Synopses & Reviews
A Zen teacher for more than thirty years, Cheri Huber is a one-of-a-kind spiritual teacher, known for her warmth, playfulness, and simplicity. She has a knack for bringing heady Zen philosophy down-to-earth and making it relevant and useful in our everyday struggles. In her new book, she takes on the topic of changing ourselves: how do we break “ bad habits” and start good ones, whether it’ s in the realm of exercise, eating, shopping, or committing ourselves to a spiritual practice such as meditation? Huber points out that we’ ve all been led to believe that if we were only a little better in some way, we’ d find happiness. We’ re always thinking, “ Life isn’ t the way it should be— and it’ s my fault ” But, Huber explains, no amount of self-punishment will ever make us happy or bring us control over life’ s problems. The happiness and peace we are looking for is ultimately found only in self-acceptance and kindness. Making a Change for Good encourages us to focus on what is true for us in this moment so that our experience can be authentic, awake, honest, and joyful, with no need to hide out in addictive behaviors or run away from reality by using substances or other habitual escapes. This book includes a guided thirty-day program of daily meditation, contemplation, and journaling.
Synopsis
According to Zen teacher Cheri Huber, we are conditioned to think that if we were only a little better in some way, we would be happy: “Life isn't the way it should be and it's my fault!” But, Huber says, no amount of self-punishment will ever make us happy or bring us control over life’s problems.
The help we are looking for is really found in self-acceptance and kindness toward ourselves. By simply allowing ourselves to be guided by our innate intelligence and generosity, which are our authentic nature, we are able to be compassionately present to what’s happening now. Compassionate self-discipline—the will to take positive steps in life—is found through nothing other than being present. When we are present and aware, we are not engaged in distracting, addictive behaviors. If we simply cultivate our ability to pay attention and focus on what is here in this moment, our experience can be authentic, awake, honest, and joyful.
The book includes a guided thirty-day program of daily meditation, contemplation, and journaling.
About the Author
Cheri Huber is a Zen teacher and the author of eighteen popular books. She founded A Center for the Practice of Zen Buddhist Meditation in Mountain View, California, in 1983, and the Zen Monastery Retreat Center in Murphys, California, in 1987. She founded Living Compassion in 2003, a nonprofit group comprised of There Is Nothing Wrong with You Retreats (based on the book); Global Community for Peace: The Assisi Peace Project; The Africa Vulnerable Children Project; and Open Air Talk Radio, which she hosts weekly. She lives in Murphys, California.