The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors
In this transformative guide, Lama Rod Owens, a revered Buddhist teacher and intersectional thinker, redefines what it means to be a modern "saint." He offers a profound pathway for individuals to move beyond personal suffering and become powerful agents of justice and peace. Blending personal narratives, timeless spiritual wisdom, and practical contemplative and somatic exercises, the book illuminates our inherent interdependence. It empowers readers to access inner strength and divine guidance, fostering collective well-being and inspiring wise, compassionate action in a world yearning for change.
Praise for this book
“The New Saints is Lama Rod Owens's literary embodiment of his compassionately brave, authentic, loving, and fierce essence. Opening our broken hearts is not easy, but disrupting the reigning terror is necessary without becoming the entities we seek to eradicate.”
“In The New Saints, Lama Rod Owens offers revelation. The loving support demonstrated in this important book provides a model of liberated spiritual practice that helps us through the accidental feedback loops of confirmation bias and spiritual bypassing so that we can step into becoming a deeply embodied New Saint. The New Saints, like Lama Rod himself, exists for these times--and the world, and all of us, are so much better off because of this.”
“Step-by-step, Lama Rod Owens prods us to be bold and outrageous, to give up on the idea of justice and instead commit to the wild and arduous task of embodied liberation. In this, we find freedom and power. In this, our hearts begin to heal. In this work, we discover that in all our messy, inspired humanity, we are, indeed, the New Saints.”
📝 Description: The New Saints: From Broken Hearts to Spiritual Warriors
💎 Expert review
📖 Why choose it
Why this book is worth reading
Readers who feel the weight of personal suffering and seek a meaningful, actionable path toward healing will find profound value here. This guide is ideal for those wishing to transform emotional pain into a source of strength for collective well-being. It appeals to individuals eager to integrate spiritual growth with ethical responsibility, offering practical tools for becoming agents of peace. If you are looking to move beyond personal struggle and engage in wise, compassionate action for a more just world, this book provides the necessary framework and inspiration for your journey.
⭐ Reader reviews
Reader rating
Owens delivers a potent blend of Buddhist wisdom and social critique, effectively redefining sainthood for the modern age. The integration of somatic exercises and personal narrative makes complex spiritual concepts accessible and urgent. However, readers seeking detached, purely theoretical metaphysics or those uncomfortable with intersectional political frameworks may find the approach too grounded in activism. It is not suited for those who prefer traditional, non-engaged contemplative practices without a call to social justice.
❓ Frequently asked questions
📖 Who should read this
If you yearn to align your spiritual path with a deep commitment to social justice, if you feel overwhelmed by the world's suffering but long to contribute to its healing, and if you seek practical tools to transform personal pain into collective action, this book is for you.
🎯 Key themes and symbolism
Redefining Sainthood
This work challenges conventional notions of sainthood, presenting these spiritual warriors not as distant, ethereal figures, but as ordinary individuals. Lama Rod emphasizes that anyone can cultivate the qualities of a New Saint, grounding spiritual aspiration in everyday life and making the path of compassionate action accessible to all, regardless of background or belief.
Integrated Liberation
The book masterfully weaves together the threads of personal healing and societal transformation. It asserts that true liberation encompasses both spiritual awakening and active engagement with social justice. Readers are guided to understand how their inner work directly contributes to dismantling systems of suffering and injustice, fostering a holistic approach to freedom.
Practical Spiritual Action
Beyond philosophical discourse, this text provides concrete tools for embodying its teachings. Through contemplative meditations and somatic practices, readers learn to process personal pain and cultivate resilience. These exercises are presented not just for self-care, but as foundational training for effective, compassionate engagement in the world, leading to wise and impactful action.
📜 Historical context
📚 Glossary
- Bodhisattva
- Tzaddikim
- Intersectional Thought Leader
📔 Questions to reflect on
- Reflect on a personal experience of suffering. How might this experience inform or fuel your desire to address broader societal injustices?
- Consider one social issue you feel passionate about. What small, 'ordinary' action could you take this week to embody a 'New Saint' in relation to this issue?
- How can integrating a contemplative practice into your daily life deepen your capacity for empathy and sustained engagement in social change efforts?
📖 Read on the blog
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