The Art of Serenity The Path to a Joyful Life in the Best and Worst of Times

We all face adversity, both man-made and natural. How do we survive the loss of a loved one, a betrayal, illness, even impending death, and still find meaning in our lives? Even a "normal" life can seem empty, in spite of material possessions, success, power, and pleasure. In our search for fulfillment and meaning, we work through our past and present conflicts, cuddle our inner child, and redesign our outer adult. We attend workshops on life and secular spirituality and explore the comforts of traditional religion. We get married and divorced, experiment with drugs and alcohol, change jobs. And while our restlessness and unease may abate temporarily, the hollow feeling that there is something missing always returns.In his profound and accessible work,The Art of Serenity: The Path to a Joyful Life in the Best and Worst of Times,Dr. T. Byram Karasu offers us the key to an extraordinary state of mind -- authentic, soulful happiness -- in the face of everything our life has to offer and take away. The door to this state of mind is opened by a combination of soul and spirit. It involves the soul through the love of others, love of work, and the love of community. It involves the spirit through belief in the sacred and belief in transformation. It culminates in the love of and belief in God. Brilliantly synthesizing psychology and spirituality, Dr. Karasu will guide you to explore the deepest yearnings of your heart.There is no end to the journey to real happiness; there is no best place to start or best time to begin. So where and when to start? Start here, where you are, and start now.

T. Byram Karasu, M.D., Silverman Professor and the University Chairman, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Psychiatrist-in-Chief of Montefiore Medical Center, is the author or editor of twelve books, including the seminal Treatments of Psychiatric Disorders. He is currently the editor in chief of the American Journal of Psychotherapy and a Distinguished Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. Dr. Karasu is a scholar, renowned clinician, teacher, and lecturer, and the recipient of numerous awards, including the American Psychiatric Association's Presidential Commendation. He lives in New York City and Westport, Connecticut.

Contents

Acknowledgments

Introducti

THE WAY OF SOUL IS LOVE

The Love of Others

The Love of Work

The Love of Belonging

THE WAY OF SPIRIT IS BELIEVING

Believing in the Sacred

Believing in Unity

Believing in Transformation

THE WAY OF GOD IS BELIEVING AND LOVING

Secular Apostle

Believing in God: Believing in Something Greater Than the Human Dimension

Believing in the Existence of God in the Form of Absence

The Love of God

The Love of Divine Law

Epilogue: Untying the Ends, Fallibly

Sources