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Handbook for Hard Times

A monk's guide to fearless living

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Handbook for Hard Times

By: Gelong Thubten
Narrated by: Gelong Thubten
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About this listen

 'Thubten is a very generous and kind monk who writes with the lived honesty and humour of someone who has experienced the wisdom he shares. His writing is full of inspiration but also the pragmatism needed to form a sustainable practice. He clearly illustrates why we all need meditation and mindfulness in our lives.'- Benedict Cumberbatch

From the author of the Sunday Times bestseller A Monk's Guide to Happiness, this audiobook aims to help listeners discover a creative, transformative approach to dealing with life's challenges and difficulties.

We all go through hard times. We can experience moments when life feels like an uphill struggle, leading to unhappiness and stress. Perhaps we are feeling sad, anxious, or struggling to deal with something bigger, such as a bereavement, a loss, a painful ending or a broken heart. It is during these challenging times that we could do with some help with our thoughts and feelings.

In HANDBOOK FOR HARD TIMES The Sunday Times bestseller Gelong Thubten will guide us to understand that happiness, kindness and resilience can be cultivated through embracing life's difficulties as opportunities for transformation. Meditation and mindfulness practices help us to access deep reserves of inner strength as we learn how to 'lean into' our suffering. Thubten suggests how we can find meaning in pain and discomfort, transforming deeply ingrained patterns of fear and resistance.

As we discover how hard times can enhance the development of mindfulness, compassion and forgiveness, we can develop a fearless outlook on life and lasting, unshakeable happiness.

This approachable and practical audiobook is designed for modern times, and will be a valuable resource to anyone during times of struggle, but also during all times to encourage and build resilience and help us find inner contentment and peace.

(P) 2023 Hodder & Stoughton Limited©2023 Gelong Thubten Buddhism Personal Development Personal Success Spirituality Meditation Mindfulness Happiness

Critic reviews

A powerful, personally revelatory, but above all a practical book about how to deal with adversity. This
guide to survival by a Buddhist monk with a troubled back story is the real deal. (Melanie Reid)
Through his own personal experience of transformation from crippling anxiety and depression, Gelong Thubten is a most qualified guide in the journey from darkness and turmoil towards inner peace and positivity. At a time when many of us are experiencing a 'new level of societal fear', everyone can absolutely benefit from this accessible and supportive life handbook. (Annie Lennox - Singer, songwriter and activist)
No one is more brilliant at bringing you out of the dark and into the light. (Ruby Wax)
This is a timely and practical guide to help us navigate the fear and challenges of the times upon us. Uplifting and empowering! (Mo Gawdat)
This book helps us with one of the most important aspects of our time and human existence - how we can go inside ourselves to find peace, happiness and learn about ourselves. Only by going inwards and becoming comfortable with all our emotions can we enjoy life more and enhance our contributions to the world. It is written in such an enticing and accessible manner that it really is indispensable for this journey we should all take into ourselves. (Andrew Bovarnick, Global Head, Food and Agricultural Commodity Systems, United Nations Development Programme)
This is the anti-self-help book that everyone should be reading. Thubten shows us that life's most important lessons are often hard won, and that embracing these experiences, while difficult, offers a path to freedom. A courageous book that inspires by example. (Ashish Ranpura, MD, PhD, Clinical neurologist and cognitive neuroscientist)
All stars
Most relevant
I was waiting a very long time for this release and it didn’t disappoint! Excellent audiobook!
I have the first book as well and I have listened to that audiobook many times . Thank you for your wisdom .

Handbook for hard times

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Buy it and enjoy! Worth highlighting that Thubten narrates the text and guides a mediation at the end of the individual chapters. The bonus of the audible version is that after chapter 10 he has provided a rerun of the ten meditations, making them easy to find as they are also marked as separate chapter numbers - but then includes another dozen little meditations to further expand his teachings and provide deeper practice. His voice, like a trusted friend, takes you through these beautifully simple to more involved mediations. Each meditation holds space of silent intervals with gentle reminders to come back to ourself…rather than the wander into the backdrop of chattering thoughts anxieties.

I’ve adopted listening to my favourites for a while each morning. Even though I do meditate, these are a nice support and good change of routine. There are a few on sickness and it’s acceptance …. useful for anyone, regardless of their current health because it’s appearance in our lives is almost inevitable, as he points out.
It really goes without saying the book is excellent. Grounding, balancing and reassuring just like a good handbook. A straightforward story from a real person with experience of all the same demons and fears as the rest of us. He has chosen to share his wisdom and journey, a personal mixture of accepting and overcoming.

Like leaning on an old friend

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so helpful will use. again & again thank you. so glad I have found you. 💕

compassion & honesty

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Loved this and it came to me at the perfect time - listened twice back to back.

Loved this. Narrated so beauty.

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I loved everything about this book and I’ve booked to see the author speak in Taunton. Brilliant

The authors voice and the clarity of the spoken word

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