“It is a misunderstanding to think that the practice of meditation is merely a method for relieving stress and achieving peace for oneself alone,” writes Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche. “Begin your meditation with a generous attitude. Each time you sit down to meditate, make your meditation an offering for all beings.” This wisdom that takes us out of the ego mind and away from seeking to reap rewards and peace only for oneself is only one of the many sage pieces of advice that Rinpoche has to offer. Shyalpa Tenzin Rinpoche was born in the foothills of the Himalayas and was trained as a Tibetan Buddhist. His book, Living Fully seeks to offer his years of learning and experience in simple and clear prescriptions for everyday living.

“Our lives will not be truly satisfying if we cannot live each moment deliberately and grasp the essence of our precious human nature,” he writes. Savoring the moment, he says, is the antidote to desiring and craving more and more things that lead to little or no real satisfaction in life. He describes the purpose behind meditation – to acquire a certain equanimity that protects against life’s roller coaster ride that drags us unnecessarily into its sometime extreme ups and downs. “When you practice meditation, the trials and tribulations – the highs and lows – of your day-to-day life will not disturb you too much, since your body and mind will be more relaxed. There will be a more intimate connection between your meditation practice and whatever comes up in your life.” Rinpoche’s way to “living fully” is not to escape from the trials of life, but to live in the moment and embrace life while realizing its transient nature.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary, dreamer and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.