A Heart as Wide as the World: Stories on the Path of Lovingkindness

A wonderful book! Still reading it!

I take a long car trip a couple of times a year. I used to check out several books on tape from the library to keep me company. One time, I checked out this book. Since then, this is just about the only book I listen to on my trips--I listen to it once on the trip out and once on the trip back. This book is sort of a primer to life--how to live effectively and happily and in acceptance. You don't need to have a Buddhist practice to find this book meaningful and useful--but if you do, it is the best description of what such a practice is about that I have ever come across. I share sections of it with my class on stress management--there are several sections about how we stress ourselves out and how to stop doing it, and Salzberg makes them come to life with examples from her own experience. She speaks, for example, about how worrying about future pain intensifies current pain, using as an example how she confronted the pain she initially experienced when sitting in meditation. She gives wonderful examples of how judging ourselves for not being perfect keeps us from making progress, speaking of how she struggled with judging herself for having her mind wander during meditation--and how the time she spent judging herself was time when she wasn't practicing staying in the moment. She tells of how Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize winner, used the time she was put into prison by the Myanmar government as time to practice lovingkindness and found it a meaningful and useful time in her life as a result (what an inspiration!). For me, this book is priceless. I just wish they'd put it out in c.d.

This is my second book of Sharon Salzberg that I have read after Lovingkindness. Once again this is a fantastic book that will motivate one to become a better human being.I love her writing. Her writing is easy to understand and flows very well. I am so grateful to be able to read her books and learn from her. I wish that I will be able to meet her in person one day.Keep writing!

This is the first book I've read by Salzberg, and it's an incredible one. Full of stories and personal accounts on how the spiritual path can be lived out in everyday life. I used it before my prayer times each day, reading one or two to center myself. I am going to read it again, now.

Each chapter being only a couple pages long makes this a great book for group study and discussion. Easy to read and easy to understand.

I love this book! Sharon is a wonderful teacher and her teaching comes though so clearly. I recommend all of Sharon's books. She's very down to earth and real. I've lost track how many times I've bought this book to give as a gift. Study or retreat with her in person if you can!

Sharon Salzberg's book is a great memoir of her meditation teachers and lessons that she learned from them based on her experience

Another good book by Sharon Salzberg.

Sharon is such a great story teller and meditation teacher, and here she's also at her best. Her stories fill my heart and keep my faith going (just as her book Faith did for me, but differently!). She pours out her authentic self, as she always does, but this is chock-full of stories and teachings. Thank you again, Sharon :)