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I Give You My Life by Khema, Ayya (2000) Paperback Paperback – January 1, 1722
- PublisherShambhala
- Publication dateJanuary 1, 1722
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Product details
- ASIN : B00ZLWXDJM
- Publisher : Shambhala (January 1, 1722)
- Customer Reviews:
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Customer reviews
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- Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2024Really touched me.
- Reviewed in the United States on March 25, 2018Really enjoyed the book about a true meditator
- Reviewed in the United States on August 1, 2018Wow! What an inspiration?
- Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2021Shallow
- Reviewed in the United States on August 29, 2016All the above have turned out well. My husband likes the Depend products.
- Reviewed in the United States on October 14, 2015I purchased this book just over the past weekend in order to read on a cross country flight. The compelling details of Ayya Khema's early life set the stage for her later development into one of the west's wisest and most influential Buddhist teachers. This book reads easily in that the factual details of her life are laid out in quite straightforward fashion, but the details themselves are so unusual, so compelling, that even with her conversational style of writing the narrative is thick with deep, brilliant, and sometimes dark colors.
Some may see her life as that of a survivor, and certainly she survived traumas that many would have folded under. Yet, more than survival, she speaks to a journey of inquiry and a passion for pushing the limits of human adventure and existence that lead her to pursue what was, to her, the most meaningful path she could pursue: that of a Theravada nun (Bhikkhuni) and teacher.
This is a book for Theravada practitioners and for Buddhists seeking to understand the path of one of the west's most compelling teachers. Yet, I plan to send this copy to my daughter at college to read..for this book is the narrative of a woman who courageously "leaned in" before the term was made popular, and despite her curious adventures through countries, marriages and lay family life, later left a legacy as a teacher with but a few equals in the west.
- Reviewed in the United States on June 10, 2007I have read all of Ayya Khemas other books and many of her Dhamma talks on Buddhanet.net but this book is written from the heart of Ayya Khema descibing her and her family's incredible journey from Nazi Germany to Shanghai, to US then to South America and finally her journey to the far east and back to Germany where she established Buddha Haus. This is such a well written book that I simply could not put it down and felt her genuine sense wanting to give us her life on every page. I felt connected to sister Khema from the first to last page. I highly recommend it. Floyd in Idaho
- Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2005Ilse Kussel's, life covers over half of this autobiographical book, the remainder is the life of Ayya Khema; both lives are well worth reading.
The 'death' of Ilse (and the birth of Ayya Khema and the love for the children) is connected with letting go of her two children. She writes beautifully:
"My love for them did not depend on their being alive; on their living the way I wanted them to; on from their side, feeling connected to me, on their being grateful to me, or on their being 'well-behaved'. All that no longer mattered."
This for me is the highlight in the book; what follows in the life of Ayya with her teaching and with the establishment of various monasteries and centres was made possible by this kind of detatchment.
Top reviews from other countries
- Pauline K LeongReviewed in Canada on May 23, 2017
5.0 out of 5 stars An execellent book
I am truly inspired by her writing about her extraordinary life and her hard work to spread the teachings of the Buddha globally. The book is filled with insights and wisdom. I feel her spiritual drive and generosity to share her experiences with anyone who ones to listen and practice the dharma.
- adele redfernReviewed in the United Kingdom on January 25, 2015
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing.
Love, love, love it. This woman was amazing and she leaves me stunned by her life and how she has managed it. She writes simply and clearly and I found very engaging and was drawn into her life so much that I couldn't put it down. She includes some Buddhist teachings but nothing is heavy or pushed down your throat so I think that even non Buddhists would enjoy this book.
- Rob HearneReviewed in the United Kingdom on August 13, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Fascinating and fruitful life of a Buddhist nun.
An interesting read. I liked her emphasis on the practice of jhana in meditation... although such states are not easy to achieve!
- jasonhuReviewed in Canada on January 3, 2014
5.0 out of 5 stars The book is very helpful for anyone to persue spirital improvement
I found the book informative with the author's own cultivation quest and path, which can help others to understand better how to start on spiritual development.
- owlReviewed in the United Kingdom on December 29, 2016
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Fascinating