The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True CallingAn inspiring guide to finding your life's purpose--what spiritual teachers call dharma--through mindfulness and self-exploration. Stephen Cope says that in order to have a fulfilling life you must discover the deep purpose hidden at the very core of your self. The secret to unlocking this mystery, he asserts, can be found in the pages of a two-thousand-year-old spiritual classic called the Bhagavad Gita--an ancient allegory about the path to dharma, told through a timeless dialogue between the fabled archer, Arjuna, and his divine mentor, Krishna. Cope takes readers on a step-by-step tour of this revered tale and highlights well-known Western lives that embody its central principles--including such luminaries as Jane Goodall, Walt Whitman, Susan B. Anthony, John Keats, and Harriet Tubman, along with stories of ordinary people as well. If you're feeling lost in your own life's journey, The Great Work of Your Life may help you to find and to embrace your true calling. Praise for The Great Work of Your Life "Keep a pen and paper handy as you read this remarkable book: It's like an owner's manual for the soul."--Dani Shapiro, author of Devotion "A masterwork . . . You'll find inspiration in these pages. You'll gain a better appreciation of divine guidance and perhaps even understand how you might better hear it in your own life."--Yoga Journal "I am moved and inspired by this book, the clarity and beauty of the lives lived in it, and the timeless dharma it teaches."--Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart "A rich source of contemplation and inspiration [that] encourages readers . . . to discover and fully pursue their inner self's calling."--Publishers Weekly "Fabulous . . . If you have ever wondered what your purpose is, this book is a great guide to help you on your path."--YogaHara |
Contents
ONE The Four Pillars of Dharma | 7 |
Trust in the Gift | 25 |
Think of the Small as Large | 39 |
Listen for the Call of the Times | 52 |
Find Out Who You Are and Do It on Purpose | 72 |
Unify | 89 |
Practice Deliberately | 106 |
Let Desire Give Birth to Aspiration | 134 |
Turn the Wound into Light | 179 |
Walk by Faith | 213 |
Take Yourself to Zero | 232 |
Epilogue | 250 |
Notes | 257 |
106 | 267 |
Permissions | 271 |
When Difficulties Arise | 157 |
Other editions - View all
The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling Stephen Cope Limited preview - 2012 |
The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling Stephen Cope Limited preview - 2015 |
The Great Work of Your Life: A Guide for the Journey to Your True Calling Stephen Cope No preview available - 2015 |
Common terms and phrases
action Alzheimer's Annie Dillard Anthony Arjuna aversion became become Beethoven began begin Bhagavad Gita Brian bring called cancer conflict consciousness Corot courage course creative death deliberate practice dharma dharma story discovered Divine doubt dream early Easwaran Ellen energy Ethan everything experience faith fear feel finally Follow the drinkin freedom fulfillment Gandhi genius gift grasping Harriet Tubman heart Henry David Thoreau human ibid imagined inner Jane John Keats journey Katherine Keats's knew Kripalu Krishna Krishna's teaching later learned live Lonny look mantra Marion Woodman Mark master Maynard Solomon mind move nature never night painting poem poet poetry quoted Rama realized Robert Frost says slaves sonata form soul spiritual suffering Susan talked Tao te Ching things thought transformation true truth turned understand Walden walk Walt Whitman whole writing wrote yoga yogi York young