Unexpected Awakening: 22 Days at a Buddhist Monastery Freed Me from Abuse

Discover a courageous journey of resilience and personal growth that will inspire your own path to freedom, healing, self-love, and self-discovery. "Unexpected Awakening is a testament to the power of compassion and the vast potential we each hold for healing and forgiveness." —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life At forty-three, Laurie Jacobson thought her life was over. Trapped in a remote farmhouse in rural Pennsylvania, she was married to a man who had once inspired her, but who had become emotionally abusive and increasingly hostile toward her Jewish identity. Feeling isolated, broken, and desperate for relief, she makes a bold decision: to attend a silent retreat at a Buddhist monastery in the mountains of West Virginia. Little did she know: that decision would change everything. In Unexpected Awakening, readers are taken on an intimate journey of healing, resilience, personal growth, and self-discovery. Through quiet mornings, meditation, humble chores, and the kindness and wisdom of the monastery cook, Laurie begins to unlock the wisdom and courage that had been within her all along. In this immersive, inspiring memoir you’ll discover: What it’s like to live inside a Buddhist monastery How mindfulness and meditation can heal emotional pain and release trauma stored in the body Honest reflections on abuse, resilience, forgiveness, and self-compassion A path to gain peace of mind, clarity, and insight If you’ve ever longed for freedom, peace, or the courage to begin again, this unforgettable memoir will meet you where you are, and gently walk you home to yourself. View Less