Book Review: Through The Flames

Through the Flames: Overcoming Disaster Through Compassion, Patience, and Determination is a book in two parts. The first half is about Mr. Lokos' recovery from severe burns in a plane crash, and the second is about the dharma that helped him recover. There is an interesting post script where a nurse tells him him that he is "so kind", which Buddhists will remember Ananada as saying about the Buddha as he passed. Mr. Lokos has a kind of determination and commitment to the Dharma that helps him to organize his experience and chart his course for recovery. He looks at things in the most positive way and keeps his extra stress to a minimum. The extra stress comes from unhelpful stories we tell ourselves. Like putting a second arrow after a first one goes in. He handles  a very challenging recovery very well, and survives despite doctor's predictions that he wouldn't. There is a section where he follows up with his first book, Patience: The Art of Peaceful Living. He sees patience as just not over reacting to things, having the insight to not add on. I have read so many dharma books, but this one doesn't overload me with basic instructions, but is also written in a simple practical way that is not overly complex. I read the book while on a camping trip and quite enjoyed it. Now I need to go and visit the Community Meditation Center, which Lokos founded.