Throughout our lives we long to love ourselves more deeply and find a greater sense of connection with others. Our fear of intimacy-both with others and with ourselves-creates feelings of pain and longing. But these feelings can also awaken in us the desire for freedom and the willingness to take up the spiritual path. In this inspiring book, the author shows how the Buddhist path can help us discover the radiant, joyful heart within each one of us.

The Buddha described the nature of such a spiritual path as "the liberation of the heart, which is love." Drawing on simple Buddhist teachings, wisdom stories from various traditions, guided meditation practices, and her own experiences, the author shows how each one of us can cultivate love, compassion, joy,and equanimity-the four "heavenly abodes" of traditional Buddhism.

1. The Revolutionary art of Happiness
2. Relearning Loveliness
3. Facets of Lovingkindness
4. Hindrances to Lovingkindness
5. Working with Anger Aversion
6. Breaking open the loving Heart
7. Developing the Compassionate Heart
8. Liberating the mind through Sympathetic Joy
9. The Gift of Equanimity
10. The Power of Generosity
11. Living Our Love