A Mind at Home with Itself - by Byron Katie & Stephen Mitchell (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Internationally acclaimed, bestelling author Byron Katie's most anticipated work since Loving What Is

We live in difficult times, leaving far too many of us suffering from anxiety and depression, fear and anger. In her new and most anticipated work since Loving What Is, beloved spiritual teacher Byron Katie provides a much-needed beacon of light, and a source of hope and joy.

In A Mind at Home with Itself, Byron Katie illuminates one of the most profound ancient Buddhist texts, The Diamond Sutra (newly translated in these pages by Stephen Mitchell) to reveal the nature of the mind and to liberate us from painful thoughts, using her revolutionary system of self-inquiry called "The Work." Byron Katie doesn't merely describe the awakened mind; she empowers us to see it and feel it in action. At once startlingly fresh and powerfully enlightening, A Mind at Home with Itself offers us a transformative new perspective on life and death.

In the midst of a normal American life, Byron Katie became increasingly depressed and over a ten-year period sank further into despair and suicidal thoughts. Then one morning in 1986 she woke up in a state of absolute joy, filled with the realization of how her own suffering had ended. The freedom of that realization has never left her. Its direct result, The Work, has helped millions of people all over the world to question their stressful thoughts and set themselves free from suffering.

How can we end the cycle of painful thoughts and find the peace that is our birthright?

• The Work in Action: Discover Byron Katie's simple yet powerful method of self-inquiry--four questions that can radically shift your perspective on any stressful thought.
• Buddhist Philosophy for Today: Journey through a new translation of The Diamond Sutra and see how its profound teachings can illuminate the nature of your own mind.
• Freedom from Suffering: Learn a practical, repeatable process to free yourself from the anxiety, depression, and anger that arise from believing your thoughts.
• A Guide to Self-Inquiry: Follow Byron Katie's own story of awakening from a decade of despair to a life of unshakable joy, and learn how you can apply the same process to your own life.

Review Quotes

"A truly illuminating and lively hookup of revered ancient Zen Diamond Sutra teachings and a wild and clear-eyed modern sage. It will help you to question deeply, inspire your spirit, and awaken your understanding." - Jack Kornfield

A Mind At Home With Itself--the words of an ancient spiritual master illuminated by the words of a modern one--shows us that life beyond suffering is possible, and can take each reader's mind home to its singular, unique, immeasurably precious self." - Martha Beck

"A Mind at Home with Itself is a beautifully crafted book that points directly to the wisdom within us, the ultimate treasure that resides in the open heart and quiet mind--and it shows us exactly how to access it. Its insights sparkle and shimmer from every page, but they will remain like a beacon ." - Paul Hawken

"A Mind at Home with Itself points directly to the wisdom within us, the ultimate treasure that resides in the open heart and quiet mind--and it shows us exactly how to access it. Its insights sparkle and shimmer from every page." - Paul Hawken

"Katie is at home with her true self. There is both poetry and prose in her words as she guides and points us toward the peace that she is, and knows we are." - Jane Lynch

"Thoughts held without awareness can color your life and lead to misery. A Mind at Home with Itself is a door into who you already are and can be if you would only get out of your own way. Enter. And take up residency. Being at home is infectious." - Jon Kabat-Zinn

"Byron Katie has rocked my world and shaken loose my mind more thoroughly than any other spiritual teacher I've ever encountered, living or dead. Using her simple process called The Work, I have managed to liberate myself from thoughts and beliefs that had brought me years of suffering, and that I had honestly feared would never leave me. In her newest book, A Mind at Home with Itself, Katie offers us the rare gift of peering into a human mind -- her own -- that is truly at ease in the world, and absolutely relaxed in its own company. Stephen Mitchell's rare ability to help translate Katie's wisdom for the lay-reader makes this book both a pleasure and an adventure to read. I would recommend A MIND AT HOME WITH ITSELF to anyone like me -- in other words, to anyone who has ever felt like her own mind was a very dangerous neighborhood. This book may help you to learn how to feel safer and more comfortable wandering around that neighborhood all alone at night, no matter what thoughts arise. And that is something we could all use." - Elizabeth Gilbert, author of Eat, Pray, Love and Big Magic

"Byron Katie has rocked my world and shaken loose my mind more thoroughly than any other spiritual teacher I've ever encountered. I would recommend A MIND AT HOME WITH ITSELF to anyone like me--to anyone who has ever felt like her own mind was a very dangerous neighborhood." - Elizabeth Gilbert

"I think Byron Katie is just a real thing. I love her to death. She's pure and her intent is only to serve and she brings people back to reality so quickly. Teaches them not to believe their limiting thoughts and to question them and find the real truth." - Tony Robbins

"Byron Katie's work is a great blessing for our planet." - Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now