Sacred Art of Lovingkindness

Rami Shapiro, a renowned teacher of spirituality across faith traditions, is an award-winning storyteller, poet and essayist. He is author of The Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Preparing to Practice, Recovery—The Sacred Art: The Twelve Steps as Spiritual Practice and The Divine Feminine in Biblical Wisdom Literature: Selections Annotated & Explained (all SkyLight Paths), among other books.Rami Shapiro is available to speak on the following topics:Writing—The Sacred Art: Beyond the Page to Spiritual PracticeStop Playing God: 12 Steps as Spiritual PracticeBiblical Wisdom for Post-biblical Times: An Exploration of Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and JobThe Sacred Art of Lovingkindness: Cultivating Compassion in Daily LifeHasidic Wisdom: An Exploration of Hasidic Storytelling, Theology and Contemplative PracticeSaints and Sages: Biblical Prophets, Ancient Rabbis and the Building of a Just WorldMarcia Ford is a former editor of Christian Retailing magazine, an Explorefaith.org columnist and frequent contributor to Publishers Weekly. The author of eighteen books, including The Sacred Art of Forgiveness: Forgiving Ourselves and Others through God's Grace (SkyLight Paths); Memoir of a Misfit and Traditions of the Ancients, she was the religion editor of The Asbury Park Press for ten years. She is also a former editor with Charisma and Ministries Today magazines and the ibelieve.com website. Her other books include Meditations for Misfits; 101 Most Powerful Promises of the Bible and Restless Pilgrim: The Spiritual Journey of Bob Dylan (with Scott Marshall).

• ForewordIntroduction: What Is Lovingkindness?1. The Image and Likeness of God: Realizing the Divinity of Self, Realizing the Divinity of Others2. God as Creative Force: Cultivating Creativity3. Fearless Compassion: Harvesting Kindness through Compassionate Honesty4. Engaging Life through Grace: Being Present in the Moment5. Equanimity in the Moment: Making Room in Your Heart for Reality6. Acts of Kindness and Giving: Doing Right by Others7. The Truth of Our Story: Embracing the Paradoxical Truth of Not-knowing8. Preserving Kindness for the World: Remembering and Retelling Tales of Kindness9. Feelings and Forgiveness: Forgiving Iniquity, Forgiving Willfulness, Forgiving Error10. Cleansing Delusion to See Clearly: Recognizing Manifestations of God11. The Greatest Obstacle to LovingkindnessConclusion: An Invitation to Become a Hidden SaintNotesSuggestions for Further ReadingIndex of Prayers and PracticesAcknowledgments

"Powerful and rich … written so skillfully and accessibly that it will be read by peoples from all traditions. Opens for us the great beauty and necessity of kindness in the world today."—Roshi Joan Halifax, abbot, Upaya Zen Center“[A] masterpiece … a practical, inspiring, engrossing and very helpful ecumenical how-to based on the Jewish supermantra.”—Rabbi Zalman Schachter-Shalomi, author of First Steps to a New Jewish Spirit: Reb Zalman's Guide to Recapturing the Intimacy and Ecstasy in Your Relationship with God“Touches the very heart of spirituality. Its message has the ring of universal truth. Drawing from many traditions and faiths, [it] highlights the essence of all spiritual teachings and the secret of inspired living.”—Swami Adiswarananda, Minister and Spiritual Leader, Ramakrishna-Vivekananda Center of New York and author of The Vedanta Way to Peace and Happiness“A blessing—both as a book and as a roadmap for spiritual growth…. Renders the path of the heart clear and accessible with insight, wisdom, and humor. This may be my favorite book of all times.”—Joan Borysenko, PhD, author of A Woman’s Journey to God and Seven Paths to God