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      Converging Paths

      ALSO BY SUSAN SANTUCCI

       Pathways to the Spirit

      Converging Paths

      Lessons of Compassion, Tolerance, and Understanding

       from East and West

      TUTTLE PUBLISHING

       Boston • Rutland, Vermont • Tokyo

      First published in 2003 by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon, VT 05759 U.S.A

      Copyright © 2003 by Susan Santucci

      All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without prior written permission from Tuttle Publishing.

      LC Card No.: 2002115843

       ISBN: 978-1-4629-0107-4

      Distributed by

North America, Latin America & Europe	Asia Pacific
Tuttle Publishing	Berkeley Books Pte. Ltd.
Distribution Center	61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12
Airport Industrial Park	Singapore 534167
364 Innovation Drive	Tel: [phone]
North Clarendon, VT 05759-9436	Fax: [phone]
Tel: [phone]	Email: [email protected]
Fax: [phone]	www.periplus.com
Email: [email protected]

      Japan

       Tuttle Publishing

       Yaekari Building, 3^rd Floor 5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku Tokyo 141 0032 Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone] Email: [email protected]

      First edition

       06 05 04 03 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

      Printed in Canada

       Design by: Serena Fox Design

      Dedication

      For Michael and Justine

      Acknowledgments

      My sincerest thanks to my wonderful agent, Denise Shannon of ICM. Her valuable feedback, support, and enthusiasm for this book were greatly appreciated. Thank you to my friends and research assistants, Kathleen Ward, Alex Ashline, Mary Guillemette, Jack Miller, and Karen Finnegan.

       Thanks also to Eric Berke for his valued friendship and great coaching.

       My appreciation to Beth Greenberg for taking such good care of Sam.

       A very special thanks to Andrew Szanton for his editing and invaluable support.

       I am very grateful to have him as a friend and mentor.

       My deepest thanks to my splendid editor, Ed Walters, for championing this project at Tuttle.

       Thank you, also, to Helen Watt at Tuttle for her feedback on the final manuscript.

       Finally, I'd like to thank my mother, Mary Chernov, for her artwork.

      Table of Contents

      Introduction, 11

      The Law of Abundance, 14

      Know the Divine Value of Your Life, 16

      Believe, 18

      Know That You Are Never Alone, 20

      Go on a Spiritual Retreat, 22

      Recognize the Power of Words, 24

      Follow Your Bliss, 26

      Work at What You Enjoy, 28

      Seek Spiritual Friendship, 30

      Find Community, 32

      Embrace Suffering, 34

      Practice Compassion, 36

      Love without Fear, 38

      Transform Anger, 40

      Draw Strength from Your Troubles, 42

      Never Give Up Hope, 44

      Cultivate Resiliency, 46

      Learn Acceptance, 48

      Contemplate Eternity, 50

      Give Faith Time to Take Root, 52

      Love, 54

      Seek True Abundance, 56

      Learn to Accept the Flaws of Others, 58

      Serve Others, 60

      Practice Kindness, 62

      Seek True Strength, 64

      Know That God Works through Others, 66

      Release Your Worry, 68

      Love Laughter, 70