WINNER!
Books for a Better Life's
Best Spiritual Book of 2007
How Not to Be Afraid of Your Own Life
St. Martin’s Press 2006
$15 paperback
Click on image to purchase from Amazon or buy directly from me:
“I have long recommended meditation as central to a healthy lifestyle. Susan Piver teaches this important practice in a trustworthy and practical way-and shows us how to use its lessons to create a fearless life.“
– ANDREW WEIL, M.D., author of Healthy Aging
“In direct and playful language, Susan Piver's new book translates Buddhist wisdom to show its relevance to daily life. Her experiences as a student of Buddhism-sometimes profound, sometimes silly-show what it's really like to walk the spiritual path in the midst of modern life.”
– STEPHEN COPE, author of Yoga and the Quest for the True Self
“Piver takes the mystery out of Buddhism, and makes it relevant to our struggles to be happy in the 21st century.”
– MARK HYMAN, M.D., author of Ultrametabolism
“Susan Piver has worked her magic again. She gives us an everyday approach to Buddhism, so that all of us can benefit from the wisdom of this magnificent philosophy.”
– RODNEY YEE, author of Yoga: The Poetry of the Body
More Information
Meditation Instruction
Shamatha (The Practice of Tranquility) 10 minute version
Shamatha (The Practice of Tranquility) 20 minute version
Lovingkindness Meditation 10 minute version
Lovingkindness Meditation 20 minute version
Freedom from Fear: a 7-Day Program
click here for program instructions
Meditation Resources
This PDF contains suggestions for recommended books, how to find a meditation instructor, practice centers, online meditation instruction, and more.
About the Book
An inspirational and practical guide to conquering fear and embracing joy.
Each of us is born seeking a meaningful life. We have a natural ability to sense what is significant, live in peace, and surround ourselves with love. From the moment we arrive, we are instinctively drawn toward warmth, closeness, and acceptance. When the world doesn't provide what we seek, we're shocked. The rejection is completely unexpected and we withdraw. Once we have met with a negative reception, our initial response to new faces and first-time experiences becomes fear, not love. At this point we have lost touch with reality, not the other way around: to live in fear is to live in a delusional state. When we are fearful, we simply can't see who or what is in front of us-all we see is our fear, and that is what we react to, plan for, and anticipate.
Fear can be conquered. We can meet any situation, important or trivial, old or new, surprising or predictable, with self-confidence, gentleness, and elegance. And we don't have to change one thing about ourselves to do so. In fact, we already possess all the courage we'll ever need, and it-not fear-can animate the way we think about ourselves, others, and the world. The ancient practice of meditation can show us how.
-From the Introduction






