Description: In this cut-to-the-chase explanation of the actual nature of enlightenment, Thubten goes the extra mile to reach out to Western audiences, using gentle humor and perceptive stories to engage the intuitive understanding of his readers. The emphasis is on how close ordinary life is to enlightenment rather than how impossible it might be to reach it; it s a message that readers are inevitably drawn to
Review Quotes: "It happens when we look at a newborn baby. It happens when we break the chains of our worldly beliefs. It happens when we meditate. 'It' is a glimpse into the Buddha's world of enlightenment. Thubten, a uniquely worldly teacher, tells us that enlightenment happens in real life, not inside our minds in the world of concepts. He explains all this to readers in clear down-to-earth language. His tone is lively direct and engaging. The is no aura of higher status to keep people at arm's length. He references the Buddha and respected Buddhist teachers in order to anchor his teachings in traditional Buddhism but the overall tone is consistently conversational. His message is simple. Enlightenment can happen at any moment in any place to any one. One can 'surrender' to the beauty of a flower, the happiness of greeting a friend, or the joy of sitting in a park and watching children play. This is a very serious Buddhist text which is completely understandable and a joy to read."--Anna Jedrziewski, Retailing Insight