Advice From A Spiritual Friend

Like wise old friends, two Tibetan masters offer down-to-earth advice for cultivating compassion, wisdom, and happiness in every situation. Based on practical Buddhist verses on "thought training" "Advice from a Spiritual Friend" teaches how to develop the inner skills that lead to contentment by responding to everyday difficulties with patience and joy.

"Do not wish for gratitude. Never strike at the heart. Now if you die, you will have no regrets." —The Seven-Point Thought Transformation Like wise old friends, two Tibetan masters offer down-to-earth advice for cultivating compassion, wisdom, and happiness in every situation. Based on practical Buddhist verses on "thought training" (lojong), Advice from a Spiritual Friend teaches how to develop the inner skills that lead to contentment by responding to everyday difficulties with patience and joy. Following Stephen Batchelor's introduction to the Kadamapa tradition that gave rise to these earthy, pithy instructions, Part One is a commentary by Geshe Dhargyey to Atisha's (982-1054) Jewel Rosary of a Bodhisattva. Part Two includes a commentary by Geshe Rabten to the famous Seven-Point Thought Transformation. First published in 1977, Advice from a Spiritual Friend is a Wisdom classic that has enriched readers in many editions over the years. As Batchelor says in his introduction, "These teachings are as applicable today as they were when Atisha first introduced them to Tibet."

Becoming Gertrude is one woman’s wisdom on the beauty of spiritual friendship and God’s unfolding grace over the course of a life lived for Him. Jan uses the term spiritual friendship to capture this idea of journeying with others through life, sharing experiences and wisdom and seeking God together. In Becoming Gertrude, Jan wants to be your spiritual friend, sharing what she’s learned and painting a picture of what you might uncover as you seek to develop these kinds of relationships in your own life. Join Jan in exploring the critical pieces of spiritual friendship: hospitality, encouragement, acceptance, serving, and caring. With seasoned wisdom and winsome stories, Jan uses personal experiences to walk you through what each of these things can mean in your life. You can have rich, rewarding, faith-filled friendships that emerge from the everyday rhythms of your days—and Becoming Gertrude will lead you on that journey.

My name is Scott McKernan and I want to share with you many of the spiritual, and practical, secrets I have learned over the twenty-year period it has taken me to 'climb my mountain.' The knowledge I have gained has not come easily!In this book, Spiritual Advice from a Friend: Trustworthy Wisdom for Young People, I offer guidance for young people, and wisdom for daily living that can help you to transform your life from the ground up. In some ways, we all need wisdom for modern life with its fast-paced advances, but as I offer guidance for 2020 and beyond in this book, you may be surprised to learn that what we really need is timeless wisdom and advice that surpasses our fleeting circumstances. As you grow, you too may discover that although change is constant, some things never change. Given that our spirituality is linked with all other practical aspects of our lives, here, I provide guidance for a spiritual journey that will help you to get to where you need to be, so that you can do what you're meant to do, and have all you're meant to have. The spiritual aspect of our lives is one that can grow deeper over time, and result in an intimate, unbreakable connection with God and this universe. Maybe... just maybe... your time is yet to come... and all you need to do is believe it!

Letter to a Friend by the great master Nagarjuna contains very practical advice and detailed instructions for all generations. It has been kept close to the heart and actualized by many practitioners across the centuries in India and Tibet. The main topic is how to be a good, decent, and responsible person in samsara. These principles are important and valuable for anyone, no matter where they live or what they believe. Dharma is based on cultivating a good character and ethical conduct combined with a deep understanding of interdependence. There is a profound relationship between one's mind, motivation, and how they interact with natural systems and human societies. Nagarjuna is inviting us to take a deeper look at this relationship, and the renowned master Mipham Rinpoche expands these points even further. Nagarjuna wrote this letter directly to his friend, but his advice applies to everyone. It explains how to be strong and conduct ourselves with courage and confidence in the world. It offers clear instructions on how to expand our human kindness and the precious qualities of morality, concentration, wisdom, and an open heart. We can work through difficult experiences and learn to meet all the challenges in samsara without a lot of hardship and struggle. Instead of collapsing and giving up, we can continue moving forward with good energy toward a bright future.

Giving spiritual direction and preparing to become a spiritual director are characterized in terms of the preparation, qualities, and practical considerations necessary for guiding fellow Christians.