You Were Born for a Reason
As human beings, we have one thing in common: we search all our lives for lasting happiness. YOUR WERE BORN FOR A REASON tells us that happiness can indeed be found. But it is not found in the place we ordinarily look, such as status, achievements, or family. This book, which has sold nearly half a million copies since its original publication in Japan, shows us how to navigate life's obstacles from a deep and abiding source of inner peace. The authors―a Buddhist teacher, a psychotherapist, a...
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As human beings, we have one thing in common: we search all our lives for lasting happiness. YOUR WERE BORN FOR A REASON tells us that happiness can indeed be found. But it is not found in the place we ordinarily look, such as status, achievements, or family. This book, which has sold nearly half a million copies since its original publication in Japan, shows us how to navigate life's obstacles from a deep and abiding source of inner peace. The authors―a Buddhist teacher, a psychotherapist, a philosopher―bring their combined wisdom to bear on the age-old question: what is the purpose of life? They direct us toward answers contained in often-overlooked Buddhist teachings―specifically, in the words of Shinran, who is the founder of Jodo Shinshu, the largest of Japan's schools of Buddhism. In clear and compelling language, YOU WERE BORN FOR A REASON shows why human life is not only meaningful, but infinitely precious. It considers the many ills that plague modern society―suicide, murder, angst, a constant sense of futility―and guides us to the enduring truths that can renew our hearts and finally provide real happiness. CONTENTS: The Eternal Questions. Shinran's Answer/ The Root Cause of Suffering/ The Dark Mind: The Source of Suffering/ The Mind Shrouded in Ignorance/ The Dark Future Casts a Shadow on the Present/ The Tragedy at Rajagrha and the Vow of Amida/Shinran's Fulfillment of Life's Purpose/ Shinran's Masterwork Begins and Ends with a Cry of Joy/ The Clash over Whether or Not Life Has a Purpose/ The Key to the Mystery of Why We Live/ Turning a Blind Eye to Ourselves/ The Difficulty of Knowing Oneself/ Revelation of the True Self,etc.
Introduction ixThe Human ConditionThe Fragility of Happiness 3The Infinite Preciousness of a Single Human Life 9Living Simply for the Sake of Living 15Temporary Pleasures 17Work, Work, Work 23Joy Itself Can Bring Sorrow 27Satisfaction Just Beyond Reach 33The Vast Immovable Wall of Death 37The Words of ShinranThe Eternal Questions 47Shinran's Answer 51The Root Cause of Suffering 53The Dark Mind: The Source of Suffering 59The Mind Shrouded in Ignorance 63The Dark Future Casts a Shadow on the Present 67The Tragedy at Rajagrha and the Vow of Amida 71Shinran's Fulfillment of Life's Purpose 85Shinran's Masterwork Begins and Ends with a Cry of Joy 91The Clash over Whether or Not Life Has a Purpose 95The Key to the Mystery of Why We Live 99Turning a Blind Eye to Ourselves 103The Difficulty of Knowing Oneself 107Revelation of the True Self 113The Universal Desire for Fame and Fortune 117The Evil Within 125Poisoned Good 131Confronting the Self 135The Real Meaning of Evil 139The Path to Rebirth in Paradise 145Knowledge of the World to Come 151A World Where Mind and Words Fail 157The Changes That Are Brought by Salvation 161Lamenting the Deviations and the Purpose of Life 167The Path of No Hindrance 175The Universal Purpose of Life 179Knowing the Difference Between the Purpose and Means of Living 185How Shinran Lived After Attaining the Purpose of Life 191Afterword 199Notes 201Glossary 209Bibliography 215Index 221
