A Review of Andrew Holocek’s The Power and the Pain: Transforming Spiritual Hardship into Joy

Trungpa Rinpoche once said

The arrival of chaos should be regarded as extremely good news.

As a meditation practitioner, I could easily comprehend this advice from the safe distance of being happy, financially successful, and in a supportive long-term relationship. However, when that reality collapsed and I found myself unemployed and alone in the rubble of my ruined paradigm, chaos didn’t seem like such good news after all.

At this point, Andrew Holocek’s book, The Power and the Pain: Transforming Spiritual Hardship into Joy, auspiciously fell into my lap and helped me perceive the opportunities that arrived hand-in-hand with the obstacles in my life. As Holocek, a committed veteran of the Buddhist path, writes, “waking up hurts”. Yet it is during those times of collapse and crisis that we are presented with potent potential for transformation and realization. Through clear and patient wisdom warmed with subtle humor, Holecek helps make sense of the hardships that shock, scare, and surprise us on the path. The Power and the Pain expands our view of good news to include chaos and destruction as means for transformation.

Marisa Aragón Ware is a freelance journalist, illustrator, and designer based in Boulder, CO. Currently the art critic for the Boulder Weekly, her writing focuses mainly on her two greatest passions, rock climbing and visual art. Her illustration and design work includes such diverse projects as logos for local and international companies, commissions for private clients, album art for bands such as Rose Hill Drive, and the occasional tattoo design. You can view her art work at marisaware.com or read her writing at marisasmaritimes.blogspot.com.