Overview

Revered meditation teacher and licensed psychotherapist Margaret Cullen reveals scientific breakthroughs and spiritual intersections that demonstrate how the power of equanimity allows us to live more fully, with balance and wisdom. We are facing complicated and untenable predicaments—climate change, political division, global conflict—that are beyond our control, which often results in feelings of powerlessness and resignation, or disconnection and bitterness. Drawing on decades of mindfulness practice and teaching, Margaret Cullen offers contagious enthusiasm about the groundbreaking discoveries focused on a virtuous habit that has been hiding in plain sight for over two thousand years: equanimity. Equanimity is characterized by non-reactivity and clear seeing and has the power to help us navigate the biggest dramas in our lives—not by ignoring them (or reacting in more fiery ways) but by being present with, and open to, all the very real struggles of being human without being hijacked by them. Equanimity is a profound and powerful force that can transform our responses to the events of our lives and in the world at large—and effect change inside our hearts and in all our interactions. Featuring guided meditations, cutting edge research and fascinating insights from experts across a range of fields, Quiet Strength sparks curiosity and engagement with the practice of equanimity.

Full Product Details

9780063415232

Table of Contents

Reviews

""In Quiet Strength, Margaret Cullen explores the profound meaning and far-reaching benefits of equanimity—an often overlooked quality so essential to our well-being. True to the spirit of equanimity itself, Margaret draws from a wide range of traditions to illuminate its nuances, challenges, and methods of cultivation. With warmth and wisdom, she offers a path to this open-hearted balance of mind—so urgently needed in these polarized and turbulent times. The courage of her inquiry and the depth of her understanding infuse every page of this transformative work. Highly recommended."" — Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening ""Quiet Strength is both the medium and the message of this wise and eminently readable book. From its beginning premise that living life in all of its poignancy is an attainable goal, the reader is gently carried along by contemporary, personal stories, research conclusions, fundamental Buddhist teachings as well as universal expressions of wisdom to the recognition that compassion, held in place by equanimity, is the only redemptive response to universal suffering."" — Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, cofounding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and author of Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sakes ""This extraordinary book on equanimity has been written from the inside out and is calling all of us to actualize equanimity in our lives at this time. It is a book all of us need to read in order to navigate the challenges of our world."" — Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax, abbot of the Upaya Zen Center

""In Quiet Strength, Margaret Cullen explores the profound meaning and far-reaching benefits of equanimity—an often overlooked quality so essential to our well-being. True to the spirit of equanimity itself, Margaret draws from a wide range of traditions to illuminate its nuances, challenges, and methods of cultivation. With warmth and wisdom, she offers a path to this open-hearted balance of mind—so urgently needed in these polarized and turbulent times. The courage of her inquiry and the depth of her understanding infuse every page of this transformative work. Highly recommended."" — Joseph Goldstein, author of Mindfulness: A Practical Guide to Awakening ""As a neuroscientist, I was particularly intrigued by Margaret’s reporting on the science of equanimity. She weaves together perennial wisdom, compelling stories shared with real vulnerability, and practical tools drawn from her decades of meditation practice and teaching. This book not only offers a clear and insightful exploration of equanimity, it provides a way into it. The result is a guide that feels both timeless and urgently relevant. You’ll want to read it slowly and to return to it often."" — Amishi Jha, neuroscientist and author of Peak Mind ""Quiet Strength is both the medium and the message of this wise and eminently readable book. From its beginning premise that living life in all of its poignancy is an attainable goal, the reader is gently carried along by contemporary, personal stories, research conclusions, fundamental Buddhist teachings as well as universal expressions of wisdom to the recognition that compassion, held in place by equanimity, is the only redemptive response to universal suffering. I love it!"" — Sylvia Boorstein, PhD, cofounding teacher of Spirit Rock Meditation Center and author of Pay Attention, for Goodness' Sakes ""Quiet Strength arrives at exactly the right moment. Drawing on decades of teaching, research, and deep practice, Margaret Cullen offers a clear, wise, and practical guide to cultivating equanimity—the steadiness we need to meet life’s challenges with clarity, compassion, and resilience."" — Jack Kornfield, author of A Path with Heart ""This extraordinary book on equanimity has been written from deep inside decades of teaching, practice, and life as well as the minds and laboratories of thought leaders on the emerging science of equanimity.  It is a book all of us need to read in order to actualize equanimity in our own lives and navigate the challenges of our world."" — Roshi Joan Jiko Halifax, abbot of the Upaya Zen Center ""'To be even minded is the greatest virtue,' said the ancient Greek philosopher Heraclitus, and 2500 years later, Margaret Cullen beautifully updates, expands, and explains this vital virtue and capacity, so sorely needed in our contemporary world."" — Roger Walsh, MD, PhD, professor at University of California and cohost of the podcast Deep Transformation: Self-Society-Spirit ""Margaret Cullen has produced a truly wonderful guide to the many faces of equanimity. It takes us on a journey deep into the heart of this vital skill, informed by both modern research and ancient spirituality and philosophy. She also takes it very personally, and explores equanimity from a very vulnerable, humble, and honest place."" — Kelly Boys, author of The Blind Spot Effect ""From her years of practice and experience of these traditions, Margaret Cullen has skillfully interwoven ancient wisdom with modern science to provide a captivating guide to working with our minds through the lens of equanimity. Here is a gentle, accessible and wise book on how we can use conscious awareness to calm the chaos within and make the world a better place for ourselves and others."" — Paul Gilbert, developer of Compassion Focused Therapy and author of The Compassionate Mind ""Equanimity is a flavor of love that cultivates peace of mind. The perfect mix and the right book for troubled times."" — Frank Ostaseski, author of The Five Invitations: Discovering What Death Can Teach Us About Living Fully ""In this clear and compassionate book, Margaret Cullen explores equanimity as a powerful inner resource for navigating life’s challenges. Grounded in science, philosophy and contemplative wisdom, Cullen offers a practical path to emotional balance and clarity. Both accessible and profound, this book is an essential guide for anyone seeking stability, insight, and resilience in uncertain times."" — Kristin Neff, author of Self-Compassion and Fierce Self-Compassion ""As someone who has spent years chasing achievement and wrestling with anxiety, I’ve come to see equanimity not as passivity, but as power. This book is a clear and deeply practical expression of a core dharma truth: we can’t control what happens, but we can learn to relate to it wisely. Quiet Strength is about the kind of balance that doesn’t flatten us, but frees us."" — Dan Harris, author of Ten Percent Happier ""As contemplative practice invites an increasing appreciation of the mind’s endless gyration, we also gain the gift of equanimity. What is so lovely about Quiet Strength is its rich evocation of the micro moments, attitudes and intentions that place equanimity well within our reach. Combining the wisdom of thought leaders and her own personal experiences, Margaret Cullen shows us how to find a point of balance in these polarizing times."" — Zindel Segal, professor at the University of Toronto Scarborough and co-author of Better in Every Sense ""Equanimity is a truly excellent quality. In Quiet Strength, Margaret Cullen splendidly describes equanimity as 'vulnerable without weakness' and 'wise without detachment.' She shows us that equanimity isn’t about escaping life—it’s about meeting all of it with clarity, steadiness, and delight. This is a book written with heart, wisdom, and enough science to please an old engineer like me."" — Chade-Meng Tan, international bestselling author of Search Inside Yourself and Buddhism for All

Author Information

Margaret Cullen is a licensed psychotherapist and a pioneer in bringing contemplative practices into mainstream settings, co-developing the Compassion Cultivation Training with Thupten Jinpa at the Stanford University School of Medicine, the Mindfulness-Based Attention Training for military spouses with Amishi Jha at University of Miami, and Compassion Corps, a program which brings compassion programs to underserved populations around the world. She is coauthor of The Mindfulness-Based Emotional Balance Workbook (with Gonzalo Brito Pons) and serves as a Mind and Life Institute Fellow and advisory board member of the Global Compassion Coalition. She has been a meditation practitioner for over 40 years.

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