Describes a traditional Buddhist approach to suffering and how embracing the painful situation and using communication, negative habits, and painful emotions leads to emotional growth and happiness.

"Afterword to the 20th anniversary edition ©2016"--Title page verso.

Intimacy with fear -- When things fall apart -- This very moment is the perfect teacher -- Relax as it is -- It's never too late -- Not causing harm -- Hopelessness and death -- Eight worldly Dharmas -- Six kinds of loneliness -- Curious about existence -- Nonaggression and the four maras -- Growing up -- Widening the circle of compassion -- The love that will not die -- Going against the grain -- Servants of peace -- Opinions -- Secret oral instructions -- Three methods for working with chaos -- The trick of choicelessness -- Reversing the wheel of Samsara -- The path is the goal.