Love's Garden: A Guide to Mindful Relationships

By Larry Ward and Peggy Rowe-Ward

A collection of real-life Buddhist love stories, with commentary and guided exercises for couples--with a fresh new cover

Love's Garden illustrates how Buddhist principles can help couples navigate any stage of their relationship. Authors Peggy Rowe-Ward and Larry Ward--senior students and ordained Dharma teachers in the tradition of Zen Master Thich Nhat Hanh--developed exercises for couples and share them here alongside personal stories from couples of a range of different ages and experiences.

It took the authors some good living and good loving before they realized that the love that they were seeking was already present and available in the depths of their hearts and mind. Love does not depend on anything that is happening "Out There" and is not dependent on anything "he" or "she" might do. It depends on our own willingness to look within and to act. This insight is a result of practicing the teachings of the Buddha on right diligence and right effort. The authors have been studying and practicing with Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh and they are happy to report that the practices work.

"The practice is not difficult. We simply need to get in touch with and nourish the practices that are helping us to experience peace. And then we need to stop doing the things that keep us from experiencing peace." --Dr. Larry Ward

Foreword by Thich Nhat Hanh

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1888375736
• ISBN13: 9781888375732
• Release Date: May 2008
• Publisher: Parallax Press
• Length: 206 Pages
• Weight: 0.61 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.1"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful Read, Transformational Energy!

Love's Garden is written by two master gardeners: Peggy Rowe Ward and Larry Ward. In a brilliant writing style, they weave in solid mindfulness practices and share sweet, personal examples. "Mindful Relationships" is a missing link in the mindfulness world. With their teacher, Thich Nhat Hanh giving the introduction, the book begins with loving, dynamic energy. As a therapist, yoga teacher and mindfulness meditation practicioner, I have found this book to be nothing less than outstanding in its substance and process. I bow to these fine teachers!

Thank you for this gem of a book!

This is a lovely book. It is full of genuine wisdom from the authors Peggy Rowe and Larry Ward. I also really enjoyed the little gems artfully inserted from various teachers of other sprititual paths. This is a book I'll enjoy sharing with the people I love and to read again and again.

practical advice for creating loving relationships

Though I feel I have a successful relationship with my husband of 21 years, the teachings and exercises in this book gave me many "aha" moments. The depth of wisdom and the personal connection the authors exhibit through their sharing is inspiring and motivates me to work more consciously with my own relationships. Stories from many others highlight the messages and guidelines in the book. Great for those new to consciously creating deep, intimate relationships and also for those who have been at it for a long time. Would be wonderful to use as a study guide in a group setting.