October, 16th, 2008

by Julie Wilcox

In Faith: Trusting Your Own Deepest Inner Experience, Sharon Salzberg - leading Buddhist meditation scholar and author of several books - courageously delves into her past and explores her childhood with all of its traumas and disappointments. She effortlessly illustrates to readers how anyone can emerge from (and work through) the pain and suffering intrinsic to life, cultivating an attitude of lovingkindness in order to live with less angst in the future.  The opening of the book covers the period of Salzberg’s life when her mother passes away and her absent father reappears only to end up institutionalized.  When I recounted these moving passages to a friend, she immediately replied, “wow, I guess I’ve really got nothing to worry about.”  Though all situations and feelings are relative and of great value, it helps to know what others go through to keep us on track.  In the end, Salzberg teaches that faith is a healing quality in us all no matter what the circumstance; it helps to protect and soothe us in times of turmoil. 
Salzberg does a spectacular job of telling her personal tale in a way that embraces her readers with compassion and empathy, acknowledging that we all have difficulties that we confront and need to work through.  And, what is truly amazing is that she teaches all of her truths in universal framework.  She never requires blind adherence to any belief system or dogma or pushes “the right way” down one’s throat.  Though she recounts time and again why she identified with the Buddhist philosophies and how they helped her through some tremendously trying times, she still teaches faith as a grounds for whatever system of belief one holds.  According to Salzberg, faith is not something that should keep us apart or make us discriminating, but rather should unite us with our Self, achieving the union or oneness that Yoga is all about.  She provides the road map on a dark and bumpy road; it is functional knowledge for personal power.  Salzberg travels the world helping others brave the human condition.