Head on Fire explains why we need profound, urgent change – individually and collectively – and how we can achieve it. It is a life-changing book!
As both Einstein and Gandhi recognized, fundamental change in attitude, aspirations, and behavior can manifest only through the individual. Most of our problems are self-created. Yet we continue to fruitlessly search for an easy external solution or messiah, whether political, religious, or technological. Inaction leads to increasing stress, deterioration, and dangerous tipping points, which are now obvious.
Twenty-five hundred years ago, the Buddha taught that we suffer because we try in vain to hold on to life, including our “self,” which is always changing, interdependent, and insubstantial. We can end our suffering by letting go, adapting, and flowing with life, living with awareness in each moment. This process, which is termed enlightenment, is marked by wisdom and compassion. The message is simple and obvious, but not easy to implement in our lives. The Buddha’s insights are particularly apt in our times of rapid change and overwhelming complexity. The ability to cut through to the essentials of life and being lies latent in us all. We need to embody and live this new way of being rather than acquire more knowledge and belief. The good news is that we can in fact change ourselves.
Praise for Head on Fire
“I vividly recall Sifu Andy James explaining to me that the Buddha advised, ‘Practice as though your head is on fire.’ After these reminders, my complacency and laziness would evaporate and I’d practice with renewed energy, embracing each moment. He emphasized ‘embodied learning,’ by which he meant one cannot simply read books and debate eastern philosophy. Rather we should privilege actual Vipassana mindfulness meditation practice. ‘Right Action’ is realized internally as well as externally; it is relational and can never be compartmentalized. “What better, then, than an autobiographical reflection on decades of practice on how the author and teacher came to embody Buddhist teachings and be a renowned practitioner of Daoist internal arts. He explains how Buddhism and Daoism ‘came together’ for him, not in terms of philosophical musings, but rather in terms of the practicalities of life as husband, father, friend, and teacher. Andy James’s new book is a must-read.”
Jamie Magnussen, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto
“Andy James’s latest book is a tour de force. A detailed account of the author’s journey in following his dream. If you are under any illusion that finding your path is the hard part and once you find it, it’s all clear sailing, then this book smashes that illusion. Having the courage to pursue it is when the real work begins and Andy demonstrates that courage. His personal story is captivating and the stories he includes of others are enlightening, soothing, and encouraging. I ended the book feeling, ‘my head is on fire.’ I can do — and must do — the work Andy is suggesting and, of which we are all capable, if we look unflinchingly into our inner Being. Anyone who picks up this book and reads it is ready for the challenge it presents.”
Donna Armstrong, author and former Crown Attorney
“I have had the distinct pleasure of being introduced to and developing my mindfulness practice with Andy James over the last decade, which has transformed my life. Andy’s new book, Head on Fire, is a profound testament to his deep insights into the world around us and our role within it. His unique voice of inclusiveness, that there is a space for ‘both-and,’ helps me participate fully in each moment, opening my heart to the immense variety life has to offer. Andy calls on us to take up the challenge of self-transformation to bring about real change in the world. The time to make that change is now, as if your head was on fire! This book is a must-read for anyone seeking to ignite their inner potential and make a meaningful impact.”
Carl Gruden, IT architect