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Saying Yes to Life:
Presented in simple yet strikingly memorable language, the messages in Saying Yes to Life (Even the Hard Parts) provide inspiration for each day, and invitations to go more deeply into the spiritual life. These gems of wisdom range from page-long reflections to simple aphorisms. The themes presented emphasize the importance of making peace with life's paradoxes, opening to the unwanted, finding the happiness in difficulty, and living always with what's here. Page after page reveals truths that can be put into action in the moment, yet also unfold ever more deeply with thorough examination. Insightful and never convoluted, Saying Yes to Life (Even the Hard Parts) is a great companion for life's long journey.
- GenresSpiritualityBuddhism
272 pages, Paperback
First published July 29, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 28, 2019
I've really liked the few things I've read by Ezra Bayda. He seems to capture the spirit of Zen Buddhism as well as anybody - his whole being is embedded is Zen. You get the sense he's talking from his soul, not his head.
July 22, 2014
The book: Saying Yes to Life (Even the Hard Parts)
The author: Ezra Bayda with Josh Bartok
The subject: A book of sayings and meditations in the Zen tradition encouraging the reader to live a better life.
Why I chose it: I noticed a copy when my boyfriend was going through some of his stuff and asked to borrow it.
The rating: Three and a half out of five stars
What I thought of it: This is a small book – moderately thick, but about half the size of a standard paperback – full of short sayings about how to live a more authentic, accepting, spiritual life. If you're after something that goes deeply into the philosophy this might not be suitable, but I found that a lot of the phrases resonated. I wrote a lot of them down to dip into later. I think my favourite part was the discussion of forgiveness, particularly this point: Often the most difficult part of forgiving another is facing the fact that we don't actually want to forgive them. I hadn't come across that idea before, but it really fits with my experiences.
Of course, not all the book was useful, which is okay, because no philosophy can be expected to be everything to everyone. There were a few statements that I either didn't understand or with which I disagreed.
The spaciousness of the heart can hold the suffering of the world – I think this is a nice idea, but it's probably impossible and potentially dangerous for one person to try to take on so much suffering.
Spiritual practice has very little to do with explanation – Okay, this isn't so much something I disagree with as something that I struggle with. My way of looking at the world involves constant explanation, but this can get in the way of things.
Look closely: your judgments are never really about another; they're always about you! – Often this is true, but I can think of several situations where a thought like this would have a damaging effect (for example, if someone were considering whether a partner was abusive or it was "just them").
Ideals are always detours on the spiritual path – Honestly, I just can't quite figure this one out...
However, overall this was an interesting book and a good introduction to thinking in a different way about the world.
Just one more thing: My boyfriend also has a copy of another book by Bayda, "Zen Heart: Simple Advice for Living with Mindfulness and Compassion", so I'll be reading that one soon.
The author: Ezra Bayda with Josh Bartok
The subject: A book of sayings and meditations in the Zen tradition encouraging the reader to live a better life.
Why I chose it: I noticed a copy when my boyfriend was going through some of his stuff and asked to borrow it.
The rating: Three and a half out of five stars
What I thought of it: This is a small book – moderately thick, but about half the size of a standard paperback – full of short sayings about how to live a more authentic, accepting, spiritual life. If you're after something that goes deeply into the philosophy this might not be suitable, but I found that a lot of the phrases resonated. I wrote a lot of them down to dip into later. I think my favourite part was the discussion of forgiveness, particularly this point: Often the most difficult part of forgiving another is facing the fact that we don't actually want to forgive them. I hadn't come across that idea before, but it really fits with my experiences.
Of course, not all the book was useful, which is okay, because no philosophy can be expected to be everything to everyone. There were a few statements that I either didn't understand or with which I disagreed.
The spaciousness of the heart can hold the suffering of the world – I think this is a nice idea, but it's probably impossible and potentially dangerous for one person to try to take on so much suffering.
Spiritual practice has very little to do with explanation – Okay, this isn't so much something I disagree with as something that I struggle with. My way of looking at the world involves constant explanation, but this can get in the way of things.
Look closely: your judgments are never really about another; they're always about you! – Often this is true, but I can think of several situations where a thought like this would have a damaging effect (for example, if someone were considering whether a partner was abusive or it was "just them").
Ideals are always detours on the spiritual path – Honestly, I just can't quite figure this one out...
However, overall this was an interesting book and a good introduction to thinking in a different way about the world.
Just one more thing: My boyfriend also has a copy of another book by Bayda, "Zen Heart: Simple Advice for Living with Mindfulness and Compassion", so I'll be reading that one soon.
August 23, 2023
Sometimes strong sometimes weak, can easily find food for thought here.
October 28, 2008
Saying "yes" to life, even the hard parts...:-)
January 10, 2010
This book has a lot of short sayings. Most of them are good thoughts for meditation.
November 24, 2014
I can see the value in this if the encouragement is needed. Vignettes of inspiration.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews