Polishing the Mirror Paperback – September 1, 2014

This book came to me at the right time. Now. This book is sweet and authentic, filled with wonderful stories that help the reader reach an understanding of the steps to take for this practice.

I loved this book. The most inspiring part for me was the idea of how to deal with suffering. I'd often read that one reason we have pain is to develop compassion. Another is to give other people the chance to evolve by helping us. I have a lot of pain that keeps me up at night and keeps me from being able to do a lot things. I would wake with pain and think, Why? What's the point of this? There's no one here with me so I can't be giving anyone else a chance of evolving by being with me. And I have plenty of compassion, so it can't be for that. I'm wasted, unable to help anyone.Ram Dass said that suffering can push you into your soul. The ego is caught up in the storyline of this incarnation, lost in the details of the melodrama, the blame and injustice. It identifies with the pain whereas when you are pushed into your soul, the eternal part of you, you can be a witness to the pain. You're in the body and with the pain, but you aren't the pain. That works for me.I had a flashback to a previous incarnation years ago when I was doing Focusing. I can't think of the author's name now, but that's the name of the book. It's a great sort of mindful focus on what's going on in your body. Anyhoo, I was blown away by a flashback resulting from that practice, because I didn't believe in reincarnation up until then. It helps to remember this is just one of many lives we're going through. Find a way to evolve from the pain, to benefit. It is making me quiet inside after a lifetime of noise.Ram Dass tells so many fascinating stories in this book, so much about his life. He says he lost faith for a few years after he had his stroke. It's easier to suggest - witness the pain - then to do it. But it works and he did come back to faith. I want to see his documentary - Fierce Grace - about his stroke.

I would recommend this book to anyone who seeks to enjoy viewpoints regarding spirituality. I enjoyed reading this book and I'm grateful to have had it recommended to me.

You have to be ready and willing to do the work, but if you are, this book might just help you make lasting changes for the better, not just for you but for anyone and everyone in your life. Highly recommend.

This is a wonderful synthesis of all Ram Dass's works. I couldn't stop thinking about it the whole time I read it.In it Ram Dass speaks to us very conversationally about all these wonderful life-enhancing and comforting ideas. He's done a lot of work with the dying and been fascinated with that from middle-age. Also telling us we are not alone in our flaws.He loves his guru Mahara-ji and believes they are together always. He discusses meditation practice, guru work, the differentways we can meditate and how to look at ourselves from outside ourselves without sacrificing what we need to do as folks with egos.As John Holland says, "We are not just bodies, but souls having a human experience," Ram Dass says that in India the people, although they are suffering from poverty, are more soul-identified. We have ego, personal soul and soul that is one with God,or you may hear "the Atman". A lot of common sense life advice, much like John Holland in that, as he has been giving life advice since at least the 70's, to American audiences. He was a star psychologist at Harvard with Timothy Leary and as you may know they experimented with LSD. After that liberating experience, he says, Ram Dass went in search of a more permanent high but inthe more natural way of Yoga and meditation. This was all way before we had popular science(such as the Daniel Goleman books) proving the benefits of meditation.Ram Dass also tells us how to bring our practice into the world. We know we all have roles and don't need to abandon them to be happy but we can see ourselves from the outside, that we're people playing various roles and to see the richness of the emotions when we get stuck. How beautiful it all is when we witness our mind states, alone or interacting with others. But Ican't do Ram Dass full justice in writing!

From the beginning of the book I feel like I found what Ive been looking for. Its a decent start in the spiritual journey, can't wait to finish.

Polishing the Mirror is one of my all time favorite self-help books ever! I have had it for many years and reread it and review chapters periodically. Ram Dass was brilliant. I'm only sorry that I did not get to meet him. Bless you, Ram Dass.

This man was incredible and this book is so beautiful. It is full of wisdom and original ideas and perspectives. I’ll always keep this book, I love it. Ram dass is essential reading for anyone seriously into meditation and seeking enlightenment.

I recommend this book to everyone that wants to find meaning in their lives (cause who doesn't), as well as people who want to connect with themselves and the world around them on a more spiritual level. Ram Dass has an amazing story to tell, I’m so glad I stumbled on this book.

This is a beautiful book. Read it. And then read it again.

Einfach zu lesen, sehr interessant und inspirierend. Gut als generelle Einführung für einen eine geistigen Weg. Wenn man aber tiefer gehen möchte und sich damit wirklich beschäftigen, würde ich die "Autobiographie eines Yog" von Paramahansa Yogananda empfehlen.Easy to read, interesting and inspiring. Good as a general inspiration for those who are looking for a spiritual path. If you want to go deeper though, I would suggest to read the "Autobiography of a Yogy" by Paramahansa Yogananda

I have been reading spiritual books for years and this, in conjunction with ‘Living Presence’ by Kabir Helminski’ have finally given me a real clue. Both books are highly recommended, PARTICULARLY this one.