Be an Island: The Buddhist Practice of Inner Peace

by Ayya Khema and Ayga Khema

Book Overview

From the best-selling author of Being Nobody, Going Nowhere , Ayya Khema's Be an Island guides us along the path of Buddhist meditation with direct and practical advice, giving us contemplative tools... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0861711475
• Release Date: March 1999
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications
• Length: 135 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 9.0" x 0.5" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Signpost to Nirvana

This book is beautifully written and is a pleasure to read. The author will take you down the gentle path of mindfulness in the present moment and teach you to overcome the mental formation you think of as yourself. This review can not do justice to this wonderful Buddhist book, buy it if your desire is to travel on the path to enlightenment. Ayya Khema was there and will help you along the way.

A Monastic Theravada Psychology

The author is a leading Theravada Bhikkhuni (Southern Buddhist ordained nun), an American citizen, born Jewish in WWII Germany. It is evident how much Buddhism means to her. She's been included in a number of anthologies (e.g. by Bhikshuni Lekshe Tsomo). The title is from the Maha Paranibbana Sutta: "abide as an island...loving the Dhamma as an island & refuge." Per Theravada, she uses Pali spellings vs. Sanskrit equivalents. The Library of Congress Cataloging data lists it as Buddhism-Psychological Aspects; it addresses several major psychological issues: p. 18: "eventually through practice, our intentions change & adapt themselves to the Dhamma." p. 29: "Motives are like icebergs-1/3 visible & 2/3 hidden." p. 43: "We confront ourselves in others [Jung calls this projection] p. 81: "Sometimes people think of the teaching as a sort of therapy, which it undoubtedly is, but that is not its ultimate aim." p. 93: "It's only an illusion that, through the presence of other people we confront the world around us. In reality, we are constantly meeting our own inner defilements or strengths. What goes on around us serves as a series of triggers for our reactions." p. 94: "if we feel a serious lack in ourselves, this will color our attitudes & reactions." p. 96: "cultivating love for ourselves ...makes it easy to be loving toward others." p. 97: "The holy life means becoming whole, of one piece." [Jung's individuation] p. 106: "more is not better." [scientifically the world is NOT linear] She also describes some Buddhist terms unfamiliar to me (as a student of Vajrayana): p. 117:3 kinds of liberation-signless (impermanence), wishless (suffering), & voidness (coreless) p. 126: path moment - provides valuable insight into Mahamudra (MM) & Dzogchen (Dz) mindfulness. She provides some insights into gratitude, contentment, & dependence on other people, but some of her statements seem a bit over the top to me-too much of a monastic worldview & a bit extreme for lay practitioners. For example, p. 42: "To look for love is a totally unsatisfactory & unfulfilling endeavor." p. 95: fear arises from hate [seems backwards to me]; we should love our breath, our cushion... p. 103: scratching & scarring the mind [interesting concepts, but a bit too black & white IMHO] p. 104: "sorrow, pain, grief, lamentation are all defilements. There is no rationale behind any of them." [what about empathy/compassion?; IMHO attachment is the problem, but then I have a MM/Dz view]. In some chapters she seems rather dogmatic (if not anal-retentive)-especially about precepts (reminds me of the 413 commandments of orthodox Jews). I cannot accept some of her statements: p. 113: happiness & peacefulness are synonymous; happiness & pleasure are opposites. How can one reconcile her guidance to be egoless but also self-loving? This book increased my understanding of Theravada, monastics, & even MM/Dz. Though I don't agree with some of it, I think thi

A True Gem of Sangha

If you are serious about learning Dhamma, go to the bookstore and buy all Ayya Khema's books. Based on her personal experiences, she was able to explain many hard-to-understand Dhamma concepts in plain and simple words that make you go "ah!" and "wow!". Simple yet profound, she was very strict to the original teaching of Buddha's Dhamma yet present it in a way that we modern people can understand without any difficulties. You don't have to worry about any water-downed psuedo Buddhism teaching you found in the bookstore today. She was a revolutionist when it comes to improving the status of women sangha in Theravada tradition, a credit to the Buddhasasana. I am thankful to be able to learn from her writing, must be my good kamma. If you are reading this review, don't let the good kamma slip away. Get this book and learn to be an island.

Wisdom and Insight Into Yourself

This marvelous little book gives hours of pleasure, confidence, and encouragement: as well as instant calming and vision for your spontaneous needs should you require immedicate assistance. I found it to provide guidance and inspiration on any occasion that presented itself-I had but to open randomly to any page. Here is only one example of its gifts: "Only one single moment exists, and that's the present one. The future is a figment of our imagination. When the future really happens it becomes the present." (This from the 'Nuts and Bolts' section.)I was raised Roman Catholic and I find so much value and love from these practices. I am learning to love myself as I have always been taught to love God but somehow missed the part about loving yourself. Sister Khema makes a bridge between religious gulfs, feminine issues, and meditation practices. She has masterfully put together Buddist teachings in so understandable a method that you come away from reading, even just a paragraph or two, with inspiration and love. I recommend this book to all my friends.Sincerely, Pat

Guided tour down the Noble Eightfold Path

Ayya Khema, who personified Theravada Buddhism in her meditative practice and compassionate life, leads you as if by hand to the isle of inner peace. Warmth and practicality permeate this book, which is more a teaching than a tour guide. Ayya Khema reveals important insights in such a way that you hardly notice you've been taken well down the Noble Eightfold Path. You arrive at the end of the journey ready to believe her final assertion: "There is no reason why an intelligent, healthy, committed person should not be able to attain [mindfulness] with patience and perseverance." Add this to your list of desert island readings.