An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life

An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life
The Dalai Lama

Unlike the previous book I read by the Dalai Lama, this book only took me about nine months to read. They’re not long books, I just tend to set them aside for something else, and then have to go back an re-read portions to get caught up again.

The title is why I picked this book up, An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life seems like a really good idea. I have a hard time being compassionate to people I dislike, so I figured it this book might be able to help me be less of a jerk. However, only time will tell if there was any measure of success.

As with his other book I read, An Open Heart: Practicing Compassion in Everyday Life is a short book, with stories about compassion and methods to help one become a better person. I cling to the belief that he must have some secret that he can impart, because he strikes me as one of the most compassionate, calm, centered people ever to grace the public eye. This could, of course, be a facade, but I somehow doubt it.

So I read, in hopes of learning something.

Most of what he says is practical, although the meditation is beyond me. It seems useful–very useful–but I can’t begin to comprehend “emptying my mind.” To me, that task is as daunting as being told to lift my car. I know that there are people who are strong enough to do such a thing, but for me such a task would be an impossibility.

Despite that, I plan on reading more of his books, for being reminded that we need to act compassionately is some small help.

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