Editorial Reviews  
Amazon.com  
Ayya Khema is like that pesky little angel on our shoulder, except instead of saying, "Don't do this" or "Don't do that," she reminds us to pay attention and keep growing. One of the best Western exponents of the Buddhist path, Khema organizes her lectures in Be an Island around the Buddha's exhortation to be an island unto yourself. By taking refuge in Buddhist teachings and the Buddhist community, you can escape the petty concerns of the self and become an anchor for others. In disarmingly practical language, Ayya Khema teaches us that true practice is getting the tiny details of life right, the middling moments--thinking before we speak, recognizing greed and generosity in ourselves and others, making the mind pliable at all times. Like a weekly lecture series, this is the type of book you'll want to go back to, placing it near an altar or spiritual nook for easy access. --Brian Bruya 

Book Description  
Be An Island is at once an introduction to the teachings of Buddhism and a rich continuation of Ayya Khema's personal vision of Buddhist practice. The best-selling author of Being Nobody, Going Nowhere once again guides us along the path of Buddhist meditation with direct and practical advice, giving us the contemplative tools to develop a healthy and fit sense of personal being. Basing her teachings firmly on the words of the Buddha, Ayya Khema introduces techniques for positive and negative... 

About the Author  
: Ayya Khema (1923-1997) authored twenty-five books in English and German on meditation and the Buddha's teachings; her books have been translated into seven other languages. During her extraordinary lifetime she establised several Buddhist practice centers around the world, including Wat Buddha Dhamma in Australia, the International Buddhist Women's Centre and Parappuduwa Nun's Island in Sri Lanka, and Buhddha-Haus and Metta Vihara in Germany.