January Book Review - Letting Go of the Person You Used To Be - Lama Surya Das

I love getting new books at Christmas!

This year one book received was Letting Go of the Person You Used To Be - Lessons on change, loss, and spiritual transformation. 
The author is Lama Surya Das, who is also the bestselling author of the wonderful book Awakening the Buddha Within.

Everyone has suffered loss, pain and change at some point in their lives.  It is inevitable.  This book describes ways to deal with that pain in a healing way.  How we deal with impermanence is important to how we live our lives.  If constantly in denial or filling life with distractions then the pain will manifest in many unhealthy ways.  Also, dwelling on it will lead to depression.  The middle way is described in this book and the helpful mantra, "This to shall pass". 

Lama Surya Das writes in the introduction, "Face your difficulties realistically, rather than withdrawing from them, and riches can be yours.  When faced with pain and misfortune, simply stop and center yourself in the present moment, here and now; take a deep breath, sit down and concentrate, pray. Or try to laugh, one way or another. Laugh the cosmic laugh, lighten up, and be en-lightened."

I highly recommend this book.  Let me know your thoughts if you have a chance to read it.

Namaste.
Pamela Nelson
www.plnyoga.vpweb.com