How to Be Sick : A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers

by Bernhard, Toni; Boorstein, Sylvia

• ISBN13: 9780861716265
• ISBN10: 0861716264
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2010-09-14
• Publisher: Wisdom Publications

Summary

This book will help and inspire those who must live with the challenges posed by any chronic illnesses, and their caregivers: the relentlessness of symptoms; coming to terms with a life of comparative isolation; weathering fear about the future; facing the judgment of others; dealing with the health care system; and, for a spouse, partner, or other caregiver, adapting to so many unexpected and sometimes sudden life changes. The book begins with the tale of how Toni Berhard got sick and, to her and her partner's bewilderment, stayed sick-detailing all the changes and losses that Toni had to experience as a result of her illness. Toni then goes on to describe how the teachings of the Buddha have taught her the spiritual practice of "how to be sick", meaning how to live a life of equanimity and joy despite her physical and energetic limitations. The chapters in Part Two offer simple practices, ranging from those that are traditionally Buddhist, to others Toni devised after she fell ill, as well as a chapter on the work of Byron Katie, whom Toni has found particularly helpful. The reader need not be a Buddhist to benefit from these practices, or from Toni's inspiring story.

Author Biography

Toni Bernhard was born and raised in Los Angeles. In 1982 she received a J.D. from U.C. Davis School of Law were she taught 1982 until 2004 when I retired due to the illness she writes about it How to Be Sick. From 1992-1998 She serve as the Dean of Students at the U.C. Davis law school. She live in Davis, CA with her husband Tony and their hound dog, Rusty.

Table of Contents

Foreword	p. ix
Preface	p. xiii
How Everything Changed
Getting Sick: A Romantic Trip to Paris	p. 1
Staying Sick: This Can't Be Happening to Me	p. 9
Accepting Pain
The Buddha Tells It Like It Is	p. 21
The Universal Law of Impermanence	p. 27
Who Is Sick?	p. 37
Finding Joy and Love
Finding Joy in the Life You Can No Longer Lead	p. 45
Soothing the Body, Mind, and Heart	p. 51
Using Compassion to Alleviate Your Suffering	p. 57
Facing the Ups and Downs of Chronic Illness with Equanimity	p. 73
Turnarounds and Transformations
Getting Off the Wheel of Suffering	p. 89
Tonglen: Spinning Straw into Gold	p. 97
With Our Thoughts We Make the World	p. 103
Healing the Mind by Living in the Present Moment	p. 111
What to Do When (It Seems) You Can't Do Anything	p. 121
Zen Helps	p. 127
From Isolation to Solitude
Communicating with Care	p. 139
The Struggle to Find Community in Isolation	p. 145
And in the End...	p. 159
A Guide to Using the Practices to Help with Specific Challenges	p. 165
With Gratitude	p. 179
Bibliography	p. 183
Index	p. 185
About the Author	p. 193
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