An Awakened Life

In this simple, cogent book, former Buddhist monk Titmuss (Light on Enlightenment) gently explores why the unexamined life is not worth living. Mixing Buddhist principles with the most sensible aphorisms of popular psychology, Titmuss argues that the genuinely awakened person is, first and foremost, self-aware. Titmuss's 76 chapters are extremely brief, encompassing no more than a few pages, making the book accessible as daily meditations. Straightforward, practical advice is often beautifully mixed with Buddhist paradox; when discussing the importance of prudent speech, for example, Titmuss writes that ""what is whispered in an ear is often heard a hundred miles away."" Although the chapters cover themes as diverse as the sexual revolution and the importance of regular meditative reading, one motif dominates all others: the need to retrench from worldly materialism. Titmuss has harsh words for Western consumer culture, where he says individuals have more wealth and less real happiness than in any other society in history. He advocates the practice of allowing individuals to ""drop out"" for a while (as the Buddha once did, leaving his family and a world of luxury to seek enlightenment). To counteract the relentless selfishness of consumerism, Titmuss advocates careful self-examination through meditation, communion with nature and healthy relationships with others. (May)