Mother Theresa, The Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Gandhi.....Some admire such figures from afar and think, "How special they are; I could never be like that". But as John Makransky teaches, the power of real and enduring love lies within every one of us. Awakening Through Love teaches how to enjoy a life imbued with that love, through Buddhist methods for cultivating genuine caring and appreciation for others. Makransky is a fully qualified guide to this practice: a professor of Buddhism and Comparative Theology at Boston College and a father of two, he is also a close student and colleague of Lama Surya Das, who provides the foreword here. Above all, he radiates an earnest and genuine caring, both in person and on the page. Rooted in Buddhism's Dzogchen tradition, Makransky asserts that love is part of the very nature of our being, and that if we can clear away the delusions that obscure our true nature, love will flow to and from us effortlessly. Awakening Through Love imparts meditations for both gradual cultivation and direct insight. Makransky also provides a uniquely convincing and moving presentation of the role of a teacher, or "benefactor," in deepening our spiritual path. Part of the brilliance of Awakening Through Love is that it finds what is universal in Buddhist ideas and practices and renders them usable for a general audience, with many references to ways that Christians and others can adapt the methods to their own traditions. Peppered with inspiring contemporary stories, the book will leave readers feeling more open, more inspired, and more engaged.