Skip to Main Content

Awakening Kindness

Finding Joy Through Compassion for Others

LIST PRICE $11.99

About The Book

Learn how to nurture and cultivate kindness, compassion, and love in ourselves and others in this “very joyous and deeply spiritual” (Betty Williams, Noble Peace Laureate) guidebook from the “dedicated student of the Dalai Lama” (Archbishop Desmond Tutu), Tibetan freedom fighter, and Grammy-nominated musician.

In Nawang Khechog’s view, one of the wonders of being human is that we can choose to nurture and cultivate kindness, compassion, and love. These precious values are the foundation of true happiness and are at the core of humanity’s possibility of peaceful coexistence with one another and with our environment.

Based on his years as a monk studying Buddhist philosophy and meditation with the Dalai Lama, as well as his own highly regarded kindness workshops, Awakening Kindness details the many ways we can enrich our lives by simply being kind to each other and ourselves. Nawang shares a range of simple meditations, mantras, and practices that are easy to incorporate even into the busiest of lives.

Covering the underlying philosophies of many cultures and religions, and touching on everything from human nature as it’s portrayed in film to scientific support of our limitless capacity for love and compassion, Awakening Kindness takes you on a life-changing journey that shows that we all can take part in creating a culture of kindness. “Anyone who picks up this book and is receptive to its message will immediately enjoy the many benefits of living in this simple and sacred way” (Richard J. Davidson, professor of psychology and psychiatry at University of Wisconsin-Madison).

About The Author

Photograph by Bob Winsett

Nawang Khechog was a monk for eleven years, including four years as a hermit meditator in the Himalayan foothills personally sponsored by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Today he fills a truly unique spot in Buddhist culture as a teacher, performer, practitioner, and Tibetan freedom fighter, as well as being a Grammy-nominated musician who has sold several million of his albums worldwide.  Having spent more than thirty years in India as a Tibetan refugee, Nawang now seeks strength and tranquility in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and continues sharing the value of universal kindness and compassion in workshops across the country.

Product Details

  • Publisher: Atria Books/Beyond Words (December 7, 2010)
  • Length: 208 pages
  • ISBN13: 9781439164037

Browse Related Books

Raves and Reviews

"Nawang Khechog is a dedicated student ofthe Dalai Lama and I have worked with him several times through the PeaceJam program as he has shared his philosophy of kindness with the youth of the world. I hope and pray that this book will benefit many people by helping to inspire kindness and compassion in their hearts. We need more books like this today!”

—Archbishop Desmond Tutu

"Awakening Kindness is so very joyous and deeply spiritual—the written compassion infolds and holds you. Thank you, Nawang Khechog, His Holiness the Dalai Lama has polished the diamond that is your karma.”

—Betty Williams, 1979 Nobel Peace Laureate

“Nawang Khechog not only writes about awakening kindness; he has lived that awakening, humbly, thoroughly, and creatively. Given the tenor of our times, these teachings are extremely important.”

—Michael Bernard Beckwith, author of Spiritual Liberation

"Nawang is a shooting star...."

Denver Post

“Nawang Khechog beautifully shares with us his understanding of wisdom, kindness, and compassion. Through experiences in his life, he shows us that how we cope with change is important and can help us reach our full potential as kind and compassionate human beings. Anyone seeking a deeper understanding of these values will benefit greatly from reading his work."

—Jody Williams, 1997 Nobel Peace Laureate and Chair Nobel Women’s Initiative

“As a good friend of Nawang Khechog's for many years, I've seen him transform some enormous life challenges into a solid commitment to be of service to others. Under the guidance of some of Tibet's greatest teachers, his main practice, during his four years as a hermit meditator and thirty-something years as a practitioner, has been one of universal love, compassion, and Bodhicitta. I hope that his book, Awakening Kindness will inspire people to practice and cultivate these inner values, and achieve a lasting happiness for themselves.”

—Richard Gere, actor and activist

Awakening Kindness is an inspiring and practical guide to nurture and nourish the expression of kindness and compassion in every day life. By presenting many simple exercises and documenting the powerful examples of many ordinary citizens and Nobel peace prize laureates, Nawang Khechog invites us to practice kindness. Anyone who picks up this book and is receptive to its message will immediately enjoy the many benefits of living in this simple and sacred way.”

—Richard J. Davidson, William James and Vilas Professor of Psychology and Psychiatry,
Director for the Center for Investigating Healthy Minds, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Resources and Downloads

High Resolution Images