The Doors of Joy: 19 Meditations for Authentic Living

In Odier’s (Tantric Quest) newest, the Zen and Tantric Buddhist master offers brief yet expansive meditations for breaking out of routines of habit and working towards living authentically with others and with one’s self. For Odier, people live seemingly happy lives of pleasant self-deception that are created out of fear of the unknown and love for the predictable. He shows readers the possibility of embracing a life of spontaneity and deep, organic joy. Each meditation focuses on a different aspect, touching on how readers can begin, for example, embracing insecurities, practicing compassion, dropping opinions, and being present in the moment. Questions for reflection on preconceptions and everyday lives follow the themes of the meditation. Included with these meditations are short instructions for deepening awareness of the breath. Odier dares readers to be uncomfortable and insecure in the chaos of human existence, where they can learn to be pliant and present rather than rigid and distracted. This sort of authentic living, for Odier, would allow readers to swim with the tides of life instead of against its crashing waves. (Feb.)