It's a Meaningful Life

Table Of Contents

It’s a Meaningful LifeForeword by His Holiness the Dalai Lama
Introduction: Let’s Not Miss the Meaning of Life

Part One: The Inner Journey of Communion: Creating a Personal Spiritual Practice
Waking Up from the American Dream
Practice: Clarifying Your Motivation
Spirituality Is Not Optional
Practice: Classic Breath-Centered Meditation
You Can Do Hard
Practice: Vow Practice
It’s Not the Top, It’s the Climb
Practice: Facing Fears
The Coal Miner’s Faith
Practice: “Anything That Can Happen” Mantra
Lucky Breaks and Fractures
Practice: Mantras for Everyday Life
Our Cosmic Safety Net
Practice: Prayer
Take Off the Bumper Stickers
Practice: A Prayer of Humility
But Enough About Me
Practice: An Exercise in Seeing
It Always Gets Back to Kindness
Practice: Setting the Stage for a Life of Lovingkindness

Part Two: The Outer Path Toward Community: Practicing Service
Becoming Civilized
Practice: Civiling Your World
Chicken Little Was Right
Practice: Values Exercise
The Big Activism
Practice: Living Simply
A House Too Small May Be a Blessing
Practice: Sacred Reading
What Are We Thinking?
Practice: A Television Vow
The Gospel of Following Bliss
Practice: Stopping
Mistaken Identity
Practice: Work/Life Vision Quest
One for All, All for One
Practice: The Breath of Life
…The Other Tastes Salt
Practice: Daily Marriage Vows
The Fortress of Anger
Practice: Working with Anger
A Mensch Is a Mensch, Big or Small
Practice: Taking Inventory
Fix Your La-Z-Boy
Practice: Working with Your Hands
Success by Failure
Practice: A Day of Silence
Honest Truth and Honest Fiction
Practice: Talking Circle – Opening Honesty to Truth
A Time to Speak
Practice: Talking Circle – Discerning versus Judging
Every Mother’s Child
Practice: Radical Goodwill

Afterword: Keeping It Simple
Saints, Sages, and Sacred Texts
Recommended Resources
Index