Wonderful alternative guide to dating in this day and age.June 23, 2006 9 out of 11 found this review helpful
This book was recommended to me by a good friend, and I'm very glad that I heeded her advice. This brilliant little guide offers the reader practical strategies on how to address dating in a positive, loving and undefensive manner. The Buddha's approach truly doesn't require us to compromise the self by trying too hard to manipulate, impress or change who we are just to attract who we want - The Buddha only wants us to be ourselves, nothing more, nothing less. I especially want to underscore the chapter about identifying "bottom lines" - these are behaviors that you just can't accept from people you date or boundaries that guide you in the dating process so as not to keep on repeating the same mistakes over and over again. Bravo! This book + Harville Hendrix's Keeping the Love You Find give the single person an effective combo that would certainly improve their dating skills, preferences and ultimately, their future relationships!
A must read!June 7, 2006 2 out of 5 found this review helpful
This book is a bit hard to follow at times simply because the concepts are those that are so foreign in our society today. As you get more comfortable with the content, the true message of this book flows right from the page, directly to the soul...
Good Stuff!
Alternative way of looking at dating relationships in the 21st centuryMay 16, 2006 10 out of 11 found this review helpful
This book certainly contains alternative ways of looking at dating/relationships. While I agree that "If the Buddha Dated" is a very catchy title, this book is not solely written with the basis of Buddhism. Instead, it is a mix between Buddhism and Sufism, which both holds the philosophy of non-judgment, love, compassion and understanding.
When we judge this book base on the title, slipping into, "How dare the author use the word Buddha, such a spiritual figure, to convey her dating philosophy", we had already missed the whole point of reading this book. I know, Siddhartha never dated because his marriage was arranged. But if we read a little bit more carefully, Buddha, means "the awaken one". What the author was trying to convey is to be conscious and awaken when we slip into our illusions and expectations of our partners to complete us. It is about detachment from our expectations and judgment in dating. That is all it is. I don't think the author had any intention to insult anyone's religion/spiritual beliefs. While I understand Buddhism is about non-attachment to one another, dating can be this way too. Tough, because 90% of the relationships I have seen so far involves one partner being "co-dependent" or "dominant" to another to a certain extent. Tough, because I have seem many people (including myself) dating someone and yet we get disappointed when our partner do not behave according to our expectations. Some of us allow abuses and controls to go on in relationships for years and years.
This book, however, can open the doors for our minds to understand conscious relationships, consciously creating a dating relationship that is fill with love and harmony.
It is a book to experience ... not a book for any quick fixes. It is not a book that will help you solve relationships problem, but it does change our view towards all the lies we have been told since a kid about fairy tale romances.
It's a book teaching us how to live in true love, versus a book helping us fishing and capturing a partner for life and make them staying in that mental prison with us. A fresh philosophy is provided in this book.
If you are interested in reading this book, I would recommend reading 1 to 2 chapters a day instead of rushing ... It is a thin book ... but to experience and make sense of what she says ... requires us to pause and think than speed reading.
Thank you ...
A Work in ProgressFebruary 22, 2006 0 out of 20 found this review helpful
I have not read this book as yet, however, I have been referred to it many a time but several friends who have read it and all say it is superb.
A great guide to relationshipsFebruary 20, 2006 4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Although the title may sound strange (or even off-putting) to some browsers, don't be fooled - this is a book for everyone who has trouble with, or who wants to greatly improve, their realtionships. It is written with humour and insight - and you learn about yourself, about friendship and love, about how others respond. I have now bought six copies and given them to friends I am so impressed with the book and what we can learn from it. It is a great read! Try also "If the Budda Married . . " - another great book of insights and how to make the most challenging of relationships thrive.
