The Pure Joy of Being An Illustrated Introduction to the Story of the Buddha and the Practice of Meditation

An illustrated introduction to the history of Buddhism through teachings on its relevance today and simple meditation practices.

There is only one moment in time when it is essential to awaken.
That moment is now.
—Buddha
 
The art of Buddhism beautifully depicts enlightened beings who demonstrate the practice of meditation yet, while deeply inspiring, art alone cannot teach one to meditate. In The Pure Joy of Being Fabrice Midal brings together traditional Buddhist art with enlightening text as a way to teach the tradition and practice of meditation. Filled with images of bodhisattvas and awakened beings who illustrate the possibility of freedom, alongside practical instruction, advice, and meditations for the everyday situations we face on a daily basis, this book is an accessible introduction to meditation and the wisdom of the Buddha’s teachings.

To meditate is to remain in the present moment with attention and benevolence, to remove the desire to manage everything, and to open yourself up to life and all that is possible. It’s as simple as that. And yet, meditating is not easy. What is true happiness? How can we overcome difficulties in life with courage? Can meditation help in today’s world? The Pure Joy of Being teaches that the goal of meditation is to turn us into beings that are more human, and capable of thinking, feeling, and loving better. It offers contemporary practices to set us on this path.

Fabrice Midal is a professor of philosophy at the University of Paris. He holds a doctorate in philosophy from the University of Paris, Sorbonne, and teaches the dharma in France and elsewhere in Europe. A practicing Buddhist in the tradition of Chögyam Trungpa, he is well known in Buddhist circles in France and has published books on religious topics with major French publishers, among them several titles on Tibetan Buddhism.