Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Start a Revolution, Incite Happiness!andlt;/Iandgt;andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Delivered with fearless candor and disarming humor, Lama Marut introduces a simple set of exercises that offers a revolutionary yet wholly practical approach to creating and sustaining happiness in a complex modern age. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Integrating the ancient teachings of Tibetan Buddhism into the everyday grind, andlt;Iandgt;A Spiritual Renegadeand#8217;s Guide to the Good Life andlt;/Iandgt;presents a fresh take on our quest for a joyful existence. Each chapter includes an action plan designed to elicit true happiness and forge a clear path toward fulfillment. Youand#8217;ll learn how to: andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; transform problems into opportunities; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; set yourself free from fear and anxiety; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; unburden yourself of past resentment; andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;and#8226; create an action plan for true happiness. andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Further explore the concepts of a spiritual renegade lifestyle through Microsoft Tags within this book, which link to online videos of Lama Marut discussing each of his concepts firsthand. This book is bound to disrupt your suffering, disturb your dissatisfaction, and elicit a deep-seated contentment. Happiness is in your hands.
Review
"Lama Marut skillfully and eloquently describes how happiness naturally emerges as a reward of authentic spiritual practice. A marvelous guide for those choosing to walk on joyand#8217;s path."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;and#8212;Michael Bernard Beckwithandlt;/Bandgt;, author of andlt;Iandgt;Spiritual Liberationandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"If you want advice on how to dig yourself out of a black hole, you need a man with a spade on the inside. Lama Marut, formerly Brian K. Smith, is just the bloke. Heand#8217;s the favorite sports coach you had when you were five: big like a bear (in a reassuring way), direct, fun and with an American accent that curls around his forthright southern charm."andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;and#8212;Lisa Mitchellandlt;/Bandgt;, "The Buddhist and the Black Hole," THE WEEKLY REVIEW (Melbourne)
Review
and#8220;I can think of few teachers of spirituality more capable of offering the profound and rich traditions of Buddhism and the visionary voices of yoga. When you meet Lama Marut you encounter greatness, a place where the heart and mind are one, and the company you keep presents a rare presence that can change your life.and#8221;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;and#8212;Douglas R. Brooksandlt;/Bandgt;, author and professor of Religion, University of Rochester and Spiritual Voice of Anusara Yoga and Rajanaka Yoga
Review
"andlt;Iandgt;A Spiritual Renegade's Guide to the Good Lifeandlt;/Iandgt; is so good I wish I had written it myself! Seriously, you really should try to overcome your fear of bliss and start living the way Lama Marut suggests. I recommend this delightful book that should accompany your day to day from now on." andlt;BRandgt; andlt;Bandgt;and#8212;Robert A. F. "Tenzin" Thurmanandlt;/Bandgt;, Jey Tsong Khapa professor of Buddhist Studies, Columbia University, cofounder of Tibet House US, and author of andlt;Iandgt;Why The Dalai Lama Mattersandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
andlt;Bandgt;Publisher's Weekly Review:andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt; By no means the first to frame spiritual practice as a form of rebellion, Lama Marut (aka Brian K. Smith) manages a fresh approach based on Asian philosophy, particularly Buddhist principles. An ordained monk trained in the Tibetan tradition and former professor of religious studies, the author argues that happiness is the most important goal in life, but it comes from within, not by depending on external, ephemeral factors such as money and relationships. An important key to happiness is giving to others. Focusing on karma as opposed to the usual Four Noble Truths, Lama Marut applies unusually cogent arguments that individuals can indeed change their relationship to the past and have control over their futures, yet be unable to change the present except for their responses to it. He draws on sources from ancient to modern to illustrate his ideas; he avoids sectarian spirituality as well as New Age clichand#233;s. Lama Marut knows how to describe concepts clearly and to make a persuasive case while entertaining his readers. His chapter on forgiveness is a particularly compelling gem of brevity. This provocative, and#8220;hipand#8221; guide (thereand#8217;s a motorcycle on the cover) doesnand#8217;t weasel out on the importance of living a and#8220;morally pure lifeand#8221; to achieve happiness. Agent: Molly Lyons. (June)
Review
"Lama Marut knows how to describe concepts clearly and to make a persuasive case while entertaining his readers. His chapter on forgiveness is a particularly compelling gem of brevity. This provocative, "hip" guide (there's a motorcycle on the cover) doesn't weasel out on the importance of living a "morally pure life" to achieve happiness."
—Publishers Weekly
Review
"While reading this book, thinking about this book, and trying his suggestions I have begun to experience what life is like when one puts 'the horse before the cart.' I am experiencing a lot more time and a lot more love, and I am extremely grateful. It's brilliant."andlt;BRandgt;and#8212;andlt;Bandgt;Mary McDonnell,andlt;/Bandgt; Academy Award nominated actress, andlt;Iandgt;Dances With Wolvesandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"andlt;Iandgt;A Spiritual Renegade's Guide andlt;/Iandgt;is light and lively, also deeply wise and worth delving into. This practice manual will help us all bring Buddhist principles into daily life, here and now, including forgiveness, gratitude, ethical living, and experiencing for yourself the buoyant joy and happiness of spiritual living. I read and savored it."
Review
"Lama Marutand#8217;s book is an intelligent, readable primer on how to live a good life. He begins with an exploration of happiness, and then moves into areas that influence happiness, such as forgiveness, not living in the past or dwelling on the future, gratitude, work, materialism. His book is a challenge to 'swim upstream' and be the renegade that does not, for instance, buy into the dominant culture of consumerism, which is designed, he says, to keep you wanting more."andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;and#8212;Rae Padilla Fancoeur,andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;The Herald Newsandlt;/Iandgt;
Review
"In down-to-earth, no-nonsense language, Lama Marut, Buddhist monk, university professor, surfer and motorcyclist, tells readers how to incite happiness in life....If youand#8217;re ready to roll up your sleeves and do the work required to achieve genuine contentment and help others achieve it too, let Marut be your guide."andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Bandgt;and#8212;Diane Holcomb,andlt;/Bandgt; andlt;Iandgt;New Consciousness Reviewandlt;/Iandgt;
Synopsis
For Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, a provocative yet compassionate guide using a series of insightful lessons, meditations, and exercises designed to incite a fresh take on our quest for happiness and the good life.This honest, fearless, and often humorous manifesto functions as a practical and achievable (if not radical and revolutionary) blueprint for creating and sustaining happiness in an age of consumerism, self-absorption, and stress. Lama Marut’s message connects with a broad range of readers of all ages, cultures, religious and non-religious backgrounds.
A Spiritual Renegade’s Guide to the Good Life incorporates Microsoft tags within each chapter to give the reader bonus video material, as well as action plans designed to incite true, unpackaged happiness. This book is bound to disrupt your suffering, disturb your dissatisfaction, and elicit a deep-seated contentment. Happiness is in our hands—we only need to shake off our inertia and incite it!
About the Author
Lama Marut (a.k.a. Brian K. Smith) is extensively trained in the spiritual traditions of India and Tibetan Buddhism. He holds a PhD in comparative religion and taught for over two decades in the academic world, first at Columbia University and later at the University of California, where he retired as professor emeritus in 2004. He has served for the past fifteen years as a spiritual teacher to students around the world, and is currently the spiritual director for eight "Middle Way Centers" located in North America, Australia, and Singapore.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;In addition to several scholarly studies and translations based on Sanskrit materials, he is the author of the popular and award-winning bookandnbsp;andlt;iandgt;A Spiritual Renegadeand#8217;s Guide to the Good Lifeandlt;/iandgt;. With his unique mixture of erudition and earthiness, intensity and humor, conviction and openness, Lama Marutand#8217;s message is easily accessible and life-changing.