"Let me respectfully remind you:
Life and death are of supreme importance.
Time swiftly passes by and opportunity is lost.
Each of us should strive to awaken. Awaken!
Take heed! Do not squander your life."
– Zen chant
THE FOUR REMINDERS
A Simple Buddhist Guide to Living and Dying Without Regret
by Dennis Hunter
Hundreds of years ago, Tibetan monks distilled some of the Buddha’s most essential teachings into what became known as the Four Reminders. Designed to jolt you awake and break your habit of sleepwalking through life, the Four Reminders reveal the urgency of spiritual awakening and living with purpose, here and now.
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The Four Reminders have remained inaccessible to most people, hidden in liturgical texts and shrouded behind centuries of Tibetan Buddhist cultural and religious tradition. Explaining these fundamental principles in fresh, contemporary language, Dennis Hunter makes this ancient wisdom tradition fully relevant to everyday life in the 21st century, and accessible to anyone. Whatever your spiritual background, the Four Reminders are a compass that can point you towards awakening.
"A smart, eminently readable Buddhist guide to achieving an inner awakening.” — Kirkus Reviews
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“In The Four Reminders, Dennis Hunter offers a classic body of Tibetan Buddhist teachings and meditations on the proverbial facts of life using a refreshing and articulate voice. With a great gift for updating the language and context of these invaluable lessons from the ancient world, Hunter reminds us that Buddhist wisdom was never meant to be mystical or exotic. Instead, these pages give you something much more important: practical advice for being human.”
— Ethan Nichtern, bestselling author of The Road Home
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“Reading The Four Reminders gave me the unique experience of something that few books can claim: being guided into a contemplation on what is most essential to know (and embody) if one is to live fully and freely. Dennis has woven a profound journey, rendering key and authentic Buddhist wisdom in a way that anyone can understand and apply. It is an invitation to all and any one of us, not just those already walking the spiritual path, to courageously embrace the eternal truths that lead to lasting happiness and peace.” — Yogarupa Rod Stryker, founder of ParaYoga and author of The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom
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“The Four Reminders is a welcome addition to practicing what matters most. This book personally guides us through the practice so that we can reflect on our thoughts, words, and actions. May it serve to free all beings from living in fear.”
— Sensei Koshin Paley Ellison, co-founder of New York Zen Center for Contemplative Care and editor of Awake at the Bedside: Contemplative Teachings on Palliative and End of Life Care
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“This book presents the transformational teachings of Buddhist mindfulness in a powerful and provocative way. Hunter doesn't shy away from challenging the reader to address deep-seated personal and cultural assumptions on the road to happiness and freedom. By grounding his insights in the ancient spiritual tradition of Buddhism, Hunter offers more than the average self-help happiness book. His years of discipline and devotion to a personal spiritual practice give his insights a level of weight and groundedness often missing from similar books. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a key to unlock the path to peace in their lives.”
— Kino MacGregor, bestselling author, international yoga teacher, and co-founder of OmStars
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“A candid, nuanced, and often playful invitation to explore the Four Reminders. May this insightful and accessible book help many people find meaning and freedom in life. I rejoice that this book is available to open the door to these teachings.”
— Gelong Loden Nyima
STUDY AND DISCUSSION GUIDE
Along with the book, a supplementary guide to studying, contemplating and working with The Four Reminders is available for download. Suitable for individual use or for study and practice groups.