Six Pathways to Happiness

Why is it that all of us want to be happy, and yet we continue experience and cause ourselves distress? Are there specific skills that the wise have practiced for many centuries that helped them feel joyful and happy? Are these skills still relevant today? Can we learn them and apply them to our daily lives? Xiankuan has studied and practiced both Western psychological methods and Eastern meditative techniques. In the Six Pathways to Happiness, Xiankuan integrates Western psychology with ancient Buddhist wisdom. He presents six pathways: calming the mind, cultivating clear insight, improving loving-kindness and compassion, deepening concentration, maturing our wisdom, and being of benefit to all beings. This is the first of three volumes in which Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is shown to be supported by Chinese Buddhist practices. In addition, Xiankuan discusses the etymology of basic Chinese characters in order to help the reader literally picture how ancient masters understood the world.