Let's face it: we all have a motivating drive to become "better." What we have and who we are never seem to be good enough. This feeling that something is wrong or needs to be fixed causes us to continuously run around, chasing after what we feel will finally fulfill us. But what if these very conditions that we are constantly trying to escape from could be used as a way to awaken ourselves--to connect with the peace already within us?
A Fool's Guide to Actual Happiness, Mark Van Buren, Wisdom Publications, Paperback, 2018, 244 Pages, $15.95
Mark Van Buren is a Mindful Living Trainer, yoga/meditation instructor, personal trainer, and musician, that has been promoting health and wellness for over a decade. He writes articles on meditation and yoga for My Yoga Online, Gaiam TV and Elephant Journal. He has run dozens of workshops and retreats all over the tri-state area, and has been asked to speak at numerous colleges including Columbia, Montclair State, and Bergen Community. A handful of yoga studios have already opened their doors to his message, allowing him to give talks and run guided meditations and retreats.
Preface
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ix
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Introduction
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1
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Section I: Concepts & Beliefs
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1. Self-Help or Self-Hate?
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7
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2. Is Happiness Really a Warm Puppy?
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15
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3. The Present Moment
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19
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4. The Three Marks of Existence
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25
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5. How to Use Suffering to Cultivate Compassion
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51
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6. Karma
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59
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7. Two Aspects of Mind
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67
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Section II: Applications & Practices
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8. Mindfulness
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79
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9. Meditation
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85
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10. Just Say Yes
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105
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11. Shenpa
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111
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12. The Two Wings of Meditation Practice
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127
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13. Compassion
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129
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14. Forgiveness
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147
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Section III: Putting It All Together
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15. Inspiration: The Key to Peace
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157
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16. Going Deeper
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159
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17. Don't Drink the Kool-Aid!
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169
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18. Your Feelings Matter
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175
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19. You Are Not Alone
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179
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20. Life as a Path to Awakening
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183
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21. Fearlessness
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193
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22. A Good Sense of Humor
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199
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23. Honesty & Gentleness
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205
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24. Two Sides, One Coin
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211
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25. Clarity, Not Perfection
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215
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Afterword
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219
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Acknowledgments
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225
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Bibliography and Recommendations
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227
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Index
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231
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About the Author
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243
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