Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism
Currently unavailable
This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.
In stock now — readers of this book also loved:
This profound work by Kittisaro and Thanissara offers a deeply personal exploration of Buddhist awakening. Drawing from their unique shared history as former monastics and now a married couple, they weave together candid narratives of spiritual struggle and breakthrough. The book illuminates how the inner practice of meditation can evolve into a broader commitment to compassionate action. It presents a vision of enlightenment not as an isolated achievement, but as a journey culminating in profound intimacy with all existence and dedicated service to the world.
Praise for this book
“From Oxford to Thailand to South Africa, from monastery to frontline work in the crying heart of Zulu country, Thanissara and Kittisaro share their amazing journey. Written with honesty, courage, and deep wisdom, Listening to the Heart shows how to free the mind and open the heart. Even more, the deep caring and love that permeate the pages inspire the reader to want to make a difference in the world--and the book provides the map to do it. Highly recommended.”
“Genuine and insightful, Listening to the Heart is both a memoir and a clear guide to authentic practice. Kittisaro and Thanissara unfold the layers of their experience to share their understanding, from deep inner processes to vital social and relational aspects of living a good life.”
“I'm not sure there is anyone who can strip away our naive illusions about the spiritual life as deftly and elegantly as Thanissara and Kittisaro. As we witness their sacred pilgrimage unfolding, we are awakened to the timeless noble truths of our precious human condition and set free.”
📝 Description: Listening to the Heart: A Contemplative Journey to Engaged Buddhism
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers seeking a grounded, authentic approach to spirituality will find profound value in this intimate exploration. It is ideal for those who feel disconnected from rigid dogma but crave depth, offering a path where meditation directly fuels compassionate action. Former monastics or anyone curious about the transition from secluded practice to married life will appreciate the candid vulnerability. The book serves as a gentle guide for individuals desiring to integrate inner peace with outer service, proving that enlightenment is not an escape from reality but a deeper immersion into it through shared human experience.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Kittisaro and Thanissara deliver a sincere narrative that demystifies the path to awakening through their unique lens as a married couple of former monastics. The text succeeds in showing how personal struggle can transform into global compassion. However, readers seeking rigid doctrinal instruction or purely academic analysis may find the personal anecdotes too informal or lacking in scholarly rigor. Those preferring detached, theoretical philosophy over emotional vulnerability might feel alienated by the intimate tone. It is not for those who view spirituality as a strictly intellectual pursuit devoid of relational context.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you're seeking a path that bridges personal spiritual growth with active compassion, and resonate with deeply personal narratives, this book is for you. It offers profound insights for both seasoned practitioners and those curious about Buddhism's relevance in a complex world.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Engaged Buddhist Practice
The authors delve into the concept of Engaged Buddhism, demonstrating how personal spiritual development naturally extends beyond individual peace. They advocate for a path where inner wisdom is actively applied in the world, transforming personal liberation into compassionate service and addressing collective suffering, moving spiritual practice from the cushion to daily life.
The Spiritual Hero's Journey
Through alternating chapters, Kittisaro and Thanissara chronicle their individual and shared spiritual odysseys. They present their lives as an archetypal quest, detailing moments of youthful idealism, profound disillusionment, challenging trials, and eventual integration of wisdom. This narrative arc illustrates the multifaceted process of awakening through lived experience.
Intimacy & Non-Dual Reality
Central to their teaching is the exploration of non-dual consciousness, guiding readers toward a profound sense of interconnectedness. The book emphasizes moving beyond perceived separation to experience an 'intimacy with all things,' revealing how this deeper understanding of reality fosters genuine compassion and allows for a more integrated and meaningful existence.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Dharma
- Non-dual
- Engaged Buddhism
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on a personal struggle you've faced. How might viewing it as part of an 'archetypal journey' shift your understanding of its purpose or meaning?
- Consider an area where you feel disconnected from the world. How might cultivating 'intimacy with all things' through mindful awareness change your perception and actions?
- What does 'engaged spirituality' mean to you personally? How can your inner practice translate into acts of service or compassionate engagement in your community?
📖 Read on the blog
🏛 Books from this publisher North Atlantic Books
All books from this publisher →
You might also like
See more →
Have a question about this item?
Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.
