Enlightenment to Go: Shantideva and the Power of Compassion to Transform Your Life

by David Michie

Essential reading for those seeking life-changing psychological tools and transcendent wisdom, Enlightenment to Go provides a lively and accessible introduction to the 'best of' Shantideva. With warmth, humor, and stories of his own experiences, author David Michie shows how modern psychological science confirms Shantideva's insights, and he explores powerful antidotes to contemporary problems, including stress, anxiety, and depression. Whether you are a newcomer to Buddhism or a seasoned practitioner, Enlightenment to Go offers a glimpse of a radiantly different reality right here in your busy life.

Genres: Buddhism, Spirituality, Nonfiction

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2010

About the author

David Michie is the internationally best-selling author of The Magician of Lhasa series, The Dalai Lama's Cat series, and several non-fiction titles on meditation and Buddhism. His books are published in over 30 languages and 50 countries.

In 2015 he established Mindful Safaris to Africa.

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Reviews

[Jarmila Lenyiova · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is quite transforming and can be valuable for everyone, religious or not. It shows a new - kind and compassionate way of approaching our life. And also helps to bring mindfulness into everyday life. For me, this is a very important and useful book.

[Olivia · Rating 4 out of 5]

I struggled to finish this book. I wanted to LOVE it and to embrace it. I still rated it four stars because I learned a lot about Buddhism, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t douse my drive a bit. I read David Michie’s Buddhism for Busy People which I loved. Enlightenment to Go is much deeper and, for me, made the practice of Buddhism seem less doable. For example, in Busy People although it strongly suggests having a teacher he wrote that the search may take up to ten years… kind of like “no sweat, take your time, find a good match (my words, not Michie’s)”. With Enlightenment to Go there seemed an urgency to find a teacher immediately… without one it was as if you won’t go anywhere. Both books emphasize action over academia but Enlightenment to Go was sterner.
Another point, there is an ease about Michie’s writing style that I thoroughly enjoy. I consider myself a slow reader, but I breeze through his. I also read his The Dalai Lama’s Cat series and highly recommend it for anyone who likes cats and wants to learn a little elementary Buddhism. It sprouted my interest.

[Mia Grama]

As it was my first read on Tibetan Buddhism, this book helped me expand my horizons on spirituality from this point of view. It was neither really basic info nor very complex and hard to comprehend, but rather a good starting point to learn about mindfulness and human ego. Also it has recommended meditation practice at the end of each chapter.

[Aarti]

Knowing others is wisdom, knowing yourself is Enlightenment.

Lao Tzu

Enlightenment to Go: The Classic Buddhist Path of Compassion and Transformation by David Michie was the book i was reading...

While browsing around the net for books by David Michie, i noticed that he has also written two other best sellers-Buddhism for Busy People and Hurry Up and Meditate.

Buddhism for Busy People seemed interesting- it is about David's encounter with Tibetan Buddhism, weaving an autobiographic narrative while presenting some basic concepts.. Sounds interesting, should give it a read!!

Ok, getting back to Enlightenment to Go- The book belongs to the Self help category, but unlike the other books in this genre, it does not go on preaching about life's lessons or morals.



It is all about an 8th century text by the Buddhist sage Shantideva, which The Dalai Lama consistently preaches and recommends too all simply because of the life changing psychological tools available and transcendent wisdom.

Quite an insightful exploration of the traditional Buddhist teachings , especially on compassion and human life, it shows us how we can apply these very basic fundas into our busy and contemporary lives.

For the last 30 years, the Dalai Lama in all his speeches and meetings, has recommended Shantideva's 'A Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life' as a must read for anyone interested in changing their life and applying Buddhist philosophy to daily life. But the challenge for many in following the 8th Century text is understanding the language and script, even though it is filled with treasure of information.

David provides a simple, lively and accessible guide to 'the best of' Shantideva. Sharing insights into his enthusiasm for Shantideva's radical insights, David has written the words by the Sage in his own language, reaching out to the millions who are keen on altering their lives. He draws from the variety of scientific sources, ranging from cognitive behaviour therapy to mindfulness training, quantum physics to neuro-psychology to elucidate how Shantideva's words are timeless and relevant even today.

The book also offers a very structured meditation program that will help readers integrate their life changing insights from a deeper level of consciousness which is when the change is will become visible and actually come into being. Narrating stories from his own journey, David illustrates the application of Shantideva's teachings to a typical Westerner who has a busy life, through warmth and a dash of humour. It does not matter if you are new to Buddhism or have been a seasoned practitioner, either ways Enlightenment to Go offers an insiders view and glimpse of a reality many dream of.

When you are on the last page, you truly understand why the Dalai Lama has been such an avid follower of Shantideva's words and teachings! Its a good read for those who are open to Buddhism or are already aware of the teachings, lessons and methods in Buddhism.

[Cha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book effectively fell into my lap rather than seeking it out. The title is not encouraging. Take-away spirituality, mmm tasty. I know little enough about Buddhism that it would be difficult not to learn at least something, but I don’t feel like I got much out of this. It’s not all bad, but there were a bunch of little things that didn’t sit right we me, such as an overly strong sense of positive and negative, and many topics oversimplified even for beginners. The author seems to have a very specific audience in mind, and made assumptions that don’t fit me or most of the people I know. Particularly in the earlier sections, he would make some effort to write inclusively but inevitably slip back into gendered, heteronormative language and examples. Depression is discussed in inconsistent, sometimes worrying ways. Several times it’s mentioned that antidepressant medications are affordable and accessible across our society, and other things that seem out of touch with the range of class and culture that really exists even here in Australia.

[Diane Kerner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I discovered David Michie through his Dalai Lama's Cat books and found it a delightful way to showcase Buddhist thinking. Enlightenment To Go focuses on cultivating compassion and the author uses personal anecdotes and other stories to help the reader grasp concepts that may be a bit murky for people who are not on this path to fully understand. Eventually, though, these stories fall by the wayside and I found myself reading a more typical text. I personally like to learn from other people's journeys rather than more of a lecture style. Still, I will continue to put David Michie up there with my favorite Buddhist authors. And I do want to mention that the exercises that follow each chapter are unique and accessible, illustrating core principles with simple practices.

[Rubina · Rating 4 out of 5]

Shantideva's Guide to the Bodhisattva's Way of Life has long been regarded as one of the great classics on Tibetan Buddhism. Enlightenment To Go is Michie's introduction to the best of Shantideva's teachings. Covering 75 stanzas (out of 800 stanzas) from Shantideva's Guide, Michie's easy to understand explaination of Buddhism philosophy makes this a wonderful read. He strives to explain the practices of non-attachment, compassion, patience, discipline, generosity, mindfulness, awareness and dedication as antidotes to the stress, anxiety, anger and unhappiness in our daily lives.
Whether you are new or already familiar with Buddhist teachings, this book would should still appeal.

[Ursula · Rating 4 out of 5]

"When it comes to true causes of happiness, love - the wish to give happiness to others - and compassion - the wish to free them from suffering - do seem to be the true causes" David Michie in Enlightenment to go.
This sentence summarises the book for me. Simply a beautiful book.

[Any Length · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant. This book helped me in a thousand ways and brought me so closer to my own spiritual path. I will be forever grateful to David Michie.

[Kate Wyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't like the title, but I found the introduction to the material wonderful, accessible and enlivening.

[Maggles · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5*