Wisdom Publications
How to Be Sick (Second Edition) : A Buddhist-Inspired Guide for the Chronically Ill and Their Caregivers
Regular price
$19.95
Shipping calculated at checkout.
How to Be Sick (Second Edition)
Author(s): Toni Bernhard
A brand-new edition of the best-selling classic with added and updated practices.
In 2001, Toni Bernhard got sick and, to her and her partner’s bewilderment, stayed that way. As they faced the confusion, frustration, and despair of a life with sudden limitations—a life that was vastly different from the one they’d thought they’d have together—Toni had to learn how to be sick. In spite of her many physical and energetic restrictions (and sometimes, because of them), Toni learned how to live a life of equanimity, compassion, and joy. This book reminds us that our own inner freedom is limitless, regardless of our external circumstances.
Updated with new insights and practices hard-won from Toni’s own ongoing life experience, this is a must-read for anyone who is—or who might one day be—sick or in pain.
Review(s):
"Beautiful, heartfelt, and immensely courageous. Truly worth reading."
"Full of hopefulness and promise…this book is a perfect blend of inspiration and encouragement. Toni's engaging teaching style shares traditional Buddhist wisdom in a format that is accessible to all readers."
“An invitation to gently set aside the fear and the fight in order to truly live.”
"An inspiring work."
“This is a book for all of us.”
“An immensely wise book. Health psychology has been poisoned by the view that the best way to approach illness is through a muscular, militant resistance. Toni Bernhard reveals how letting go, surrendering, and putting the ego aside yield insights and fulfillment even in the presence of illness. A major contribution.”
“Everyone should read this book—anyone who is sick, anyone who loves someone who is sick, and anyone who has ever experienced things being other than they’d hoped they would be. Toni Bernhard open- heartedly shares the deep pain and equally deep joy of her experience in a way that allows us to validate the pain of our own circumstances, and still find joy and contentment within any context.
She offers simple, deeply wise practices that reduce the suffering associated with grasping for things to be other than they are by allowing us to accept and enjoy things exactly as they are, including our own desire for something else. Her willingness to step fully into her life after it’s been dramatically narrowed by illness, and to share this process with us, inspires us each to live our own lives more fully, accepting the challenges that arise, and finding the joys inherent in each moment. Toni’s writing feels like a good friend, helping us cultivate compassion for ourselves and those around us, as we make our way through whatever life presents to us. Her honesty in sharing her struggles and setbacks helps us be kinder to ourselves as we experience our own. I plan to buy a copy for everyone I love.”
“A profound, compassionate, and intimate guide for living wisely.”
“When we lose our physical health, it can seem like we’ve lost our life. Toni Bernhard, with unflinching realness and deep insight, shows us how the fires of loss can clear the way for a new and profound capacity for appreciation, love, and understanding. This book can bring you more fully alive by healing your spirit.”
“Told with relentless honesty and clarity.”
“An encouraging book that treats sickness as something to welcome because, when you are sick, that is the obstacle that has to be your gate. This book is full of compassion about how to sit sweetly with your difficulties—which means not making yourself wrong for having difficulties.”
“Toni Bernhard offers a lifeline to those whose lives have been devastated by illness, and shows us all how to transform suffering into peace and even joy.”
“A roadmap to finding grace and balance amid affliction.”
“Practical, wise, and full of heart.”
“This warm and engaging book can help with even the most difficult situation.”
“How to Be Sick is a good friend to keep close by so that illness doesn’t become the enemy.”
“Don’t pass up this book—and don’t be misled by the title. This book isn’t about being sick as much as it as about living right now. This practical yet exceedingly graceful book is a love story—about life, the endurance of the human spirit, and the power of a sustaining relationship.”
“Living a life of peace and contentment is not difficult when life is cooperating—but what happens when the reality of our lives is suddenly turned upside down and shaken by hardship or affliction? This book is an inspiring and instructive guide for coping with a chronic condition or life- threatening illness but it is much more than that. Each chapter is about unpacking the highest truth in the lowest places of our lives. The book is called How to Be Sick but it’s really about how to live.”
“An intimate, gripping, profound, and eminently useful book about being joyfully and wisely alive no matter what happens to you.”
“Who would have thought that there is a ‘how to’ for being sick? But now there is! Deeply moving and impressive. I highly recommend her book as a must- read for anyone who is ill or caring for someone ill. Her gifts will transform you.”
“A warm and compassionate guide for navigating illness on a personal and practical level, a level physicians rarely see or discuss with their patients. The greatest compliment I could give this book is that I will be recommending it to all of my chronically ill patients as a guide for remaining happy even in the absence of good health.”
“A unique and creative adaptation of spiritual practice to the challenges of chronic illness. How to Be Sick is a wise, compassionate book that will help all of us live well.”
“Each of us finds our way to live with the challenges and uncertainty of illness. Toni Bernhard found a path that led to balance, wisdom, and love. She caringly points us to the possibility of finding happiness even in the midst of difficult conditions. That is a true gift.”
“An eloquent and compelling account. This book is a major achievement.”
“Very compelling—great teaching interwoven into the heartful human drama of family, illness, and day-to-day life.”
“A must-read with a solid dose of hope.”
“Readers need not be Buddhist or meditators to benefit from Toni’s wisdom.”
“You don’t have to be sick to benefit from the advice in this book. This is a book on how to live fully.”
ISBN: 9781614294788
Author(s): Toni Bernhard
A brand-new edition of the best-selling classic with added and updated practices.
In 2001, Toni Bernhard got sick and, to her and her partner’s bewilderment, stayed that way. As they faced the confusion, frustration, and despair of a life with sudden limitations—a life that was vastly different from the one they’d thought they’d have together—Toni had to learn how to be sick. In spite of her many physical and energetic restrictions (and sometimes, because of them), Toni learned how to live a life of equanimity, compassion, and joy. This book reminds us that our own inner freedom is limitless, regardless of our external circumstances.
Updated with new insights and practices hard-won from Toni’s own ongoing life experience, this is a must-read for anyone who is—or who might one day be—sick or in pain.
Review(s):
"Beautiful, heartfelt, and immensely courageous. Truly worth reading."
"Full of hopefulness and promise…this book is a perfect blend of inspiration and encouragement. Toni's engaging teaching style shares traditional Buddhist wisdom in a format that is accessible to all readers."
“An invitation to gently set aside the fear and the fight in order to truly live.”
"An inspiring work."
“This is a book for all of us.”
“An immensely wise book. Health psychology has been poisoned by the view that the best way to approach illness is through a muscular, militant resistance. Toni Bernhard reveals how letting go, surrendering, and putting the ego aside yield insights and fulfillment even in the presence of illness. A major contribution.”
“Everyone should read this book—anyone who is sick, anyone who loves someone who is sick, and anyone who has ever experienced things being other than they’d hoped they would be. Toni Bernhard open- heartedly shares the deep pain and equally deep joy of her experience in a way that allows us to validate the pain of our own circumstances, and still find joy and contentment within any context.
She offers simple, deeply wise practices that reduce the suffering associated with grasping for things to be other than they are by allowing us to accept and enjoy things exactly as they are, including our own desire for something else. Her willingness to step fully into her life after it’s been dramatically narrowed by illness, and to share this process with us, inspires us each to live our own lives more fully, accepting the challenges that arise, and finding the joys inherent in each moment. Toni’s writing feels like a good friend, helping us cultivate compassion for ourselves and those around us, as we make our way through whatever life presents to us. Her honesty in sharing her struggles and setbacks helps us be kinder to ourselves as we experience our own. I plan to buy a copy for everyone I love.”
“A profound, compassionate, and intimate guide for living wisely.”
“When we lose our physical health, it can seem like we’ve lost our life. Toni Bernhard, with unflinching realness and deep insight, shows us how the fires of loss can clear the way for a new and profound capacity for appreciation, love, and understanding. This book can bring you more fully alive by healing your spirit.”
“Told with relentless honesty and clarity.”
“An encouraging book that treats sickness as something to welcome because, when you are sick, that is the obstacle that has to be your gate. This book is full of compassion about how to sit sweetly with your difficulties—which means not making yourself wrong for having difficulties.”
“Toni Bernhard offers a lifeline to those whose lives have been devastated by illness, and shows us all how to transform suffering into peace and even joy.”
“A roadmap to finding grace and balance amid affliction.”
“Practical, wise, and full of heart.”
“This warm and engaging book can help with even the most difficult situation.”
“How to Be Sick is a good friend to keep close by so that illness doesn’t become the enemy.”
“Don’t pass up this book—and don’t be misled by the title. This book isn’t about being sick as much as it as about living right now. This practical yet exceedingly graceful book is a love story—about life, the endurance of the human spirit, and the power of a sustaining relationship.”
“Living a life of peace and contentment is not difficult when life is cooperating—but what happens when the reality of our lives is suddenly turned upside down and shaken by hardship or affliction? This book is an inspiring and instructive guide for coping with a chronic condition or life- threatening illness but it is much more than that. Each chapter is about unpacking the highest truth in the lowest places of our lives. The book is called How to Be Sick but it’s really about how to live.”
“An intimate, gripping, profound, and eminently useful book about being joyfully and wisely alive no matter what happens to you.”
“Who would have thought that there is a ‘how to’ for being sick? But now there is! Deeply moving and impressive. I highly recommend her book as a must- read for anyone who is ill or caring for someone ill. Her gifts will transform you.”
“A warm and compassionate guide for navigating illness on a personal and practical level, a level physicians rarely see or discuss with their patients. The greatest compliment I could give this book is that I will be recommending it to all of my chronically ill patients as a guide for remaining happy even in the absence of good health.”
“A unique and creative adaptation of spiritual practice to the challenges of chronic illness. How to Be Sick is a wise, compassionate book that will help all of us live well.”
“Each of us finds our way to live with the challenges and uncertainty of illness. Toni Bernhard found a path that led to balance, wisdom, and love. She caringly points us to the possibility of finding happiness even in the midst of difficult conditions. That is a true gift.”
“An eloquent and compelling account. This book is a major achievement.”
“Very compelling—great teaching interwoven into the heartful human drama of family, illness, and day-to-day life.”
“A must-read with a solid dose of hope.”
“Readers need not be Buddhist or meditators to benefit from Toni’s wisdom.”
“You don’t have to be sick to benefit from the advice in this book. This is a book on how to live fully.”
ISBN: 9781614294788