In the Face of Fear

Book excerpt: Most of us have never experienced such deep anxiety and uncertainty in the world as we are in these current times; this anthology of Buddhist teachings offers an antidote. While we can’t control the home foreclosures, job losses, dwindling savings, and the other myriad challenges facing our society, Buddhism teaches us that there is one thing we can always control: our own state of mind. How we react to the ups and downs of life makes all the difference, and Buddhism offers a wealth of wisdom and practices to help us maintain a stable, wise, and helpful state of mind no matter what happens. In the Face of Fear shows us how to • remain open, joyful, and caring, even when life is stressful • avoid old behavior patterns that only make things worse • access our innate confidence and fearlessness • turn difficult times into opportunities for spiritual development • learn why caring for others is the best way to relieve our own suffering • discover that our true nature is always awake, wise, and good, no matter what is happening This anthology features the greatest contemporary Buddhist teachers and writers—people renowned for addressing precisely the problems we’re facing today—including the Dalai Lama, Pema Chödrön, Thich Nhat Hanh, Chögyam Trungpa, Sylvia Boorstein, Jack Kornfield, Norman Fischer, Jon Kabat-Zinn, Sharon Salzberg, and many others.