The Life We Are Given (Inner Workbook) [Englisch] [Taschenbuch]

People have been writing manuals for transformation for millenia. One only needs to pick up a copy of the Dhammapada or the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali to find instructions for self-transformation that go back as far as civilized man. A trip to the bookstore can show you that this certainly hasn't changed- self-help books on the shelves today range from the practical ("Achieve Optimal Health in Eight Weeks!") to the unlikely ("Pick Winning Lotto Numbers Every Time!") to the downright wacky ("Awaken your Gerbil's Psychic Powers!"). Many of these books promise change and transformation in a short period of time... a few days or weeks. Instant enlightenment.

Michael Murphy and George Leonard have been watching and inspiring the human potential movement (the fountainhead for the "instant enlightenment" approach) for decades- in fact, they gave the movement it's name. And, in the four decades that have passed since Murphy founded his world-famous Esalen Institute, they've learned an important lesson: there is no quick fix. No instant moksha, no express nirvana, no overnight transformation. Real change takes years or decades of intensive work. To this end, they have founded a new kind of practice for a real new age: Integral Transformational Practice, or ITP- which is introduced in "The Life We Are Given".

ITP is not a seminar, it's not a weekend retreat. You have to be willing to give up, evolve, and let the chips fall where they may. Moreover, you have to be willing to engage in intensive practice over long periods of time- years, at least. Combining a set of physical exercises based upon akaido, tai chi, and yoga, an aerobic and weightlifting regimen, a simple vegetarian diet, meditation, affirmations, visualization, philosophical and spiritual study, and community work, ITP practitioners can make changes in their lives that they never thought possible. Physical changes, improvements in health and fitness, reversing diseases and age-related ailments, improving emotional health and learning ability, and attaining spiritual states of mind are all possible for a practitioner who is willing to work dilligently and intelligently at the practice. Whole new worlds of opportunity are availiable by living the balanced yet aggressively evolutionary lifestyle proposed in "The Life We Are Given".

Recommended as companion volumes to tLwaG are Ken Wilber's "Sex, Ecology, Spirituality" (an important text on evolutionary psychology and philosophy with a focus on transformation), George Leonard's "Mastery", and Michael Murphy's "The Future of the Body". They are all excellent guides to the integral paradigm.

Good luck, and good journeys!

Despite all of the respect I have for Leonard and Murphy with their theoretical work in various fields and their other books, I found "The Life We are Given" to be two things: a simple, and somewhat effective practice, and prematurely self-congratulatory.

Before reading on, if you are someone who is looking for a way to transform your life and to create new and healthy habits--if you don't already have a practice of your own--I DO recommend this book. The program is simple, logical and very encouraging. Not to mention it's simply a great place to start.

The book is basically a concoction of meditation, Yoga, fitness, affirmations, and a healthy diet. Obviously these are things you can practice on your own, seperately, but I suppose the ITP is a convenient way to combine these if you're unfamiliar with them otherwise.

Now for my problems with the book.

1) Despite having an acute interest in transpersonal practice, meditation, yoga, and other "spiritual" disciplines, my "New Age" radar goes off a few times during this book. Even though things like visualization and affirmations can be effective, they're just as effective in different mental forms...i.e., not so sugar-coated. I may be splitting hairs here, but I prefer my practice to be described to me in terms that will make sense beyond "your hand cares for your heart."

2) The other qualm is the self-congratulatory tone of the book. Murphy and Leonard are amazing men, who have contributed a lot, but they seem to stand on a pedestal here as if they've stumbled across something groundbreaking, when its not. The ITP is simply a recipe of practices that already exist on their own and that CAN be practiced on their own. And at the risk of sounding a bit pompous, it doesn't take a genius to decide they want to engage in healthy growth in mind, body and soul on their own.

So I reiterate, if you are looking for a positive change in your life (body, mind, and soul), and are not currently practicing anything and know very little about these practices, then this is a relevant book. Otherwise, the book says nothing that hasn't been said before. On top of that, the authors sound like they think it's never been said before, which is obnoxious.

The techniques and philosphy found in the Life We Are Given are simple, challenging and profound. After reading the book I was priviliged to join in the practice described in detail in the book with one of the authors, George Leonard at the Aikido Dojo he cofounded in Mill Valley. If you are serious about integrating spirit,mind and body while you are at work in our hyped up society, you will find this book to be invaluable.It is all about being purposeful in your personal growth. Leonard has created a video tape that makes the practice ( a combination of aikido, yoga, meditation, guided imagery)easy to learn and make your own. Now in his 70s, Leonard and his co author Murphy continue to be pioneers and leaders in helping people realize their full human potential.