| Title | : | Guardians of Being |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 1577316711 |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9781577316718 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Hardcover |
| Number of Pages | : | 128 |
| Publication | : | First published October 1, 2009 |
More than a collection of witty and charming drawings, the marriage of Patrick McDonnell's art and Eckhart Tolle's words conveys a profound love of nature, of animals, of humans, of all life-forms. celebrates and reminds us of not only the oneness of all life but also the wonder and joy to be found in the present moment, amid the beauty we sometimes forget to notice all around us.
Guardians of Being Reviews
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The human says, "I love myself", or, "I hate myself."
The dog says, "Woof, woof," which, translated, means I am myself.
I call that integrity -- being one with yourself. -
Wonderful book about how pets open us up to the joy of 'now' - love the art of Patrick McDonnell (MUTTS) - a great 'team up' of spirituality!
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Depending on who you are both of these names might be familiar. Tolle is a prolific spiritual writer and McDonnell is the artist for Mutts comic. They teamed up to produce this delightful little book. It’s really McDonnell’s art that makes the book. Tolle’s portion is to offer up zen sayings about life and the stillness of being etc but McDonnell’s art (using his Mutts characters) brings it to life. It’s a destressor of a book. The only drawback is it’s only worth the stiff hardback cover price if you plan on meditation on the art and the words of advice. I did get this as a gift for someone and from a club at reduced rates. I think I would have balked otherwise. Still, I love it and next time I get an offer from the club might get myself a copy to keep and reread when times get rough. -
We could learn a lot from our pets. Cats can spend hours perfectly relaxed in the warmth of a beam of light. Dogs are always fully present when they play. Cats and dogs live in the moment and are always fully present. They don’t doubt themselves or question their value. It is for this reason that they are the Guardians of Being.
Guardians of Being is written by Eckhart Tolle, author of The Power of Now and A New Earth. His words are then accompanied by illustrations by Mutts creator Patrick McDonnell. It’s a wonderful combination, creating a comic book look with real meaning. No doubt readers will find a variety of pages that resonate and inspire them. -
This is a great book for any spiritual pet lover. I cried several times because it is poignant, wonderful and true. It is a great coffee table book, or a book to read when you are feeling unsupported. Instead of being so intense with Eckart Tolle just talking about spirit, it is lightened up with the cartoons from Patrick McDonnell. THis is a book I will cherish forever, and quote frequently.
The world is better because this book exists. -
A wonderfully light and fluffy read on our best friend and how they help guide us into being. :)
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Just as the dog loves to chew bones, the human mind loves its problems. (c) This is exactly the case with so many people!!!
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My husband read this book to me about two weeks after our beautiful flat coated retriever, Shadow, had been hit by a car in front of us. Shadow had literally been my constant companion since he came to live with us, helping me get through two of the most difficult years of my 66. My heart had been shattered.
A friend had given Guardians of Being to us, with the instructions to "read it to each other with a glass of wine, when you are ready." It took us that long to be in a space we could read it. I cried the whole time Tim read it. We both cried.
It's not a sad book! Really it's not. But the illustrations, the simple words, the *idea* of the book ... those went right through our broken hearts and started the healing. Our tears were of understanding, of relief, of grief -- cleansing tears.
Eckhart Tolle writes about connection with all of life, about awareness and respect for every single part of life. Animals, rivers, the sun, the air, a blade of grass. It's exactly how Tim and I have lived, and it was such an affirmation - and *reminder* in the midst of our grief - to stay in that Oneness.
The next day we ordered 8 of these books to give away.
It's that good. -
True happiness is found in simple, seemingly unremarkable things,
But to be aware of little, quiet things, you need to be quiet inside
A high degree of alertness is required.
Be still. Look. Listen. Be present.
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Most of us live in a world of mental abstraction, conceptualization, and image making - a world of thought.
We are immersed in a continuous stream of mental noise.
It seems that we can't stop thinking.
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Just as the dog loves to chew bones, the human mind loves its problems. -
Guardians of Being by Eckhart Tolle and Patrick McDonnell is a little gem of a book for any animal lover.
The iconic drawings of Patrick McDonnell (of Mutts) and the thoughts that Eckhart Tolle creates to accompany them are truly delightful.
"The vital function that pets fulfill in this world hasn't been fully recognized. They keep millions of people sane." And the dog in the illustration is looking back at the man at the other end of the leash and saying, "heal."
The message, told in many different ways, is to enjoy life, savor each moment, and simply BE.
"Dogs emanate a goodness that people respond to. One of the joys of walking your dog is that often people come up to you and immediately their hearts open. They are not interested in you, of course. They want to pat your dog." As any dog owner knows -- too true.
Walk a dog through a park and children will surround it. They won't even notice the person at the end of the leash -- it's all about the dog. And that's fine with the dog.
Read the whole review at:
http://www.examiner.com/book-in-natio... -
Chris brought this book home from the library yesterday and I just sat down to thumb through it and found myself sucked in. It's a quick read, but one you'll want to go through more than once. The illustrations are delightful and really touching, fellow pet owners / animal lovers will agree. And I've always loved the words of Eckhart Tolle, despite my knee-jerk reaction to the word "God."
In short: Eckhart Tolle + Patrick McDonnell = Major Win. -
Eckhart Tolle is one of my favourite modern day philosophers, and this book which touches on the irrefutable value pets and nature have in our lives, really hits home.
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Perfect gift for pet lovers.
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I love this little gem of a book. It was just what I needed today. The illustrations by Patrick McDonnell of Mutts fame perfectly complement the Tolle's sort of koans about why dogs and cats teach us to be still in the present moment and to enjoy life.
"The vital function that pets fulfill in this
world hasn't been fully recognized.
They keep millions
of people sane." (Image is a dog on a leash looking back at his owner and saying, "Heal.")
"The dog has no self-image, good or bad,
so he has no need to play roles,
nor does he love himself of hate himself.
He has no self!
How to live free of the burden of self -
what a great spiritual teaching."
"I have lived
with many
Zen masters,
all of them cats."
"Dogs emanate a goodness that people respond to.
One of the joys of walking your dog is that often people
come up to you and immediately their hearts open.
They are not interested in you, of course. They want to pat your dog." -
"We are ultimately not separate, not from one another nor from any living thing - the flower, the tree, the cat, the dog. You can sense yourself in them, the essence of who you are. You could say God. There is a term, a Christian term which is beautiful.... loving the Creator in the creature."
THIS BOOK IS AMAZING. I love Eckhart Tolle's writings, and paired with the illustrations of Patrick McDonnell, this book is absolutely perfect. It discusses how we should be more like animals. They simply live in the moment, the now, and they never worry about the small day-to-day problems like us humans do. All of us worry, worry, worry our lives away. This isn't how it's supposed to be. This book is a quick read, with amazing illustrations, and the blurbs written speak volumes. Highly recommended for anyone spiritual, and even those who are not would probably enjoy this greatly written book. -
I am subscribed to Eckhart Tolle‘s newsletter and the other day, thanks to it I learnt about a collaboration between Eckhart Tolle himself and Patrick McDonnell (the creator of the acclaimed comic strip MUTTS) on a book called Guardians of Being. What I have seen so far from it is cute, lovely, witty and thoughtful. Catching and reflecting the spirit of everything I’ve read from Tolle.
Update 2016-01-19: Finally read it today, I just found out the original book was published in 2010
https://theminimalism.wordpress.com/2... -
Dit boek is geschikt voor mensen die:
- rust waarderen of zoeken;
- (van) huisdieren houden.
Idealiter een combinatie van die twee. De eenvoudig mooie teksten en plaatjes laten je het hier en nu zien en voelen. Helemaal perfect als er tegelijkertijd een hond of kat in de kamer is. Zo las ik dit boek op de bank bij Koosha met zijn kat Pishi: ‘a guardian of being’.
“Everything natural - every flower, tree, and animal - has important lessons to teach us if we would only stop, look, and listen.” -
I love this book so much I want to buy myself and a couple of others a copy. It's very zen, explaining how we should be more like our best dog or our best cat. I love Patrick McConnell's illustrations and I love Mutts. There are some really great moments in this book, and I can't wait to share it with some friends.
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This is a touching book, that promises to be a tear jerker for anyone who loves their pets and is into mindfulness. I experienced a lot of joy while reading this book, and will re-read again and again.
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"Dogs emanate a goodness people respond to.
One of the joys of walking your dog is that often people come up to you and immediately their hearts open.
They are not interested in you, of course.
They want to pat your dog." -
love this book. art is lovely and the saying about as zen as you can get. get lost in the art and you will feel very zen
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Amazing
The words alone were amazing, but combined with the artwork....trully a book to hold on to.
For kids ages 7 to 100. -
"You are not separate from the whole.
You are one with the sun, the earth, the air.
You don't have a life.
You are life." -
I have cats, and somehow what's written in this book is absolutely right. Plus, amazing illustrations make it flows seamlessly; such a great collab. Definitely the child's book for grown-ups.
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A very eye-opening and thought-provoking book about being. This is a very important book if you want to live and be. I felt different about our dogs after reading this.
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Wow! I picked this book up from the library on a whim and I am so glad I did. Strongly recommend to anyone that has a little pup of their own. How amazing dogs are!
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An oasis of visual beauty that reminds us of how much nature and animals have to teach us if we stop, observe and listen.
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I trid to read The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle because I heard it was one of those life changing books but honestly, I couldn't get past the first chapter, it was dreadfully difficult and full of stuff that made no sense. I piced up Guardians of Being at a used booksale for only $1.00. It looked cute with the cartoonish drawings and easy reading. I take this book to be the children's version of The Power of Now but for adults.
Yes, this one was much easier to understand and quite enjoyable. But as far as making my life better, no help there. He talks about how happy dogs and cats are because they are living in the moment and we need to more aware of what is going on now, like the rustle of leaves and the quiet of raindrops and then we, too, will be happy as the bees flitting from one flower to the next.
That would be great if I had a billion dollars and didn't have to work and could spend all day with a good book in the back yard smelling the flowers and feeling the sunlight tickle my feet. But I don't live a dogs life. I would love to have the life he talks about but I have to work for a living and can't squeeze it all in.
I give the book 4 stars for cuteness, ease of reading and making good points and 2 stars for giving real helpful information, averaging out to a 3
