Step By Step: Meditations on Wisdom and Compassion

By Maha Ghosananda

"In this book, you find the quiet simplicity and truth that underlie Maha Ghosananda's loving presence."--Jack Kornfield

Step by Step is a collection of reflections drawn from Maha Ghosananda's deep experience as a meditation master and international peacemaker. The introduction details the recent history of Cambodia and Maha Ghosananda's role in the peace process. In recent years, Maha Ghosananda has been leading peace marches throughout Cambodia, and last year he was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Preface by Jack Kornfield vii
Foreword by Dith Pran ix
Editors' Introduction 3
Meditations on Wisdom
Prayer for Peace 27
To Rule the Universe 29
One Teaching 31
The Present Is Mother of the Future 32
Balancing Wisdom and Compassion 33
Letting Go of Suffering 36
The Middle Path 37
Good Luck, Bad Luck 38
We Must Eat Time 39
The Bodhi Tree 43
Nirvana 45
Body Sick, Mind Well 46
Dharmayana 47
Mindfulness and Clear Comprehension 48
Meditations on Compassion
Making Peace 51
Think Before You Speak 53
Great Compassion 54
No Boundaries to Loving Kindness 55
Anger 58
Universal Love 59
Giving 61
We Are Our Temple 62
Peace Is Growing Slowly 64
Self-Determination 66
Who Is the Enemy? 68
The Human Family 70
Preserving Our Heritage 72
Building Bridges 74
Four Faces, One Heart 76
An Army of Peace 77
Love's Embrace 79
Each Step Is a Prayer 81

SAMPLE CHAPTER

I do not question that loving one's oppressors-Cambodians loving the Khmer Rouge-may be the most difficult attitude to achieve. But it is a law of the universe that retaliation, hatred, and revenge only continue the cycle and never stop it. Reconciliation does not mean that we surrender rights and conditions, but rather that we use love in all of our negotiations. It means that we see ourselves in the opponent-for what is the opponent but a being in ignorance, and we ourselves are also ignorant of many things. Therefore, only loving kindness and right mindfulness can free us.

Gandhi said, "The more you develop ahimsa in your being, the more infectious it becomes, until it overwhelms your surroundings and, by and by, it might oversweep this world!" We are each individually responsible for our own salvation and our own happiness. Through our service, we find a road to salvation. This service is nothing but our love for all beings and the uplifting of ignorance into light.

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