ancient Buddhist teachings, this portable guide will provide inspiration and tips on how to speak clearly, truthfully, and with lovingkindness.
In our modern world, it seems we’re always in a hurry—usually running on autopilot, and all too quick to make that comment or send that message. But when we communicate without first considering the impact it may have—especially if it’s idle gossip or false speech—we can create unnecessary conflicts and far-reaching negative consequences. With poor communication at the heart of most misunderstandings and arguments, learning to practice mindful communication, including good listening skills, is key to speaking—or not speaking—with better results in every area of your life.
In What Would Buddha Say?, you’ll find hundreds of instantly accessible and compulsively readable communication tips on giving thoughtful attention to your words so you’re more likely to be understood, and less likely to damage your relationships. Based on the concept of Right Speech, an important element of Buddhism’s Noble Eightfold Path, these mindful essentials—inspirational quotes and sayings, short essays, and meditation suggestions—will guide you away from harmful speech and into a state of mindfulness from which you can gently speak your truth.
There is always room for improvement in terms of communication, and with practice, we can learn to speak mindfully—to say only what is beneficial and true with a kind heart at the right time. Packed with Buddhist wisdom and full of inspiration, What Would Buddha Say? will help you maximize the good in your speech as you take steps toward a more peaceful way of being.
Review
Our words can harm or heal, notes Barbara Ann Kipfer in this comprehensive guide to Right Speech, one of the elements in Buddhas Eightfold Path to enlightenment. With wisdom, wit, and sensitivity, she offers hundreds of simple, practical teachings designed to make the transformative practice of mindful communication a habitin the old-fashioned way, through conversation, as well as in the modern world of texting, emails, and social media.”
Carol Krucoff, E-RYT, yoga therapist at Duke Integrative Medicine and author of several books, including Yoga Sparks
Review
What Would Buddha Say? provides a fantastic blueprint for speaking to others with kindness, compassion, consideration, and respect. If we all followed Barbara Ann Kipfers advice, wed hurt each other less, help each other more, and say fewer things we regret.”
Lori Deschene, founder of tinybuddha.com and author of Tiny Buddha: Simple Wisdom for Lifes Hard Questions and Tiny Buddhas Guide to Loving Yourself
Review
"Kipfer brings us a companion brimming with reminders to speak authentically and from the heart, as if we had a tiny friend in our pocket who occasionally pulled at our sleeve to ask,
What Would Buddha Say? In these days, when we cannot trust so much of what our eyes show us or the words that reach our ears, her book presses the reset button, reminding us the truth begins first in how we speak to ourselves.”
Kimber Simpkins, yoga teacher and author of Full
Review
“In this book, [the authors] go beyond the usual ways we think about anger, and bring new depth to the subject. [They are] masters at providing astute and warmhearted guidance for working with this difficult emotion.”
—Sasha Loring, MEd, LCSW, author of RELIEF: Release Stress and Harmful Habits and Awaken Your Best Self and Eating with Fierce Kindness
Review
“Using personal portrayals and easy, practical exercises anyone can do anytime, this encouraging handbook teaches us how we can mindfully transform the destructive flames of anger into the alchemical fires of profound healing and liberating joy! A true gem and ‘must-read’ for those who wrestle with anger, for the professionals who offer support, and for all of us as we experience the very real and profoundly human emotion of anger.”
—Maya McNeilly, PhD, licensed clinical and health psychologist, and MBSR instructor at Duke Integrative Medicine
Review
“Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine offer their readers a treasure trove of resources for understanding and befriending the difficult emotion of anger. Infused with the wisdom of their own life practice, the book is filled with meditations that help cultivate mindfulness, cool the fires of anger, open the heart with compassion, and transform one’s relationship to life.”
—Phyllis Hicks, psychotherapist, meditation student, and teacher
Review
“[The authors’] profound respect and compassion for people, in our beauty and our pain, shine through these writings. The practices are skillfully presented. They are simple, doable, and deeply effective.”
—Kim Warren, MA, MS, meditator, small business owner, and caregiver
Review
“This clear and accessible guide reflects the decades of personal and professional experience of a key leader in the field of mindfulness as he offers simple and skillful ways to work with anger. Mindfulness professionals will appreciate his fresh perspective on classic mindfulness teachings. All looking for another way to work with forms of anger, ranging from the simmering of irritation to the large flames of rage, will learn how to transform these fiery energies without being burned. The specific, practical examples offered instill the reader with courage and confidence to experiment with new approaches to this challenging mind state.”
—Julie Kosey, MS, PCC, RYT, professional certified coach, mindfulness and yoga teacher, and founder and owner of Mindful Moments, LLC
Review
“If you yearn for understanding of your anger, this book is like a clearing in the middle of a chaos, arising from much experience, deep kindness, and care in skillful presentation. It guides you in disengaging from anger, shows you how to cool down these sensations, and teaches you to transform any strong emotions over time. In the process, you find a way to your inherent goodness, learn to embrace impermanence, and transcend the commonly held ideas of healing and peace.”
—Riitta H. Rutanen Whaley, MS, MSPH, founder of Yoga for Life, LLC; certified yoga teacher (RYT); and MBSR instructor at Duke Integrative Medicine
Review
“In their latest companion book, Jeffrey Brantley and Wendy Millstine share their personal experiences and insights about how to gain greater clarity and control over anger through mindfulness. Well organized, clear, authentic, and practical, I highly recommend this book as a skillful means to learning how to approach anger without fear, but rather with kindness, curiosity, and compassion.”
—Jeffrey M. Greeson, PhD, MS, assistant professor of clinical psychology in psychiatry, University of Pennsylvania, Perelman School of Medicine
Review
“It has been said that dealing with anger can be like holding on to a hot coal. We may be right, but it is us suffering the damage. In this book, [the authors share] skills of mindfulness and practical wisdom that [they have] developed from years of meditation practice and helping people with difficult life experiences. Here are real ways to let go of anger and become more free.”
—Jon Seskevich, RN, BSN, CHTP, award-winning nurse clinician, pioneer in holistic nursing and integrative healing, and adjunct faculty member at the University of North Carolina, School of Nursing
Review
“The authors provide a welcome addition to the emerging applications of mindfulness by offering a practical blueprint for transforming the challenging emotion of anger into greater wisdom, mercy, and well-being. Practices designed to enhance attention, compassion, and insight gently guide the reader through the ‘doorway of anger’ toward a deeper understanding of its causes and conditions. This book brings to light the power of mindfulness to move one beyond the constrictions of anger and toward greater freedom and interconnection with all of life as it is being lived, moment by moment.”
—Ron Vereen, MD, psychiatrist in private practice, Durham, NC; consulting associate in the department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Duke University; MBSR instructor at Duke Integrative Medicine; and cofounder of the Triangle Insight Meditation Community
Review
“Even a cursory glance at this quality material and application of some of the sayings would make for a more peaceful planet.”
—Library Journal Xpress Review
Synopsis
The 100 simple practices found in Five Good Minutes® are designed to help even the busiest person start the day right. Using just five minutes of mindfulness, relaxation, or imagery techniques during their morning routines, readers can set their intentions and greet the day feeling calm, centered, and energized.
What difference can five minutes make in the crazy, nonstop course of a sixteen-hour day? For people feeling overwhelmed with responsibility, bored with the same tired routine, or frustrated about how to create meaning in their lives, a little time well spent can lead to extraordinary changes. This book shows readers how to dramatically improve their lives in just a few moments each day. The concept is powerfully simple: Readers take the time each morning to be fully present, to set a clear intention for themselves, and to really engage in any of 100 fun and easy-to-follow practices. Soon they will discover that amazing things can happen in just five minutes.
The book provides guided imagery, relaxation, mindfulness, and meditation practices-fun activities that relieve stress and create meaning and purpose in the reader's day. These practices help readers feel good, get motivated, and become inspired to change their lives for the better. Over time, these activities become guideposts readers will return to throughout the day, providing energy and inspiration when they need them most. In other words, the time readers of this book take for themselves in the morning might just be the five good minutes that change their lives.
Five Good Minutes is a trademark of New Harbinger Publications, Inc.
Synopsis
One hundred simple, fun practices to focus and inspire your day using mindfulness, meditation, and imagery that anyone can do in just five minutes a day in order to set your intention, get off on the right foot, and enrich your life
Synopsis
What if everyone gave their full, thoughtful attention to the words they saidor texted, or emailed? In What Would Buddha Say?, best-selling author Barbara Ann Kipfer presents 1,501 mindful communication tips based on the Buddhist concept of Right Speecha belief that what you say can greatly affect your happiness. Readers will learn to speak their truth and say what they really mean, improve all of their relationships, and choose their words wisely and conscientiously in every situation.
Synopsis
What if you gave your full, thoughtful attention to the words you saidor texted, or emailed? In What Would Buddha Say?, best-selling author Barbara Ann Kipfer presents 1,501 mindful communication tips based on the Buddhist concept of Right Speecha belief that what you say can greatly affect your happiness.
Poor communication lies at the heart of most relationship problems. Everyone wants to be heard, to be understood, and to be treated with respect. But in our digital age of texting and social media, its easy to distance ourselves from the words we put out into the world, and many times, we may not be aware of the negative impact our words can have on people, whether they are our friends, family, or coworkers.
This is where the concept of Right Speech comes in. An important part of the Buddhist Noble Eightfold Path, Right Speech is the philosophy that what you say can positively or negatively impact your life, as well as the lives of those around you. Speech to avoid includes divisive speech, abusive speech, lies, and idle gossip. In addition, most of what we say fails to convey what we really mean in our hearts.
With this book as your guide, youll learn thousands of tips to help you speak your truth, say what you really mean in your heart, improve all of your relationships, and choose your words wisely and conscientiously in every situation.
Synopsis
Anger is an intense emotion that everyone deals with, but when feelings of anger spiral out of control, they can get in the way of living a full and happy life. In Daily Meditations for Calming Your Angry Mind, leading mindfulness expert and best-selling author of Calming Your Anxious Mind, Jeffrey Brantley, offers practical, daily mindfulness-based meditations to help readers gain control of their emotional reactions, improve their relationships, and create balance, peace, and well-being.
Synopsis
Leading mindfulness expert and author of Calming Your Anxious Mind, Jeffrey Brantley, MD, offers daily mindfulness-based meditations to help you gain control of your emotional reactions, improve your relationships, and cultivate peace, balance, and well-being in your life.
Anger is an intense emotion that everyone deals with, but when feelings of anger spiral out of control they can get in the way of living a full and happy life. If you struggle with intense irritability or angry outbursts, you may feel like your reactions are beyond your control. But this simply isn’t true—you, and only you, have the power to change your life. You just need to be shown the way.
In Daily Meditations for Calming Your Angry Mind, Brantley details three different paths—or approaches—based in mindfulness and meditative perspectives, that you can choose from to take control of your anger, and your life. First, you’ll learn to disengage from your anger by pausing to be mindful when anger is happening. Second, you’ll discover ways to cool your anger using meditative practices to nurture kindness and compassion towards yourself and others. And third, you’ll find tips for practicing mindfulness to transform your understanding and realize your anger is not an identity, a defect, or a permanent condition.
These three practical and easy-to-use approaches to anger management have a strong basis in both ancient and modern traditions. With this book as your guide, you can finally overcome the tumultuous thoughts, feelings, and reactions that have been holding you back in life.
About the Author
Jeffrey Brantley, MD, is a consulting associate in the department of psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Duke University, and the founder and director of the Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Program at Duke Integrative Medicine. He has done multiple radio, television, and print media interviews regarding the MBSR program at Duke. He is author of
Calming Your Anxious Mind and coauthor of
Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind,
Five Good Minutes,
Five Good Minutes in the Evening,
Five Good Minutes at Work,
Five Good Minutes with the One You Love, and
Five Good Minutes in Your Body.
Wendy Millstine, NC, is a freelance writer and certified holistic nutrition consultant who specializes in diet and stress reduction. With Jeffrey Brantley, she is coauthor of the Five Good Minutes® series, Daily Meditations for Calming Your Anxious Mind, and True Belonging. Millstine is also coauthor of Calming the Rush of Panic. She lives in Santa Rosa, CA.
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