When Prayers Aren't Answered: Opening the Heart and Quieting the Mind in Challenging Times

John E. Welshons

Sep 2010 · New World Library

About this ebook

In the depths of grief, some find solace in their faith, while others feel that God has deserted them. In this gentle and wise guide, a beloved spiritual teacher counsels that prayer works — but not always in the ways we expect. Welshons, who has worked closely with Ram Dass and Stephen Levine and trained with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross, confronts life’s most challenging experiences directly, acknowledging both the reality and inevitability of unexpected, unwanted change. Then, with insights gathered from the world’s great spiritual traditions, he shows how to use painful circumstances as fuel for enlightenment. In short, step-by-step chapters, Welshons shares stories of transformation from his own life and the lives of those he has counseled. With deep empathy, he lights a path toward the communion, peace, and joy that are possible when we open our hearts to life in its totality.

About the author

John E. Welshons (“Ramananda”) is a highly respected contemporary spiritual teacher who leads workshops and meditation retreats across North America. He is a gifted counselor and inspiring lecturer who for nearly forty years has been helping people heal through the difficult — often unexpected — changes that life offers He has been a practitioner of vipassana (mindfulness) meditation and various forms of yoga since 1969, and is the author of three critically acclaimed books — One Soul, One Love, One Heart (Silver winner of the 2010 Nautilus Book Award), as well as Awakening from Grief and When Prayers Aren’t Answered. He has worked extensively with Ram Dass and Stephen Levine, and trained with Dr. Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. He holds a bachelor of arts degree in comparative religions from the University of South Florida, and a master of arts degree in history of religions from Florida State University. He has traveled extensively in India, and is one of our culture’s most respected authorities on how to use life’s challenges as fuel for our spiritual journey. His website is www.onesoulonelove.com.