Unconditional Bliss: Finding Happiness in the Face of Hardship (Paperback)

Howard Raphael Cushnir

ISBN 10: 0835607925 / ISBN 13: 9780835607926

Published by Quest Books (IL), Wheaton, IL, 2000

About this Item

Paperback. An introduction to "Living the Questions." We can be happy in spite of hardship, heartbreak, or a job we hate. Pie-in-the-sky? This down-to-earth guy shows us how. When personal tragedy struck, Howard Cushnir already knew the Zen practice of staying in the moment. But he wasn't prepared for the gift of grace he received. One day, all but lost, he was suddenly suffused with a complete sense of well-being not a passing experience, but one available from then on. Paying close attention to the changes in his own inner states, Howard soon realised that feeling blissful is a choice we can always make, regardless of our circumstances. His message is profound, but his method couldn't be more practical. All we do is ask ourselves two simple questions. Finding happiness in the face of hardship is possible, as Cushnir describes from his own personal experiences. "Clear and practical, honest and wise. Howard Cushnir's questions can help us plumb life's mystery and joy".—Lama Surya Das, author of "Awakening the Buddha Within" Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability.

Seller Inventory # 9780835607926

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Unconditional Bliss: Finding Happiness in the Face of Hardship (Paperback)
• Publisher: Quest Books (IL), Wheaton, IL
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0835607925
• ISBN 13: 9780835607926
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: new

About this title

Synopsis

Finding happiness in the face of hardship is possible, as Cushnir describes from his own personal experiences. "Clear and practical, honest and wise. Howard Cushnir's questions can help us plumb life's mystery and joy".--Lama Surya Das, author of "Awakening the Buddha Within".

About the Author

Raphael Cushnir's road to bliss has been circuitous. He grew up in a San Fernando Velley suberb, where as a teenager he taught American literature to other teens in the short-staffed school district. After a decade of teaching and storytelling, Cushnir became an activist for the environment and human rights. He devised innovative media campaigns that included such celebrities as Madonna, Pearl Jam, Demi Moore and Michael J. Fox.

His passion for filmmaking led to an ongoing stint in Hollywood. He wrote, directed, and produced the Showtime movie, "Sexual Healing," staring Helen Hunt, Anthony Edwards, and Jason Alexander. The film was nominated for two Cable Ace awards and won Grand Prize at the Houston Film Festival. Designed by Cushnir as a not-for-profit venture, it raised over $30,000 for the Minority AIDS Project.

Cushnir has also written scripts for the Geffen Company, Warner Brothers, and Columbia Pictures. In addition, his articles have appeared in "Mother Jones" and the "LA Weekly", and his children's book, "The Secret Spinner", was published in 1985. With the advent of multimedia, Cushnir codesigned the $5 million techno-spiritual odyssey, Obsidian, which Gamezilla magazine called "the very best game in any genre."

The discovery that a state of bliss is always available came to Cushnir after a period of profound grief. He's not an "expert" in the traditional sense, nor does he claim the authority of any organized group or lineage. Instead, Cushnir's aim is simply to share the gift that was given to him. He's come to understand that bliss is possible for anyone, at any time, through the asking of two simple questions and a constant focus on direct experience. Cushnir is a student and practitioner of Vipassana and Taoist meditation.

Raphael Cushnir has shared his unique approach to personal growth and fulfillment with millions of readers in O magazine, beliefnet, and Spirituality and Health. He is the author of three previous books, lectures worldwide, and is a faculty member of the Esalen Institute, the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, and the Omega Institute for Holistic Studies. In addition, he coaches individuals and teams at Fortune 100 companies, governmental offices, religious organizations, and leading nonprofits.