DANCING WITH LIFE
Finding Meaning and Joy in the Face of Suffering

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface by Ajahn Sumedho

Introduction:  My Dance with Life

Chapter 1 - Dancing Lessons: How to Use This Book

Chapter 2 - Mindfulness and Compassion: Tools for Transforming Suffering into Joy

BOOK ONE: THE FIRST NOBLE TRUTH

Chapter 3 Your Life is Inseparable from Suffering

Chapter 4 How Suffering Got a Bad Name

Chapter 5 Feeling the “Ouch” of Your Suffering

Chapter 6 The Call to Know that You Know

Chapter 7 The Opposite of Suffering is Not Happiness

BOOK TWO: THE SECOND NOBLE TRUTH

Chapter 8 There is a Cause of Your Suffering

Chapter 9 Why Do You Suffer?

Chapter 10 Imprisoned by Desire

Chapter 11 You're No Longer a Victim

Chapter 12 The Paradox of Desire

BOOK THREE: THE THIRD NOBLE TRUTH

Chapter 13 You Can End Your Suffering

Chapter 14 Tasting the Joy of Life’s Impermanence

Chapter 15 When the Dance Ends, Freedom Begins

Chapter 16 It’s Nothing Personal

Chapter 17 You Are Not Your Self

BOOK FOUR: THE FOURTH NOBLE TRUTH

Chapter 18 The Way to End Your Suffering

Chapter 19 An Integral Approach to Practice

Chapter 20 Developing Intention, Your Ally on the Path

Chapter 21 Now that You Know, What is It That You Know?

Chapter 22 The Courage to be Happy

Epilogue: The Call To Surrender Your Innocence

Appendix 1 The Twelve Insights of The Four Noble Truths

Appendix 2 Glossary

Appendix 3 Resources and Meditation Retreats

Acknowledgments

Index