Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery
Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery book cover

Smile at Fear: Awakening the True Heart of Bravery

Hardcover – November 3, 2009

Price
$28.20
Format
Hardcover
Pages
144
Publisher
Shambhala
Publication Date
ISBN-13
978-1590306963
Dimensions
5.7 x 0.65 x 8.75 inches
Weight
12 ounces

Description

Review “The teachings presented in this book are transformational—and especially relevant today, when so many of us are facing uncertainty and anxiety. Chögyam Trungpa shows us how to uncover our innate strength, confidence, and joy under any circumstances. I strongly recommend this book to all those seeking awakening and freedom.”—Pema Chödrön “Chögyam Trungpa offers us a rich banquet with many inviting, intriguing, and delicious glimpses into the Buddhist perspective on our mind and life.”—Daniel Goleman “There is no one better than Chögyam Trungpa to show us how to be fearless. He overcame great difficulties while remaining true to his principles—bravery, compassion, and gentleness. These are the qualities of a Shambhala warrior, which shine through brilliantly in this book.”—Sakyong Mipham Rinpoche “This is powerful dharma encouragement to awaken our own fearless and wise heart—from one of the most remarkable and brilliant teachers of modern times.”—Jack Kornfield “This book offers each of us an encounter with our own fearlessness. I will keep this book close by and treasure it for the rest of my life.”—Margaret J. Wheatley “Chögyam Trungpa’s vision of fearlessness as honesty, joyfulness, sadness, and openness is inspiring and particularly relevant to our historical moment.”—Norman Fischer “A book that should be included in nearly every Buddhist’s library.”— Elephant Journal About the Author Chögyam Trungpa (1940–1987)—meditation master, teacher, and artist—founded Naropa University in Boulder, Colorado, the first Buddhist-inspired university in North America; the Shambhala Training program; and an international association of meditation centers known as Shambhala International. He is the author of numerous books including Shambhala: Sacred Path of the Warrior , Cutting Through Spiritual Materialism , and The Myth of Freedom .

Features & Highlights

  • Many of us, without even realizing it, are dominated by fear. We might be aware of some of our fears—perhaps we are afraid of public speaking, financial hardship, or losing a loved one. But in this book meditation master Chögyam Trungpa shows us that most of us suffer from a far more pervasive form of fear: the fear of ourselves. We feel ashamed and embarrassed to look at our feelings or acknowledge our styles of thinking and behaving; we don’t want to face the reality of our moment-to-moment experience. It is this fear that keeps us trapped in cycles of suffering, despair, and distress. Chögyam Trungpa offers us a vision of moving beyond fear to discover the innate bravery, trust, and delight in life that lies at the core of our being. Drawing on the Shambhala tradition and on Buddhist teachings, he explains how we can each become a spiritual warrior: a person who faces each moment of life with openness and fearlessness. “The ultimate definition of bravery is not being afraid of who you are,” writes Chögyam Trungpa. In language that is fresh, accessible, and startlingly direct, this book explains:    • how the practice of sitting meditation can help us to uncover our inherent confidence and bravery,    • how fear and embarrassment about ourselves keep us trapped in cycles of suffering,    • the wisdom of loving-kindness and nonaggression,    • how true invincibility depends on becoming more open and vulnerable. Here are the essential insights and strategies that will allow us to finally claim victory over fear.

Customer Reviews

Rating Breakdown

★★★★★
60%
(152)
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(63)
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(38)
★★
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Most Helpful Reviews

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EXCELLENT

A MUST READ FOR EVERYONE. FEAR PREVENTS HUMANS FROM BEING ALL THEY CAN BE. THIS BOOK TEACHES THE READER HOW TO OVERCOME, NOT CONQUER FEAR.
11 people found this helpful
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Metaphors from Shambala

Personally, I find little of practical value in this book, which is an edited collection of Trungpa’s talks, seminars & writings. “The Way of the Warrior,” who incorporates “The Moon in the heart” and “The Sun in the Head” are metaphors which don’t resonate with me. This warrior mentality seems to reside only in the mythical kingdom of Shambala. Trying to live up to this vision would more likely result in neurotic striving than genuine enlightenment.
I do find useful two quotes from Trungpa, from previous publications:
“You can actually look at fear. Then fear ceases to be the dominant situation that is going to defeat you. Fear can be conquered. You can be free of fear if you realize that fear is not the ogre.”[The Great Eastern Sun] This quote is reprinted in the page which precedes the table of contents of the present volume.
“…instead of running away from fear, one must become completely involved in it and begin to feel the rough and rugged quality of the emotion.”[Cutting through Spiritual Materialism]
2 people found this helpful
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Metaphors from Shambala

Personally, I find little of practical value in this book, which is an edited collection of Trungpa’s talks, seminars & writings. “The Way of the Warrior,” who incorporates “The Moon in the heart” and “The Sun in the Head” are metaphors which don’t resonate with me. This warrior mentality seems to reside only in the mythical kingdom of Shambala. Trying to live up to this vision would more likely result in neurotic striving than genuine enlightenment.
I do find useful two quotes from Trungpa, from previous publications:
“You can actually look at fear. Then fear ceases to be the dominant situation that is going to defeat you. Fear can be conquered. You can be free of fear if you realize that fear is not the ogre.”[The Great Eastern Sun] This quote is reprinted in the page which precedes the table of contents of the present volume.
“…instead of running away from fear, one must become completely involved in it and begin to feel the rough and rugged quality of the emotion.”[Cutting through Spiritual Materialism]
2 people found this helpful
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Smile at Fear

A great book that is easy to read and quite frank. Drawing on Buddhist and Shambala influences, Trungpa offers an interesting analysis into fear and anxiety and offers insight into how to readdress and re-form your responses to such situations. At times can be quite harsh in terms of examples in term of internal "warriorship' which can be quite dramatic, but a great read and definatley changes your mind on the nature of fear.
2 people found this helpful
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Another breathtaking book of Chogyam Trungpa's teachings

As with all of this great teacher's works, every sentence is profound.
1 people found this helpful