Buddhism with an attitude

I just finished reading Buddhism with an Attitude by B. Alan Wallace. The book is subtitled "The Tibetan Seven-Point Mind Training" and rigorous spiritual training it is!

Contained within are many Buddhist fundamentals - but solutions that seem quite effective. I took several pages of notes and now feel better prepared in my spiritual journey. Overcoming the eight mundane concerns will be difficult but I will put effort in doing so.

Upon returning home to Minneapolis I will find a spiritual mentor. To be a solitary practitioner of any faith makes it harder to develop ones skills. But if you consider yourself a spiritual apprentice of one with wisdome and experience - you can attain mastery from a mentor faster.

It is also quite true that independence is an illusion. In America we like to think we can live free and independent lives. But we very much depend on others for all that we cannot do ourself. And sometimes we cannot even sustain our needs - and others step in to help( hopefully ).